'Is Mike Huckabee backing away from anti-marriage equality position?' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Huckabee backs away from opposition to same-sex marriage - Dear Mike Huckabee, you can pretend that you are "coming around" when it comes to marriage equality but no self-respect lgbt will support your possible bid for president. We aren't stupid and even if some of us were "born yesterday," when it comes to you, those who were "born yesterday" was up all night studying. 

God, Gays and the Atlanta Fire Department - The New York Times lays the smack down on this fake case of violated "religious liberty" in Atlanta involving former fire chief Kelvin Cochran: 

"Imagine that Mr. Cochran, who is black, were an adherent of a religion that avowed the inferiority of white people, and that he distributed literature to that effect. He would not have lasted another day in a job that requires him to manage and protect the well-being of a large and diverse work force. It should not matter that the investigation found no evidence that Mr. Cochran had mistreated gays or lesbians. His position as a high-level public servant makes his remarks especially problematic, and requires that he be held to a different standard."

Speaking of which, go here to freep this poll. Cochran SHOULD have been fired.

Megapastor T.D. Jakes aligning with extremely anti-gay Harry Jackson, Family Research Council - For the record, I never did like T.D. Jakes. He teaches people fear and encourages ignorance disguised as "The Gospel." Just another dime-a-dozen fake preacher growing fat on his own ego. 
 
A Teacher Was Fired From A Russian School After Being Outed By An Anti-Gay Activist - Handle yo' business, girlfriend! 

Finally, I have a celebratory announcement to make. Today marks the two-year anniversary of the publishing of How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America. In those two years, my online booklet has over 1,000,000 views and over 2,000 downloads.

As this year progresses and hopefully the lgbt community wins more victories to ensure our equality, the anti-gay right will rely on ignorance and the reluctance of the media to fully investigate them in order to play "victim" to a supposed "encroaching gay agenda."

That entire point of view is a lie. For over 30 years, anti-gay groups and spokespeople have made the lgbt community scapegoats and victims in their campaign of distortions and misdirection. 

How They See Us has the goods on them. It is free and I encourage every one to download a copy from either this site , this one, or get a direct link to the booklet here.

South Carolina, Texas would punish government employees for recognizing same-sex marriages

SC Rep. Gary Smith

Apparently some legislators in South Carolina got a real bee in their bonnet about losing the marriage equality fight.

And they are going to take it out on government employees who would recognized these marriages. On December 11, SC Reps Gary Smith and Bill Chumley filed House Bill (H3022)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-1-235 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS AND PAYMENT OF GOVERNMENT SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE LICENSING AND SUPPORT OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, TO PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FROM RECOGNIZING, GRANTING, OR ENFORCING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES, TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF TAXES OR OTHER PUBLIC FUNDS TO ENFORCE A COURT ORDER TO ISSUE A SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSE, TO REQUIRE COURTS TO DISMISS CERTAIN LEGAL ACTIONS RELATED TO THE LICENSING AND RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND TO AWARD ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS IN THOSE ACTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE STATE FROM LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN CONDUCT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 3, Chapter 1, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-1-235.    (A)    No state or local taxpayer funds or governmental salaries may be paid for an activity that includes the licensing or support of same-sex marriage.

(B)    No state or local governmental employee officially shall recognize, grant, or enforce a same-sex marriage license. If an employee violates this subsection, the employee must not continue to receive a salary, pension, or other employee benefit at the expense of the taxpayers of this State.

(C)    No taxes or public funds may be utilized to enforce a court order requiring the issuance or recognition of a same-sex marriage license.

(D)    A court of this State shall dismiss a legal action challenging a provision of this section and shall award costs and attorney's fees to a person or entity named as a defendant in the legal action.

(E)    No person employed by this State or a local governmental entity who violates or interferes with the implementation of this section may continue to receive a salary, pension, or other employee benefit.

(F)    The State is not subject to suit in law or equity pursuant to the eleventh amendment of the United States Constitution for complying with the provisions of this section, regardless of a contrary federal court ruling.

(G)    If a judicial officer violates this section, that judicial officer is disqualified from office pursuant to Section 19, Article V of the South Carolina Constitution, 1895."

