12-year-old reminds us all that same-sex families will not be erased by the religious right

The question asked by Jak Guimbellot, the son of lesbian couple during a city council meeting in Olathe, Kansas highlights a huge portion of the American community which the anti-LGBTQ industry is trying to make invisible:

“I just don’t understand why if I’m with my mothers and we decide to go to a restaurant to eat, that we can be denied access and have to eat somewhere else,” Jak said. It’s a question his mother Kate Guimbellot said she’s never been able to answer. And it’s a question at the heart of a years-long debate throughout Johnson County and the Kansas City area, as the LGBTQ community pleads for cities to adopt ordinances protecting them against discrimination.

'Majority of young people think trans people should use whichever bathroom they choose' & other Tue midday news briefs

An overwhelming majority of young people think trans people should use whichever bathroom they want - And by wide majority, too.

The Trump administration started by going after LGBT families. Now it’s some military families. - It always starts with us. 

The Boston Straight Pride Parade Actually Happened And People Were Not Happy - But on the positive side, it sucked. 

LGBT forum for 2020 hopefuls gets boost from GLAAD, Cory Booker - Stay tuned.

Fourteen times the religious right have been caught lying about science to denigrate the LGBTQ community

On Thursday, this blog reported about a study which said there is no one  single 'gay gene,' "but that a complex mix of genetics and environment affects whether a person has same-sex sexual partners."

At the time, I  said that the religious right (or as I like to call them - the anti-LGBTQ industry) will cherry-pick and distort the study to make  negative accusations about our community. And it turns out that I was right:

From LGBTQNation:

The right wing, especially the religious right, have struggled with the science around sexual orientation, especially genetics. Faced with the argument that people are born gay, the right has argued that the science was questionable, and in any case, it didn’t matter. 

“Studies have suggested a genetic link to alcoholism, to violence, and even to adultery,” Pastor Robert Jeffress, one of President Trump’s biggest boosters, has said. “But are we willing to excuse those behaviors on the basis of ‘my genes made me do it’? I don’t think so." 

But in light of a massive new study finding that the genetics behind orientation are complex and not defined by a single gene, the right is turning cartwheels. The study found that many genes play a role in determining someone’s orientation, as did social and environmental factors. Moreover, the study authors made a point of saying that being gay is “natural.” 

What the religious right heard was that genetics are a minor consideration, at best, and that they were right all along.

Aside from spinning horror stories  and anecdotes about gays wanting to "recruit" children or "imprison" Christians, groups such as the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and other affiliated organizations and individuals have relied on either distorted or cherry-picked science over the decades to make the case that supposedly homosexuality is an "unhealthy lifestyle."

While the junk science generally comes from discredited groups groups, such as the American College of Pediatricians or Christian Medical and Dental Associations,  or discredited researchers and physicians (Paul McHugh or Paul Cameron), cherry-picked science comes from legitimate research. Inappropriately anointed "policy analysts" such as Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, take out portions of studies and skewer them to denigrate the LGBTQ community, regardless of the fact that in its original context the portions didn't speak negatively about the community.

This generally gets these religious right and "morality" groups in trouble because legitimate researchers and Ph.Ds (usually the authors of the studies in question) publicly complain that their work has been misused. The irony is when this happens, the groups either quietly cease citing the research or ignores the complaints while continuing to distort the work.

On at least 14 occasions, religious right groups and personalities have been called out for distorting science to denigrate the LGBTQ community.

Study says there is no one 'gay gene,' but thousands of genetic variants linked to homosexuality

Before the anti-LGBTQ industry has the opportunity to twist this study, we should get abreast of all the facts.

From Reuters:

A large scientific study into the biological basis of sexual behaviour has confirmed there is no single “gay gene” but that a complex mix of genetics and environment affects whether a person has same-sex sexual partners. 

The research, which analysed data on DNA and sexual experiences from almost half a million people, found there are thousands of genetic variants linked to same-sex sexual behaviour, most with very small effects. 

Five of the genetic markers were “significantly” associated with same-sex behaviour, the researchers said, but even these are far from being predictive of a person’s sexual preferences. 

“We scanned the entire human genome and found a handful - five to be precise - of locations that are clearly associated with whether a person reports in engaging in same-sex sexual behaviour,” said Andrea Ganna, a biologist at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Finland who co-led the research. 

He said these have “a very small effect” and, combined, explain “considerably less than 1% of the variance in the self-reported same-sex sexual behaviour.” 

This means that non-genetic factors - such as environment, upbringing, personality, nurture - are far more significant in influencing a person’s choice of sexual partner, just as with most other personality, behavioural and physical human traits, the researchers said.

The study is significant because it helps to prove that homosexuality is not simply a "behavior" you can switch on and off like a light bulb. But if I know fake experts like the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg (and I've tracked them enough over years to have some knowledge of their tactics), their talking point will comprise of cherry-picking the study like so:

The study says there is no gay gene, ergo homosexuality is a "learned behavior" which can be "treated."

Of course this is not what the study said, but folks like Sprigg generally don't care.  It's not like this would be the first time Sprigg has cherry-picked science to denigrate us.  So now that you know about the possible deception of this study beforehand, you are prepared for when it comes.

'Former NFL player: There are gay, bisexual players on every team' & other Thur midday news briefs

Former NFL Player: There Are Gay, Bisexual Players On Every Pro Football Team - Yep. So true.

Franklin Graham goes berserk over Taylor Swift and the Equality Act: ‘Pushing LGBTQ agenda down the throats of the American people’ - The hypocrite speaks. 

'These parents’ brilliant plan to protect their kids from fascist protestors should spread nationwide - This was awesome. 

How LGBTQ Wedding Planners Make Big Gay Wedding Dreams Come True- This is so sweet. I love this.

Hate group accidentally makes the case for teaching concepts of sexuality, gender, and same-sex families to children

In an attempt to paint the LGBTQ community as negative and dangerous to children, One News Now, the propaganda site of hate group the American Family Association, showcased a video by Queerly Elementary.

From its webpage:

Queerly Elementary provides professional development, consulting, and classroom lessons to help school communities embrace and celebrate people of all genders and sexualities. Complex, dynamic, and occasionally heated topics are presented in a way that is accessible for all participants, regardless of their previous knowledge or personal views. Services are available for all levels from preschool through university. The founder of Queerly Elementary, Olivia Higgins, leads all workshops, class lessons and consulting. She will take the necessary time to learn about your particular questions, concerns, skills, and challenges, so she may tailor all services to best meet your unique needs.

One News Now showcased the video to accompany a ridiculous article which implies that teachers are being "coerced" to push the alleged "gay agenda" on elementary school children. However, all the video does is simply make a good case as to how the concepts of gender and sexuality - and especially the fact that same-sex families exist - can be taught to elementary school children.

I don't think AFA meant for this to happen, so I doubt anyone will hold it against me for not saying "thank you."

'Couple pushing lawsuit seems to be mostly interested in overturning pro-LGBTQ law' & other Wed midday news breifs

This couple is suing to overturn a civil rights law because they want to discriminate against gays - A "religious liberty" case explained and demonstrates why it's not just about a cake. The couple in question didn't do weddings. They only said they wanted to do weddings to put them in a position to overturn an anti-discrimination law.

Texas group advocates for LGBTI migrants - Wonderful because immigration is an LGBTQ issue.

High school students forced to change out of LGBTQ pride shirts: 'We don't promote that here' - Excuse me? I beg your pardon. 

Poland’s Populist Government Has Declared War on the LGBTQ Community - This is scary.