Education Sec DeVos again turns her back on LGBTQ children & families

During a Congressional hearing in May, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos indicated that she had no problem funding schools who would discriminate against LGBTQ families and children. At the time, I accused her of "weaseling" out of questions by invoking the word "flexibility." This what happened.

From The Huffington Post:

 Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Wednesday that states should have the flexibility to decide whether schools can discriminate against LGBTQ students ― even if those schools get federal money. During a testy exchange in a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) told DeVos about Lighthouse Christian Academy, a private school in Indiana that receives state voucher money but denies admission to students from families where there is “homosexual or bisexual activity” or someone “practicing alternate gender identity.” Clark asked DeVos, whose budget seeks a $250 million increase for projects that include vouchers for private schools, if she would step in if that Indiana school applied for such federal funding. DeVos replied by saying she supports giving flexibility to states. “For states who have programs that allow for parents to make choices, they set up the rules around that,” she said.

Today, she made what can be called an unfortunate 180 degree turn when it comes to protecting LGBTQ families and children. She pretty much said that it is not her department's job to protect them from discrimination. And again, she "weaseled" out when asked a direct question about it:

From Think Progress:

During Tuesday’s hearing, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) asked DeVos about whether or not her department would continue to provide federal funding to schools that had anti-LGBTQ policies. At first she tried to dodge the question by asserting, “Schools that receive federal funds must follow federal law.” But Merkley pressed, leading DeVos to say, “In areas where the law is unsettled, this department is not going to be issuing decrees. That is a matter for Congress and the courts to settle.”

Merkley continued to grill for DeVos for clarification, but she refused to comply. “You’re refusing to answer the question,” he said. “I think that’s very important for the public to know — that today, the Secretary of Education, before this committee, refused to affirm that she would put forward a program that would ban discrimination based on the LGBTQ status of students or ban discrimination based on religion.”

No doubt, some will say that DeVos answered the question.

No she didn't.

The question she was answered in May and the one today required a simple yes or no. Why did DeVos have to dance around in giving her answer? I'll let you decide.

'Some trans people still feel excluded at Pride' & other Tue midday news briefs

Nearly 50 years after Stonewall, trans people still feel excluded at Pride - Not just transgender folks probably feel this way. I think this is a symptom of a larger problem in our community in terms of visibility and who gets anointed as leaders and spokespeople. But let's just keep it at Pride for the moment.  Pride is a wonderful event for all and it's grown in so many different areas. With the growth comes debates involving concepts of pride, sponsorship, entertainment, etc. Personally, I don't feel there is anything wrong with intelligent debates about what exactly is Pride and what it should be. We need to listen to each other in the spirit of cooperation.  I have definite opinions on the matters but feel that when it all comes down to it, Pride should be something which gives us all joy, love, and motivation to make this world a better place - and not just for those in our "circle." We keep that belief in mind and we can get through the debates.

 HIV long-term survivors fight invisibility and isolation - Wonderful article. Never forget.

 Laverne Cox speaks out against people who don’t see transgender women as real women - Take them to school, Laverne!!!!

Coming Out: The Pros and Cons - Never forget our personal stories. 

20 Perfect Tweets That Sum Up Watching "Wonder Woman" As A Queer Woman - THIS is hilarious! 

Photo taken from Transmarch.org

So-called Christian groups exploit transgender boy's suicide for foul attack on community

What you are about to read is disgusting. I didn't even want to write anything about it but I felt something needs to be said because this is the lowest I have ever seen the religious right stoop in my over 10 years of tracking their lies and hate.

From The Family Research Council:

 Gender Distortion and Tragedy 

 Erin Georgia had prayed for a son all her life. She says she got one, but not in the way she expected. When her sixth- grade daughter came to her and said she was struggling with her identity, Erin and her husband, Matt, said their first stop was the psychologist. Eventually, the Alabama couple decided the best decision would be to let Jane Marie start living as Jay. "We've always just loved and accepted our children for whoever they are. I'm a very outspoken, tattooed Christian, very strong in my faith. We were just encouraging Jay."

That encouragement ended in absolute heartbreak last month, when Jane took her own life at their home. Now, absolutely devastated, her parents -- both Marine veterans -- struggle to understand what went wrong. After all, Jane was part of group therapy and started taking medication to help her cope. But in the end, it wasn't enough, the Georgias believe. "Jay was not ready to come out to the world in the sixth grade. Jay wasn't really ready at the end." For her parents, who only wanted the best for their daughter, it was a blow no one saw coming. "As Jay was going through this journey, he would go to church with us. The church was welcoming, but there was no safe space."

'Hate group continues ugly smear against lesbian teacher' & other Mon midday news briefs

Liberty Counsel Continues Its Crusade Against Pro-LGBTQ Florida Teacher - Anti-lgbtq hate group The Liberty Counsel has found a new crusade and it's really beginning to bug me. The organization has been targeting this teacher since May. They've accused her of "bullying" Christian students and "indoctrinating" other students in the so-called homosexual agenda - charges which were shown to be nothing when the school district investigated. But the organization won't stop. THIS is the very definition of bullying.

Related posts:

Anti-lgbtq right conveniently quiet after exoneration of teacher they targeted

Anti-lgbtq hate group continues to target exonerated high school teacher 

In other news:
 

Planet Fitness isn’t violating privacy by welcoming transgender members, Michigan court rules - A recent court decision just dealt a blow to the "transgender predator" myth.

 John McEnroe Rips Tennis Bigot Margaret Court in Salty, Delicious Denunciation: WATCH - Just imagine how homophobic someone has to be to get me the cheer John McEnroe for giving them a good "read."

 ‘Our Bible’ app aims to support LGBTQ Christians who feel excluded - Yet of a reminder that the "Gays vs. Christians" nonsense is a fictional war propagated by people (hello Franklin Graham) and organizations (the Liberty Counsel) more interested in attaining power than not pushing people away from God. Great discussion in the comments section with the usual cast of characters.

Government branches acknowledging LGBTQ Pride Month in spite of Trump

Even though Trump failed to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month, other branches of the federal government are not following his lead.

The Defense Department for one:

The Defense Department is observing June as LBBT Pride Month to recognize DoD's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members and civilians. DoD Pride, an employee resource group, is hosting its annual celebration June 12 at the Pentagon. "The struggles, sacrifices and successes among the LGBT community continue to shape our history and remind us to uphold tolerance and justice for all," Anthony M. Kurta wrote in a memo announcing the observance today. Kurta is performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. "Integrity and respect are fundamental qualities of our military and civilian culture," Kurta noted in the memo. "As we celebrate the diversity of the total force, we honor all who have answered the call to serve, and their unwavering commitment to our shared mission," he wrote. "During the month of June, let us celebrate the diversity of the DoD workforce and rededicate ourselves to equity, dignity and respect for all."

And then there is the State Department:

A State Department spokesperson on Friday said embassies and consulates have received guidance that allows them to recognize Pride month. 

 “Advancing the human rights of vulnerable groups including LGBTI persons is a core component of U.S. foreign policy,” the spokesperson told the Washington Blade. “All people should be protected from discrimination and violence, and must be allowed to exercise their human rights, including their rights to the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and religion or belief.” “LGBTI Pride celebrations are an expression of these rights,” added the spokesperson. 

 ”As such, the department has issued guidance to embassies and consulates allowing them to, as appropriate to their local context, recognize LGBTI Pride Month.” The rainbow flag was raised over the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic on Friday. 

“So incredibly proud of U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo for raising the Pride flag today,” wrote former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James “Wally” Brewster on his Facebook page.  

The U.S. Embassies in Chile and Mexico in recent days have also publicly acknowledged Pride month. The rainbow flag flew over the U.S. Embassy in Cuba on May 17 in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

So while it's disappointing that Trump is ignoring our month, we will just have to do what these departments have done - just move him to the side and not allow his actions to steal our joy

Family Research Council doesn't think 'Christians' should have to follow the law

Editor's note - Friday's midday news briefs may be pre-empted.

