When you want the Bible to be taught in schools AND banned from schools

Couple wants Bible to be taught in schools AND banned from schools.

The point of this post is not to make fun of the folks interviewed in the clip below. The point is merely to show how book banners rely on shock tactics (such as showing graphic pictures and reading graphic passages from book) to trigger emotion.  As seen here, that tactic work can work with any book. 

(Hat tip to the Good Liars, who conducted the interview)

Talked to people who think the Bible should be taught in schools. They also think the Bible should be banned from schools. pic.twitter.com/HNMvaJ17tq

— The Good Liars (@TheGoodLiars) December 4, 2023

Moms for Liberty founder and Florida's GOP chairman both embroiled in sex scandal with allegations of rape, group sex, and videotaping

 

Moms for Liberty founder Bridget Ziegler (top picture) and her husband, Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler (bottom picture) are embroiled in a scandal with allegations of rape, group sex, and videotaping.

A huge scandal is brewing in Florida which not only caps off an extremely bad month for SPLC-designated hate group Moms for Liberty but also threatens to engulf the state Republican Party. And in a dose of karma, the scandal involves sex.

From The Florida Trident:

Christian Ziegler, Florida’s GOP chairman and husband of Sarasota County School Board member and Moms of Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under criminal investigation after a woman filed a complaint with the Sarasota Police Department alleging the longtime Republican official had raped her, according to a heavily redacted police report obtained by the Florida Trident. 

 The complaint was filed on October 4 and the alleged sexual battery occurred inside the woman’s home in Sarasota on October 2, according to the report. Among the few words that went unredacted in the report are “rape” and “sexual assault complaint.” 

 The woman, according to sources close to the investigation, alleged that she and both Zieglers had been involved in a longstanding consensual three-way sexual relationship prior to the incident. The incident under investigation by Sarasota police occurred when Christian Ziegler and the woman were alone at the woman’s house, without Bridget Ziegler present, the sources conveyed. 

 Sources also corroborated that a search warrant was executed on Christian Ziegler’s cell phone and that investigators continue to conduct a forensic examination of the electronic device. Christian Ziegler is also alleged to have secretly videotaped the sexual encounters between the couple and the woman, which had been occurring for the past three years, sources said. 

 There have been no charges filed in the case and the Trident is unaware whether the woman’s allegations have been substantiated. A voicemail was left with Mr. Ziegler for comment and a message was left at Bridget Ziegler’s school board office. Neither had been returned prior to publishing this story.

After the news of the scandal came out, Moms for Liberty tweeted but then deleted the following message in support of Ziegler.

As I said before, November has been a bad month for Moms for Liberty. 

Earlier, they lost several school board elections across the nation,

Then they faced questions of affiliations with nationalist hate The Proud Boys after two chapter leaders got caught taking a picture with Proud Boys members while flashing white power signs, 

And finally, a pastor who coordinated faith-based outreach for them was discovered to be a registered sex offender.

Update - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Christian Ziegler should resign from chairmanship of the state Republican party:

Speaking to reporters after his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sean Hannity's Fox News show, DeSantis called the allegations "serious" and said Ziegler should resign.

"I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations," DeSantis said. "And so, I think he should step aside. I think he should tend to that. He’s innocent until proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny. And so, I hope that — I hope the charges aren’t true. I’ve known him, I’ve known Bridget, they’ve been friends. But the mission is more important."

'Book-banner claims book with a kiss in it turned her into a porno addict' & other Thur midday news briefs

Book-banner claims a book with a kiss in it turned her into a porn addict at school board meeting - This is scooping at the bottom of the barrel right here.

Speaker Mike Johnson to Address Hardline Christian Nationalist Organization​ - Our Speaker of the House is a wannabe Cotton Mather.

Opponents want Montana drag ban declared unconstitutional without a trial - It would be nice if it were successful. 

Vermont Christian School Sues State After It Was Penalized for Being Anti-Trans - Guess who's weaponizing religious beliefs again?

18 Republican attorney generals want to weaponize religious beliefs against LGBTQ foster children

Seems to me that if there had to be a choice between the rights and welfare of LGBTQ foster kids versus the religious beliefs of potential foster parents, the rights and welfare of LGBTQ foster kids should win. Too bad 18 Republican attorney generals don't think so.

From LGBTQ Nation

Eighteen Republican attorneys general have signed a letter opposing a proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would require foster care agencies to place LGBTQ+ minors with foster care providers who will respect their identities. Agencies that don’t would lose federal funding.  The attorneys say the rule will infringe on providers’ religious liberty, arguing that trying to get LGBTQ+ kids into affirming homes harms religious conservatives’ rights to impose their views on kids.

The HHS Administration for Children and Families’ proposed rule is meant to “address the extensively documented risk factors and adverse outcomes” that LGBTQ+ children in foster care often experience, the department wrote. LGBTQ+ kids in foster care have experienced higher levels of misgendering, bullying, abuse, forced isolation from other kids, inability to access LGBTQ+-affirming resources, and placement into so-called “conversion therapy” programs that aim to change their sexual orientation and gender identity, HHS wrote. 

Such mistreatment has been linked to an increased risk of depression, suicide, homelessness, food insecurity, illegal drug use, and other serious health risks. The rule requires agencies and providers to offer training materials that aid in caring for an LGBTQ+ child’s cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being. Agencies and providers must have review systems in place to house kids in safe, supportive environments.