Here is something interesting which should be known. In Texas, legislators are proposing pretty much exactly the same bill, albeit with different text:

A bill has been introduced in the Texas Legislature that if enacted would strip the salary of any Texas-government employee who issues a marriage license to a same-sex couple.

Known as House Bill 623, the recently introduced bill declares that no state funds will go to the distribution of gay marriage licenses.

"State or local taxpayer funds or governmental salaries may not be used for an activity that includes the licensing or support of same-sex marriage," reads HB 623.

"If an employee violates this subsection, the employee may not continue to receive a salary, pension, or other employee benefit at the expense of the taxpayers of this State."

Of course these bill are ridiculous and would totally undercut our system of checks and balances as well as infringe upon the rights of same-sex couples who have legally won or could win the right to marriage. But I think the lgbt community, particularly our leaders, activists, and bloggers, would do ourselves a favor to not focus on the "puppets" in this matter, i.e. the lawmakers proposing these bills.  Instead, we should focus on the "puppet masters."

I am betting that we will see more of these mean-spirited bills pop up in other states because some entity is maneuvering this mess behind the scenes, probably even to the point of providing language for the lawmakers to use.

And I am almost certain that this entity, whoever it or they (meaning more than one organization) may be is obscuring their behind-the-scenes work by continuously claiming that Christians will be "persecuted" because of the onslaught of pro-marriage equality decisions.

It would be certainly embarrassing if these entities were made public, wouldn't it? After all, you can't plead victimhood when it shown that you have state legislators in your hip pockets.

 But who ever it or they may be, their hypocrisy is duly noted. Gay couples have been winning the right to marry fair and square via the courts. Seems to me that if these folks proposing all of this nasty legislation had any legitimate argument against marriage equality in the first place, they wouldn't be in the position to have to stoop so low in order to stop it.

'Sneaky attempts at anti-gay laws desperate strategy by losers' & other Monday midday news briefs

More Sneaky Anti-Gay Laws Popping Up - DO NOT get discouraged because this only means that we are winning. You can't have the victory without the attempted backlash. History has repeatedly shown this. The only difference here being we know that it's coming and should prepare ourselves to fight it. In other words . . . let's rock! 

New Missouri Bill Would Permit Christian College Groups To Discriminate Against Gay Students - Oh yeah. Religious liberty . . . and everything . . . 

Stop with the false witness–bearing, Focus on the Family! - In my eight plus years of blogging, it is very rare that I would catch Focus on the Family distorting legitimate studies. But the organization would distort current events as if it were going out of style.  

NYPD Reps Held Secret Talks With Virginia Republican Who Calls Gays 'Very Sick' - Way to go, guys! (eyes rolling).

 Bryan Fischer's Incoherent Theory Of The First Amendment - Fischer has a screwed up concept of Christianity. Why should we be shocked that he doesn't know anything about the first amendment?

NYT column provides excellent counterpoint to 'religious liberty' sham

Bruni

The column in Sunday's New York Times by writer Frank Bruni -  Your God and My Dignity Religious Liberty, Bigotry and Gays - is a dignified, but still take-no-prisoners counterpoint on the anti-gay idea of religious liberty.

It is also an important piece because it is the first (and hopefully not the last time) I know of that someone from the lgbt community has articulated our view on this subject in the mainstream media. We need more of this because if there aren't our voices being heard on the concept of 'religious liberty,' the only voices heard will be those coming from the anti-gay right:

. . .  Baking a cake, arranging roses, running an inn: These aren’t religious acts, certainly not if the establishments aren’t religious enclaves and are doing business with (and even dependent on) the general public.

Their owners are routinely interacting with customers who behave in ways they deem sinful. They don’t get to single out one group of supposed sinners. If they’re allowed to, who’s to say they’ll stop at that group?

  . . .  I support the right of people to believe what they do and say what they wish — in their pews, homes and hearts. But outside of those places? You must put up with me, just as I put up with you.

'Proposed legislation would punish clerks for issuing licenses to gay couples' & other Friday midday news briefs

 One Lawmaker’s Sneaky Attempt To Keep Marriage Equality Out Of Texas - Unbelievable. A Texas state lawmaker is proposing legislation which would make it illegal for clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples . . . even if marriage equality became legal in Texas. Senator Marco Rubio, if you don't understand why opponents of marriage equality are thought of as bigots, please see Exhibit A in Texas.

Religious Right Poised for Greater Power in 2015 - As much as we like to pretend that anti-gay groups are on their way out, the reality is that they have too much money and hold too much influence to fall even if their rhetoric is homophobic and archaic. They simply change the rhetoric. Folks, it's high time that we all get serious about this situation. Defeating these groups and securing our equality is going to entail more than profanity, useless public displays of anger (i.e. glitterbombing), and holding on to past actions as hallmarks of success. The anti-gay right are adapting to the times. We should also.  

Advice For America From Parents Who Support Their Transgender Kids - This is an excellent article and it should be given a wider audience.

Mike Huckabee: Ban Marriage Equality Because Bisexuals Demand Two Spouses - There are actually people out there who want this boob to be president . . . 

 Anti-Gay Forces On Offense in Europe; ‘African Islam’ Challenged by Extremists; Irish Marriage Foes & ‘Sounds of Sodomy’; Global LGBT Recap - This is spooky and one has to ask just how much of it can be laid at the feet of the American religious right.

Anti-gay spokesman Bryan Fischer is blind to his OWN hypocrisy

In his zeal to defend former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran after Cochran's dismissal by the city for giving out a self-published anti-gay book to fellow employees, the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer becomes so shortsighted that he fails to see his own hypocrisy.

In the above video, while simultaneously defending Cochran's nonexistent right to publish the book and retain his job, Fischer repeats one of his earlier statements that gays should not be allowed to hold public office at all.

Now before anyone goes into a  "why should we bother to pay Fischer's nonsense any attention" tangent, please do remember that Fischer and the AFA does retain a considerable amount of influence to, at the very least, cause problems for the lgbt community.

According to Right Wing Watch (who supplied the above video):

Fischer’s radio show has become an obligatory stop for Republican presidential candidates, prominent Republican politicians and top social conservative activists. As the AFA’s leading talk show host, whose voice is heard on affiliates in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Fischer frequently hosts likely presidential candidates who are looking to make inroads among Religious Right voters.

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and businessman Herman Cain have all appeared on Fischer’s radio show. In addition, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour were both guests on Fischer’s show while they were weighing runs for the presidency. Many of these leading GOP figures have voiced support for Fischer’s bigotry, conspiracy theories and extreme views.

Huckabee agreed with Fischer’s claim that President Obama “has some fundamentally anti-American ideas,” and explained to Fischer that he believes the Mau Mau Revolution, the Kenyan uprising against British colonialism in the 1950s, had detrimentally “molded” Obama’s “worldview.” Huckabee added, “Most of us grew up going to Boy Scout meetings and our communities were filled with Rotary Clubs, not madrassas.”

 Pawlenty and Barbour both promised Fischer that if elected they would reinstate the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, with Barbour warning that openly gay troops could bring an “amorous mindset” to the battlefield. When Fischer asked Gingrich how he would “slow down the homosexual agenda” as president, Gingrich pledged to work against gay rights. 

And then there Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who will be teaming up with Fischer and the AFA for a prayer vigil later this month. Jindal is said to be doing this in anticipation of a possible 2016 presidential run.

To even imply that the lgbt community shouldn't keep at least one eye open on Fischer and at least one spotlight on his unapologetic homophobia goes way beyond the definition of "oblivious."

'Fox News personality accuses gays of 'cultural cleansing'' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Todd Starnes: Gay Rights Movement Ushering In 'Cultural Cleansing' - The hyperbole is strong in THIS loser.

Kelvin Cochran and the homophobia hiding behind 'religious liberty'  - Yes I know this is an post of mine but I'm presenting it again because of a  personal resolution. Every time I feature a piece or post on how the anti-gay right is attempting to make Cochran a martyr (such as the piece above with Todd Starnes), I will be including THIS post because it gives an excellent point of view as to why "religious liberty" is a deceptive tactic.

Marco Rubio Slams Florida Court For Permitting Marriage Equality - Rubio is seriously bothering me on this issue. He is encouraging ignorance when it comes to our system of governing.

Larry Tomczak Warns Christians To Beware Of All The Gays On TV - Folks like Tomczak fear the visibility of lgbts because it destroys their false idea of our orientation being merely a 'sexual thing' which should not be talked about in public. We are people, not sex objects.

 Supreme Court To Meet Again On Hearing Gay Marriage - Keep your fingers crossed, brothers and sisters.

Fox News personality compares gays to 'Charlie Hebdo' terrorists

Erick Erickson

Yesterday, Fox News personality Erick Erickson went BELOW tacky:

Fox News contributor and radio talk show host Erick Erickson declared that "the terrorists won in Atlanta" after right-wing media falsely claimed that Atlanta's anti-gay fire chief was terminated for his religious beliefs.

On January 6, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed dismantled conservatives' claims that Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran was fired over a book that he wrote which contains anti-gay remarks, explaining that Cochran's lack of judgment in distributing the book to his employees, and not following instructions regarding his month-long suspension over publishing the book without notice to the city, is what led to his termination.

On January 7, hours after a horrific terrorist attack against staffers of the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris that left 12 people dead, Erickson wrote a blog post that likened the LGBT community to terrorists for objecting to the former Atlanta fire chief's book, and stated that "the terrorists won":

A publisher published something that offended. It mocked, it offended, and it showed the fallacy of a religion. It angered.

So the terrorists decided they needed to publicly destroy and ruin the publisher in a way that would not only make that destruction a public spectacle, but do it so spectacularly that others would think twice before publishing or saying anything similar.

The terrorist wants to sow fear. The destruction of an individual is not just meant to be a tool of vengeance, but a tool of instruction. It shows others what will happen to them if they dare do the same. It is generates self-regulating peer pressure. Others, fearing the fall out, will being to self-police and self-regulate. They will silence others on behalf of the terrorists. Out of fear, they will drive the ideas from the public square and society will make them off limits.
[...]
So they demanded the Mayor of Atlanta fire the Chief of the Fire Department for daring to write that his first duty was to "glory God" and that any sex outside of heterosexual marriage was a sin.

And the terrorists won in Atlanta.

No funny words or quips from me.  There aren't enough words for me to describe just how nasty and vile  Erickson is. And the words I can use . . . well I would rather not.

Related post:  Kelvin Cochran and the homophobia hiding behind 'religious liberty'

Comedy sketch gives the inside view of the homophobic mind

I've never been one to subscribe to the theory that the loudest homophobes are secretly gay because frankly, I don't care whether they are or not. But having said that, let me also say that the following skit from over 30 years ago courtesy of the short-lived comedy sketch show Fridays has me thinking with regards to the mindset of those who shout the loudest against the lgbt community. I have never laughed so hard in a long time:

'Possible Va legislation designed to stamp out lgbt equality' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Va. lawmaker wants to allow widespread discrimination against LGBT individuals - You REALLY need to read the text of this awful bill. It's not talking solely about gays who get married. It targets ALL lgbts and gives a good idea of where the anti-gay right will be headed.

Archbishop Of Miami Threatens To Fire Employees Who Support Marriage Equality - Talk about your stank attitudes.
 

Conservative uses teen’s suicide to smear transgender people as demon-possessed lunatics - Just sad trash.

 Look: Here's The Latest Map Of Marriage Equality In America - Here's something guaranteed to make you smile. 

Jeb Bush: 'Respect' My Opposition to Your Civil Rights Because 'Religious Liberty' - I respect it, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit on the side and just smile while you attempt to make me a second-class citizen. I respect your opposition, now you respect my dignity as a human being and my family.

Kelvin Cochran and the homophobia hiding behind 'religious liberty'

Cochran

The fire chief of Atlanta, GA, Kelvin Cochran, was just dismissed because of a self-published book he wrote which was viewed as homophobic. According to Think Progress:

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (D) announced Tuesday that he has fired Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, who had previously been suspended for publishing and distributing a book condemning homosexuality..