 And just like that, the religious right has another so-called victim of marriage equality persecution.

According to anti-lgbtq hate group the Family Research Council:

In another astounding case of intolerance, Country Mill Orchards was kicked out of the sellers group last August when city officials got wind of the couple’s biblical views on marriage. After seven years of hosting one of the most popular stalls at the market, they’ve been pushed out because they dared to agree with 53 percent of the American people! Of course, the irony is, the Tenneses never mentioned marriage at the market -- this was all the result of a Facebook fishing expedition from a potential wedding client.

When two women asked to be married on the farm in 2014, the Tennes turned them down, explaining that because of their faith, they referred same-sex couples to neighboring farms. Two years later, the couple decided to launch a social media smear campaign, urging people to stay away from Country Mill. When their post was brought to East Lansing’s attention, local leaders raced to pass an ordinance directly targeting small business owners like the Tenneses. In a press conference this week, Steve could only shake his head at the strong-arm tactics of the Left. “East Lansing [had] posted on their Facebook page: ‘We love the Country Mill.’ That came to an abrupt end that same August [when the family went public with their views]. Because of our beliefs,” Steve went on, “the city of East Lansing strongly and immediately pressured us not to return to the farmers market that very weekend. Ultimately, the city developed a new policy to target and block our farm from further participation in their city-run farmers market.”

And here’s the kicker: the Tenneses not only serve people who identify as LGBT -- they employ them! But that’s not enough for the extreme Left, who will accept nothing less than the full and complete surrender of every Christian’s First Amendment rights. As Steve pointed out, “Our faith and beliefs on marriage and hosting weddings at our home and in our backyard of our farm have nothing to do with the city of East Lansing. Nor does it have anything to do with the produce that we sell to the people that attend the farmers markets who are from all backgrounds and all beliefs.”

The attack on the Tenneses is especially upsetting since both Steve and Bridget are military veterans, and they -- more than anyone -- know the price of freedom. “We were surprised, and we were shocked,” Steve told Fox News’s Todd Starnes. “My wife and I both volunteered to serve in the military to protect freedom. Now we come home and the freedom that we worked to protect, we have to defend in our own backyard.”

Now, the veterans are fighting a new battle to keep this same harassment from happening to other Americans. Together with Alliance Defending Freedom, the family is taking East Lansing to court, demanding their reinstatement in the local market. “We have to stand up for what’s right and be able to speak freely about our beliefs,” Steve said determinedly. “And to live out our own beliefs at our own home on our own farm.”

To paraphrase Thelma Ritter from 'All About Eve,' it's a good story . . including the part about the hounds snapping at their rear ends.

'Trump doesn't acknowledge LGBTQ Pride Month' & other Thur midday news briefs

'Friend to the gays,' my tookis!

Trump breaks tradition of recognizing LGBTQ Pride Month - Surprise, surprise! The self-proclaimed friend to the gays doesn't acknowledge LGBTQ Pride Month. I bet you miss Obama now seeing that he did. Don't be blase about this LATEST slap in the face Trump has given the lgbtq community. Just take it as more incentive to dismantle his presidency bit by ugly bit, starting in 2018 (that is IF he is still president by then).

 Rhode Island House Votes to Ban Harmful Gay ‘Conversion Therapy’ - Go Rhode Island!

Anti-LGBT Posters Found at Eastern Alamance High School - In North Carolina, no less. Hehehe! If folks want to put up posters of Biblical incidents (like in this case the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah), they should REALLY be careful. Lots of interesting things to choose from.

 These Two Univ. of Minnesota Teammates Open Up About Falling In Love - This is SOOOO CUTE!!! 

Martina Navratilova Slams Margaret Court In Open Letter - There is a serious drama going on regarding former tennis champion Margaret Court. She is extremely ugly to the lgbtq community and playing the "I'm being persecuted" card while doing it. Another former tennis champion and present lesbian icon Martina Navratilova simply isn't having any of it.