 . . .  The 18 Republican attorneys general who oppose the proposal, led by Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee, claim that the new rule will hinder agencies from finding care providers for foster kids in need and drive dedicated care providers out of the system. The attorneys also say the rule goes “far beyond [HHS’s] statutory authority,” violates constitutional rights, and contradicts state bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (many of which have been blocked by courts). 

 . . .  The letter claims that Tennessee and other states have determined that gender-affirming care is “unproven and unsafe,” even though its methods have been used safely for decades and are deemed safe, effective, and essential by all major medical associations. The letter also claims that the new rule will lead to the persecution of religious families who restrict minors’ access to LGBTQ+-affirming media, social groups, and medical care. 

 However, the HHS’ proposed rule specifically says that it “would not require that every provider become designated as a safe and appropriate placement for LGBTQI+ children.”

Seattle middle school students tell Moms for Liberty to back off

SPLC-designated hate group Moms for Liberty is having a bad November. Their candidates were rejected by voters earlier this month. Now middle school students are calling them out for their bullying tactics.

From The Advocate:

Seattle Public Schools are spending class time indoctrinating and weaponizing your children.

The building of the Red Guard in America. pic.twitter.com/qB77Aw7Ypb

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) November 26, 2023

Students in the Seattle Public Schools have clapped back at Moms for Liberty, sending the far-right group handmade cards bearing pro-LGBTQ+ messages. Moms for Liberty, which campaigns against LGBTQ+ content in schools, supposedly in the name of parental rights, shared several images of the cards Saturday on its X (formerly Twitter) feed. One reads, “LGBTQ+ rights are human rights.” Another says, “Gay is slay, stop being a rat.” Another says, “My heart when people are homophobic,” with an image of a broken heart in rainbow colors. Most of the cards use the colors of the rainbow. 

 Moms for Liberty did not approve, to say the least. In the tweet showing the cards, the group wrote, “Seattle Public Schools are spending class time indoctrinating and weaponizing your children. The building of the Red Guard in America.” A Seattle Public Schools spokesperson said that creating and sending the cards was “an independent activity and not part of the school curriculum.” The cards were sent last spring.

Point of fact, Moms for Liberty - these kids are not being 'indoctrinated' as you like to put it. Some of them are LGBTQ, some come from homes with LGBTQ parents and siblings, while others probably have LGBTQ friends. Whatever the case may be, they all recognize that you are the outsiders or the wannabe indoctrinators. They recognize that no one in your group gives a damn about them and that you see them as only a prop or an excuse to undermine the rights, health, and safety of the LGBTQ community in general. To them, you are the enemy and deservedly so. Like in so many instances, the children plainly recognize what adults fail see. They cannot be fooled by phonies.

'Rep George Santos could face expulsion from the House this week' & other Tue midday news briefs

Rep. George Santos

Rep. George Santos could face expulsion from the House this week​ - Bye, bye George.

20 of 2023’s LGBTQ-Inclusive Early Readers, Chapter Books, and Early Middle Grade Titles - Make that Christmas list for reading material. 

Queer activists: ‘I told you so’ as DeSantis escalates queer erasure - Yep, DeSantis is going to try to make it all worse. 

‘We are not a threat’: Danielle McGahey reacts to ban on trans women in international women’s cricket - Amen. 

Republicans want to give transphobic employees more legal protections - Of course those bigots do.

Chaya Raichik, Libs of TikTok upset that Fruit Loops are encouraging children to read

Seems to me that Chaya Raichik and Libs of TikTok is running out of material. They are leading a comical charge of conservatives on Twitter attacking Fruit Loops cereal for encouraging kids to read.

From The Advocate:

Froot Loops cereal boxes feature a promotion offering free access to a digital library focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion in Canada. The initiative, LOOP TOGETHER, was launched in collaboration with BGC Canada and Kids Can Press to foster discussions about diverse topics among families. The library includes books on various subjects such as gender, immigration, multiculturalism, and disability, with titles like Maggie’s Chopsticks, My City Speaks, and Razia’s Ray of Hope. 

This campaign has attracted criticism from conservative circles. Libs of TikTok recently expressed disapproval on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The account wrote, “Fruit Loops promotes free access to a digital library on their cereal boxes for kids. The library offers a range of books to teach kids themes of “equity, diversity, and inclusion.” @KelloggsUS wants to indoctrinate your children with breakfast cereal. Stop giving them your money!” 

Other conservative commentators criticized Kellogg’s for encouraging children and their families to engage with various literature. Some social media users have called for boycotting Kellogg’s, drawing parallels to previous boycotts against brands like Bud Light.

Gasp! How Fruit Loops encourage kids to read! The horror of it all!

 I fail to see the problem with what's being done here. When I was a child, we had the RIF library come to our schools and allow us to pick out a free book. There is no difference between that and what is being done now.

The story here shouldn't be about Fruit Loops, although its program should be celebrated and encouraged. The story here is about pathetic, bottom-feeding, rage-farming bigots who are desperate for constant engagement. It's becoming ridiculous how they are making even the most simplistic things - such as literacy encouragement - about conspiracy theories and sexual indoctrination. It's getting downright tiring. And annoying. People need to recognize how pathetic people like Chaya Raichik and entities like Libs of TikTok are. And laugh at them. Constantly.