All of the times the LGBTQ community tried to destroy America before the Equality Act (sarcasm intended)

It is an attack on parental rights, women's sports, but to the millions of people of faith in this country, it is an egregious attack on the freedom to believe and live according to those beliefs. It would position the government to lord over churches and other faith-based institutions, dictating potentially who they hire, how their facilities are used and even punishing them for not falling in step with a view of human sexuality that directly contradicts orthodox biblical teaching. 

 No institution or person of faith, be it school, church, synagogues, mosque, business, or nonprofit will escape the Orwellian reach of the Equality Act. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act will be committed to the "memory hole," and we will then experience a catastrophic loss of religious freedom in America. - Hate group leader Tony Perkins (Family Research Council) lying about the Equality  Act.

On Friday, the House of Representatives will vote on the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights legislation which already prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, or natural origin. Interestingly enough, no one says that there should be a religious exemption for discrimination with regards to these latter categories. They feel differently about sexual orientation and gender. Tony Perkins and his group the Family Research Council (whose brand has encompassed attacking and demonizing the LGBTQ community since its founding) and other anti-LGBTQ groups and supporters have been sounding the alarm like they always do when pro-LGBTQ laws or actions are considered.

Its their consistent modus operandi to attempt to scare other Americans that we are coming for them, their rights, their freedom, their religion, or their children.  Even though they know that if the House passes the Equality Act, it has very little chance even getting a vote in the Senate, Perkins and company still won't miss an opportunity to fundraise and scare people about the "dreaded homosexual horde." They've done it so many times in the past.

Whether it was about allowing the gays to serve openly in the Boy Scouts:

Hate crimes legislation (which they claimed would cause pastors to be arrested in the pulpit and the Bible to be declared "hate speech):

Mike Pence promotes fake martyrdom during Liberty University commencement

On Saturday, VP Mike Pence spoke at the commencement of Liberty University.  In his address, Pence spoke with the same tone deaf self-righteous hypocrisy which has marked his political career:

“Some of the loudest voices for tolerance today have little tolerance for traditional Christian beliefs,” Pence said. “Be ready.” With his wife, Karen, sitting on stage as he spoke, Pence recounted the “harsh attacks” he said they endured when she returned this year to teaching art at a Christian elementary school where she’d worked when he’d served in Congress. Unlike her previous stint, this time Karen Pence faced scrutiny after news reports pointed out that the school bans gay students and teachers. 

“Throughout most of American history, it's been pretty easy to call yourself Christian,” Pence said. “It didn’t even occur to people that you might be shunned or ridiculed for defending the teachings of the Bible. But things are different now.”

I don't know why Pence continues to play the "I'm only trying to follow my faith" game. There is a long paper trail showing that his idea of "Christianity" is undermining LGBTQ equality and safety. Not to mention that his idea of folks, particularly the LGBTQ community, "showing tolerance" to those like him is to allow ourselves to be discriminated against.

But for the record, it never hurts to remind people:

Don't expect any honest answer from Karen Pence. Homophobic evasion is a family trait with the Pences

It shouldn't be surprising how the folks around 2nd Lady Karen Pence are silent in the face of the controversy she is causing by agreeing to teach at a private school which has an ugly policy against the LGBTQ community, families, and especially children

Running away or attempting to blunt controversy by pitiful evasion is a family trait which seems to be enjoyed by the Pence family. Video below is a huge case in point.

In 2015 when Pence was governor of Indiana, the state passed controversial anti-LGBTQ "religious freedom" bill. Needless to say it caused a lot of controversy and Pence's attempt to defend it on ABC's This Week was a disaster. When asked eight times about the bill and his personal beliefs regarding anti-LGBTQ discrimination, Pence couldn't give a specific or forward answer:




So don't be fooled by any explanation Karen Pence's people eventually may give about her teaching at an anti-LGBTQ private school.  She knows exactly what she's doing. Only thing is that her people don't know how to bullshit an explanation through as of yet.

South Carolina is ready for marriage equality!

Galvanized by SCOTUS decision which will probably sooner or later pave the way for marriage equality in South Carolina, lgbts and their allies in the Palmetto State held a rally at the State House then delivered a petition to Attorney General Alan Wilson. The petition, with over 5,000 names, calls for Wilson and SC Governor Nikki Haley to stop defending the state's marriage equality law, which the two have pledged to do:

Jeff Ayers, chairman of the S.C. Equality board, said Gov. Nikki Haley and Wilson’s decision to defend the ban is being influenced by the fact they are up for re-election. He added said the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community will keep their actions in mind on Nov. 4.

 . . . S.C. Equality supporters at the rally held signs that said: “Nikki + Alan give it up and move on.” And the statue of George Washington, on the north steps of the State House, was adorned with a rainbow flag.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/10/08/3731915_richland-charleston-counties-issuing.html?sp=/99/205/&rh=1#storylink=cpy

The crowd was further galvanized by the news that Richland and Charleston counties are issuing marriage license applications to same-sex couples. Charleston Councilwoman Colleen Condon and Nichols Bleckley (who attended the rally) made history as the first gay couple to receive a marriage license application in the state. According to The State, a probate judge in Greenville rejected three marriage license application. The article also said if the SC Supreme Court does not deliver an injunction, marriage licenses would be given after 24 hours.

 

 

'Anti-gay right determined to fight marriage equality to the end' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

The Right's New Strategy After Gay Marriage Loss: Finding the Gay 'Partial Birth Abortion' - As this excellent article by Michelangelo Signorile demonstrates, the anti-gay right is determined to continue the fight against marriage equality in spite of their losses. The lgbt community would do itself good to pay attention to their plans and tactics. We celebrate when we get full marriage equality. Until then, we fight like hell. 

Ugandan President Worries Anti-Gay Laws Might Lead To International Trade Boycotts - Now that's a good idea. And a reminder that the struggle for lgbt equality encompasses more than marriage in the United States. 

 RNC Chair Just Praised Hate Group Head On Gay Marriage: 'Tony Perkins Is Right' (Video) - Reince Preibus has never shown an ounce of independent leadership as head of the Republican National Committee.  

The Religious Right Reacts To SCOTUS Gay Marriage Decision: 'Unconscionable, Unconstitutional, And Un-American' - BTW in case you don't know, the anti-gay right is FURIOUS over the SCOTUS decision.  

Annoying Problems You Have To Face When You're Bisexual - Fascinating video.  

The Erasure of 'Gay' From Black History & the Black Community Must Stop - And finally, a piece I wrote EXCLUSIVELY for The Huffington Post. It takes on the argument of comparing the lgbt civil rights movement vs. the African-American civil rights movement and then shoots it up to an entirely new level. I'm surprised at the immense positive reaction it has garnered. It is the fastest post I've ever written to go viral and it is still being shared.

Bakery vs. gays is not just about cakes

It's sad how lazy people are when it comes to the case of the bakery in trouble for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.

It's not about a business having a First Amendment right nor is it about a lesbian couple refusing to take their business elsewhere.

It's about basic fairness. A secular business should not be allowed to use the "religious liberty" card to discriminate. 

The folks at the progressive show, The Young Turks, puts it better than I can: