Investigation of teacher for showing students a Disney movie with gay character may prove that FL law does unfairly target LGBTQ community

It looks like Florida Gov Ron DeSantis may be in another self-made mess. This one comes from the 'Don't Say Gay' law he pushed through the legislature in order to build up his "culture warrior" reputation in anticipation of his all but certain presidential run.

According to The Miami Herald:

The Florida Department of Education could visit a K-8 school in Hernando County as early as Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into a fifth-grade teacher’s decision to show a Disney movie featuring a gay character in her classroom. 

 The Tallahassee Democrat broke down how all of this began:

 A Florida teacher is under investigation by the state Department of Education after what she believes is a targeted attack by a school board member who took issue with a Disney movie shown in her classroom. 

 At a Hernando County School Board meeting Tuesday, fifth-grade teacher Jenna Barbee alleges school board member Shannon Rodriguez reported her to DOE for showing her students Disney's 2022 movie "Strange World." It's the first Disney movie with an out, gay character. Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters K-8, said during public comment the Disney movie tied into her students' Earth science lesson and did not have sexually inappropriate content.

The Miami Herald went on to say:

 The expected visit would be the first time a department official is to visit the school since the investigation’s onset. On Monday, the department confirmed no one from the state had visited the school, “nor has contacted any students” about the movie. Barbee, however, said some students last week were questioned about the event by school administration. 

 . . . Barbee has spoken publicly about the incident and defended her decision, arguing the movie was related to her students’ science lessons and did not have sexually inappropriate content — now a polarizing political issue in the state. 

The Parental Rights in Education Act, passed last year and known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay,” prohibits educators from teaching about gender and sexual identity in kindergarten through third grade, and in older grades in cases when the lessons are deemed to be not “age appropriate.” Educators, however, have routinely expressed concern about the law’s vague wording and the subjectivity of deciding what is considered age appropriate.

The vague wording of the law was what DeSantis and his allies were counting on to refute claims that it targeted LGBTQ people. DeSantis has said on more than one occasion that the law was necessary to keep children from being exposed to sexually explicit discussions.

So much for that claim.

'Florida agencies accused of manipulating research to ban trans care and coverage' & other Tue midday news briefs

Florida Agencies Manipulated Research To Ban Trans Care And Coverage​ - Manipulate and cherry-pick research are the same tactics the opposition did to undermine gay rights. 

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Residents vote against school funding after rightwingers protest “demonic” trans bathroom policy- They are only hurting themselves and their children. That's the saddest part. 

Inclusive church in Henderson County targeted by anti-LGBTQ protestors - So much for religious liberty.

Video - Trump supporters give reasons why they think drag queens are more dangerous than guns

This video doesn't need much of an introduction because the title is enough. Just be prepared for the most mind-boggling bit of insanity you will probably ever hear. And as hilarious and spooky as this video is, it helps to keep things in perspective. Folks who have no problem in wallowing in the mud pits of ignorance have always existed. They have always allowed themselves to be led by the nose and they have always wreaked havoc. The important thing is not to get discouraged. Accept folks like these folks for what they are because such is life. Yes, they vote and yes they raise hell. But so do we. And we're much better at raising hell.

'Florida teacher investigated by state for showing Disney cartoon movie in class' & other Mon midday news briefs

Florida teacher investigated by state for showing Disney cartoon movie in class​ - Ron DeSantis' vision for America, no doubt Part 1.

Ron DeSantis Signs ‘Right to Discriminate’ Law That Could Be Used Against LGBTQ+ Patients - Ron DeSantis' vision for America Part 2.

GLAAD Awards: ‘Fire Island,’ ‘Anything’s Possible,’ ‘We’re Here’ Among Winners - Congratulations to all of the GLAAD Award recipients, particularly Mombian for its second win in the category of 'Outstanding Blog.' 

West Virginia’s Bob Huggins agrees to $1M pay cut, 3-game suspension for homophobic slur - Wow! What was this all about?

Picture proves that the biggest danger to women are transphobic bigots

As disgusting at this picture is, it makes a salient point.

We are always hearing from the transphobic set about how trans women present a danger to cis women in intimate settings such as locker rooms and bathrooms, but this woman in the picture is simply minding her own business. She's not bothering anyone. She's not "sneaking peeks" or any of the ugly things transphobic bigots imply about trans women.

On the contrary, she is the one being harassed. And while some people may give the culprit accolades and plaudits, she is the one actually encouraging women to be harassed.  Her behavior is akin to idiots not only physically attacking trans women for using restrooms, but also idiots who harass cis women if they don't fit the stereotypical descriptions of what a woman is supposed to look like.

More to the point, her behavior encourages those actions.

