'O'Shae Sibley killing unites New York's Black LGBTQ community in grief and defiance' & other Wed midday news briefs

O’Shae Sibley’s killing unites New York’s Black LGBTQ community in grief and defiance - Far from over.

Trump-appointed judge orders Southwest lawyers to get 'religious-liberty training' from 'hate group': report​ - The Alliance Defending Freedom strikes again.

Related post - The Southern Poverty Law Center's report on the Alliance Defending Freedom. 

Wisconsin Police Department Fully Embraces Transgender Officer - Wonderful.

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against Ohio school district's gender-inclusive bathroom policy

Yet another victory for trans kids. Don't think for a minute that I am sugarcoating the ugly political climate we are all facing. I am simply pointing out that even in the darkest of times, light exists, and hope and love never dies.

From The Independent:

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by America First Legal against an Ohio school district over its transgender bathroom policy. America First Legal filed the suit in November. The president of the organisation is Stephen Miller, who served as a senior White House adviser to former President Donald Trump. District Judge Michael Newman ruled on Monday that the organisation’s claims lacked standing, and the board’s new policy did not infringe on the parents’ free exercise of religion.

 “The [parents] do not have a substantive due process right to dictate to the School District which bathroom a transgender student must use,” Judge Newman wrote in the filing. “The School District’s bathroom policy applies evenly to all students, making no exception for anyone based on their religion, to allow each student’s identified gender to prescribe the bathroom to use.”

According to The Buckeye Flame:

The case centered on a trans student Bethel Middle School in Tipp City – 10 miles north of Dayton – who was granted access to a restroom corresponding with her gender identity. This set off contentious school board meetings and multiple lawsuits.

 . . . According to the lawsuit, student “Anne Roe,” transferred to Bethel Middle School in January of 2020. Her parents informed the school that their daughter was transgender and the school set up access for Anne to use single-occupancy restrooms scattered across school grounds. In an affidavit, Anne shared that this arrangement caused her to avoid going to the bathroom during the day, because the restrooms were “frequently occupied whenever she needed to use [them], and she felt ostracized, humiliated, and targeted by other students who taunted her for using the separate bathroom.”

 Anne’s parents requested that she be able to use the girls’ communal restroom in addition to the single-occupancy spaces. The school agreed to the request. The decision set off months of school board meetings that featured anti-trans rhetoric and two lawsuits: a state one – currently ongoing – regarding whether the board’s actions violated open meeting law and a federal one alleging that the school was discriminating against their cisgender children by allowing trans students’ access to restrooms.

All of this nonsense simply to stop one trans child from using the bathroom which corresponds with her gender identity. So unnecssary.

'It's time to stand up for Megan Rapinoe with gratitude' & other Tue midday news briefs

Megan Rapinoe

It’s time to stand up for Megan Rapinoe with gratitude - Amen. The folks on the right are attacking her at a low moment. We need to stand up for one of our own. Especially in light of how vocal she has been for the community. 

 This gay “hipster grandpa” is a world-famous fashion icon with one simple message - I really like this article. I'm getting up there myself and would like to do more to show our kids how special and undefeated they are. 

American Red Cross to allow gay men to donate blood - In case you haven't heard. 

California investigates district's parental notification policy on students' gender identity - Good. We don't need to be putting LGBTQ+ kids in danger.

Florida caves on AP Psychology. Controversy latest problem for DeSantis as his campaign faces repercussions from his 'war on woke.'

UPDATE - Unfortunately, this post was partly correct. While it seems that Florida capitulated, so much uncertainty was created that schools are canceling AP Psychology classes. 

Chalk the following up as another embarrassment for FL Gov Ron DeSantis as his "war on woke" seems to be slowly but surely wrecking his presidential campaign.

From MSNBC:

Florida and the College Board appear to have come to a resolution over the inclusion of LGBTQ topics in the state’s Advanced Placement Psychology classes. The resolve came a day after the education nonprofit said the state "effectively banned" the course due to its content on sexual orientation and gender identity. In a letter shared with school superintendents Friday, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the department "is not discouraging districts from teaching AP Psychology."

 "In fact, the Department believes that AP Psychology can be taught in its entirety in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate and the course remains listed in our course catalog," Diaz wrote. In a statement shared with NBC News on Monday, the College Board — which administers the SAT and college-level classes to high school students — responded to the Florida Department of Education's new guidance with a mix of hope and skepticism.

 . . . In its Thursday statement, the College Board said the Florida Department of Education had "effectively banned AP Psychology in the state by instructing Florida superintendents that teaching foundational content on sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal under state law." Florida’s Parental Rights in Education act, or what critics have dubbed the "Don’t Say Gay" law, restricts the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s classrooms. 