And the harasser, who I refuse to give the respect of acknowledging her name, has done nonsense like this before. To put it nicely, she is a trashy individual who, while running for office, claimed that high schools in her area are accommodating "furries," or students who supposedly "identify" as animals. It was a lie, but I doubt she cared. Just as I doubt she cares about the possible harm she could wreak on all women. Whether the woman she targeted was transgender or not isn't the point. The fact of the matter is that woman should have been left alone. She didn't deserve to be harassed and anyone who claims to want to protect women would know that.

'With leaders locked up, Proud Boys embrace anti-LGBTQ activism' & other Fri midday news briefs

With Leaders Locked Up, Proud Boys Embrace New Cause: Anti-LGBTQ Activism - This is a group whose founder slid a dildo up his own butt on live television to supposedly 'own' gays. The irony is stark. 

Gays Against Groomers says Target is grooming children with Pride clothing - Somebody's swag sales must be down. 

Here Are 9 LGBTQ+ Shows Shut Down By the Writers Strike - Well this sucks. 

Florida Rejected Social Studies Lessons — You'll Never Guess Which Ones​ - Easy guess.

Family Research Council's Tony Perkins gives tone deaf praise to Trump for supposed commitment to life after disastrous town hall

On Wednesday night, CNN hosted a town hall meeting featuring Donald Trump as he seeks the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

It was a disaster. An embarrassment for CNN, the country and truth itself. 

Between inane claims about about abortion (no, Democrats do not want to kill babies after birth), continuing to claim that the 2020 election was rigged (he lost fair and square), making fun of E. Jean Carroll (who had just beat him in a court case about him sexually abusing and then defaming her), defending the Jan 6th insurrectionists while smearing officers who fought against them and, all-around basic lying, Trump mad a mockery out of the CNN. And in front of a crowd of supporters who apparently the network handpicked.

The town hall was justifiably condemned.

But apparently someone ignored the forest of it all to settle for one big tree. Family Research Council president Tony Perkins  praised Trump for the town hall. In a piece in FRC's Washington Stand, Trump Townhall Underscores Life as a 2024 Issue, Perkins completely ignored all of what transpired and talked about Trump's supposed commitment to life. I will give you a small excerpt: 

 During his Wednesday town hall in New Hampshire, he said of his pro-life record, “I am honored to have done what I did.” President Trump noted several times during the event that pro-abortion activists are radical. And radicals are unreasonable and never satisfied. This is why, in last November’s elections, Democrats spent at least $320 million in advertising to attack the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The Biden administration has authorized nearly half a billion dollars of taxpayer funds that can be used to subsidize abortions and abortion businesses. Republicans spend only a fraction of this amount celebrating unborn life. 

 Here's the part which really catches my attention: 

 I deeply appreciate the pro-life, pro-family policies that President Trump’s administration advanced. As we move into the 2024 presidential election cycle, my role will not be to endorse in the primary election but to work with the candidates, like President Trump, to ensure the issues impacting faith, family, and freedom are understood and advanced. My focus will be ensuring that the sanctity of human life, upholding the true, God-given purpose of human sexuality, and the myriad policies that affect the family — ranging from religious freedom to tax policy — remain front and center. It is encouraging to see that Mr. Trump remains committed to defending the little ones in the womb.

Just as much as we need a reminder that Donald Trump is an incompetent disaster and has no place near the White House, we also need to be reminded that conservative evangelical leaders like Tony Perkins are single-minded power hungry fascists who have no problem with weaponizing religion and faith in attempts to control other people's bodies and minds.

Let's not be fooled by the language Perkins uses. He doesn't support Trump because of any commitment to life. He supports Trump because Trump gives him wants when it comes to the issue of abortion. And for all of his posing about Christianity and values, Perkins is perfectly willing ignore the other things about Trump

such as  the false claims that he won in 2020,

the downplaying of the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol,

 his botched COVID response which cost scores of lives,

and the many, many other times that Trump has shown that he doesn't give a damn about anything but himself.

Perkins  is similar to Trump in that he simply doesn't give a damn about anything but what he wants.  He claims that Trump's town hall underscores that life is a 2024 issue, but whose life he is talking about?

Not the election officials who have been threatened, harassed and basically pushed out of their jobs because of Trump's lie about a rigged election.

Not those who suffered unbelievable violence on Jan 6th because of Trump continuing to lie about the 2020 election. Definitely not anyone who died because of the violence that day 

Not the scores of Americans who died and continue to die in connection to how Trump and his administration botched the response to the COVID pandemic. Not to mention others who are alive but continue to suffer.

It all comes down to the fact that idiots like Trump are a dime a dozen. They always come and go. It's people like Perkins  who we really need to look out for.  It's ironic seeing how so many have accused  Perkins of coddling up to a devil like Trump. The truth is Trump was merely the puppet.

Conservative evangelicals like Perkins are the devils.