 When contacted by NBC News on Thursday, the department denied that it had banned the course, though it did not answer questions on whether it tried to restrict the course's LGBTQ content. Florida's so-called Don't Say Gay law was signed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is running for president. 

 LGBTQNation called it a 'humiliating defeat' for DeSantis and it couldn't have happened at a worse time. For all of his talking about a reset of his presidential campaign, he is still struggling far behind GOP front runner Donald Trump (even after Trump's recent indictments).

Also, several deep pocketed donors seem to be backing away from his campaign with their reason being DeSantis's over-reliance on his 'culture war.' According to Reuters:

Hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the biggest individual donor to a group supporting Ron DeSantis' presidential bid, told Reuters on Friday he will not donate more money unless the Florida governor attracts new major donors and adopts a more moderate approach. 

 The comments by Bigelow, who gave $20 million to the pro-DeSantis "Never Back Down" super PAC in March, underscore donor concerns about the Florida governor's struggling campaign, which has been unable to make a dent in former President Donald Trump's huge lead for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Donors aren't the only ones turning their backs on DeSantis. Recently, several former GOP governors and lawmakers publicly said that his attack on Disney (a key component in his 'war on woke') is “severely damaging to the political, social, and economic fabric of the State."

And all the while, some folks are saying that his "arrogance" is the reason for many of his missteps.

'DeSantis war against Disney has damaged Florida, former GOP governors and lawmakers say' & other Mon midday news briefs

DeSantis' retaliation against Disney hurts Florida, former governors and lawmakers say - And they are right.

America’s Pediatricians Reiterate Support for Gender-Affirming Care - Nice to see this group stepping up for gender-affirming care. 

Polling suggests that defeating 'woke' policies in schools and government is not a priority for most Republican voters - The so-called 'war on woke' is tiring for everybody. 

Free speech wins as Des Moines pauses LGBTQ+ school book removal - A small victory. But still a victory. 

 14 LGBTQ+ TV Shows and Movies to Watch in August 2023 - Be on the lookout.

'LGBTQ+ children participate in Pride summer camp in New York' & other Fri midday news briefs

 

Far right idiots on Twitter and other social media areas were freaking out about this news segment and this camp. For that reason, and especially because this is a wonderful camp, I want to spotlight it.

In other news: 

Congress Is Pushing An Online Safety Bill Supported By Anti-LGBTQ Groups - Keep an eye open on this. It will not be the last time we hear about it. 

Florida effectively bans advanced psychology course over LGBTQ content, course developer says - In case you haven't heard, DeSantis continues to be a textbook case of a bad governor. This was his doing.

Anti-drag bigots promised 300 protestors at Edinburgh Fringe – only eight turned up - Ha. Ha.

Texas's anti-drag law to be challenged in court by ACLU, other defendants

Your turn, Texas.

From The Advocate:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued the Texas Attorney General and other defendants on Wednesday to prevent Senate Bill 12 from taking effect on September 1. It would ban drag performances in most public venues if permitted to move forward. In the ACLU’s lawsuit, the group asserts that SB 12, which includes a ban on drag performances, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and threatens Texans’ livelihoods and free expression. For artists and those who support them, the ban targets any performance that could be construed as “sexual” and imposes criminal penalties, including a year in jail. Many constitutionally protected performances could be censored by this law, such as touring Broadway plays and professional cheerleading routines or karaoke nights and drag shows, the ACLU said in a statement. 

 From LGBTQNation: 

The plaintiffs include Houston Pride organizer The Woodlands Pride, Abilene Pride Alliance, Extragrams, LLC, 360 Queen Entertainment LLC, and drag artist Brigitte Bandit. 

 “Texas queens and kings from across our great state have been targets of threats and misinformation as a result of the anti-drag law,” Bandit said in a statement. “We must reject their attempts to divide us and continue to come together in our truth and power to support each other as Texans should.”

 “Long live Texas drag!” the popular drag queen added. Woodlands Pride president Jason Rocha characterized SB 12 as censorship aimed at erasing LGBTQ+ visibility. “Censoring drag is censoring free speech,” said Rocha said. 

“The Woodlands Pride was formed to help amplify the voices and representation of all, specifically the LGBTQIA+ community. Drag is a symbol of expression, and the freedom to express yourself is quintessential to human nature. We know this ban is aimed specifically at our community. 

 LGBTQNation also pointed out that: 

 Similar drag bans have been blocked by courts in Florida, Tennessee, and Montana for containing “overbroad” provisions that violate people’s rights to free speech and due process.