  . . . Since Cochran’s suspension last month, he has become a bit of a martyr for conservatives, who believe he has been persecuted for his religious beliefs. J. Edgar White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, suggested that Cochran was among those “who are punished or marginalized for their faith” and called on Christians to purchase his book and support him.

Reed was adamant during Tuesday’s press conference that Cochran’s religious beliefs were not the reason he was fired. His book, Who Told You That You Were Naked?, was published in violation of Atlanta’s Standards of Conduct, which requires approval from the Ethics Officer and the Board of Ethics. According to Reed, Cochran’s “actions and decision-making undermine his ability to manage our fire department” because employees need to feel that they are “a valued member of the team and that fairness and respect guide employment.

That's the story before conservatives and the religious right will attempt to make Cochran the newest martyr of the concept of  'religious liberty.'   'Religious liberty' is a phrase these individuals have coined to claim that those who practice their version Christian faith in America are supposedly being persecuted because of their objections to homosexuality and marriage equality. To them, "persecution" is a wide and loaded term which includes being forced to serve gay customers or, as we see with the above situation with Cochran, not being allowed to "voice objections" to homosexuality in places where such objections aren't exactly conducive or appropriate to the environment.

It is a concept which is gaining speed now that marriage equality is becoming more accepted and swiftly the law throughout the country.  'Religious liberty' has gained support from the "fire and brimstone" sect, who see persecution behind every bush, to the concern trolls who clamor that since gays are gaining the right to marry, we should "be nice and respectful" to those who oppose our general equality.

In other words, "religious liberty" is a load of nonsense.  It's equivalent to a good paint job a bad car salesman puts on an busted up clunker in a sad attempt to cover that it's stinker.

First of all gays were not given the right to marry. It was a right which should have been ours from the start and one which we earned by slowly slogging through the trenches and terrain of this ridiculous so-called culture war.

'Religious right, conservatives FURIOUS at Newsweek article' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

How Dare Anyone Criticize Fox News' Christian Viewers! - A Newsweek article has earned the anger of conservatives and the religious right because it dared to push the theory that the Bible is misunderstood and that many so-called Christians, evangelicals, and fundamentalists are exploiting it to bash lgbts and force their worldview on American society. I think the author, Kurt Eichenwald, should win some type of award on that score alone. LOVE this opening: 

They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of homosexuals. They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school. They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats. They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country’s salvation. They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch. They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify translations to prove they are honoring the Bible’s words. 

Todd Starnes: 'Repugnant' Newsweek 'Blasted The Bible' By Disagreeing With Conservatives - As a matter of fact, Fox News personality Todd Starnes is pitching a hissy fit over the entire situation. 

Atlanta fire chief back on job, is new face of Georgia ‘religious freedom’ fight - And while we are on the subject of exploiting the Bible to bash lgbts . . .  

Transgender Teen Shares Coming Out Story With Inspiring Birthday Photos - This is sooooo cute! 

Here's What Same-Sex Marriage In Florida Looks Like - Pictures of the weddings taking place in Florida! What a great day!

 Conservatives Admit The Truth On Indiana ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill - And that truth they don't want lgbts to even have cheese on our whopper burgers.

'Sounds of Sodomy' flyer backfires on anti-gay group

An anti-gay group from Ireland thought they had an original argument against marriage equality. As it turns out, not only was the argument unoriginal and repulsive to boot, but it made the group a laughing stock:

A friend handed this to me today. This anti #marriagequality leaflet was being handed out yesterday - no words. pic.twitter.com/Jnk5A6m7Eb
— Steve Conlon (@stevenconlon) January 5, 2015

Despite the fact that straight parents have sex too, and straight people sometimes unwittingly allow their children to hear it, a yet to be identified lobby group purportedly produced a large number of these leaflets and handed them out in County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland.

Urging Christian voters to oppose equal marriage rights for homosexuals, the flyer says it hopes to put an end to this "beastly obsession with unholy acts."

'Some gay marriages in Florida happening NOW' & other Monday midday news briefs

Ruling by Miami-Dade judge allows same-sex marriages to begin in Florida - Boom! 

3 things to know about same-sex marriage in Florida today - While gays can marry, some clerks and counties continue to act stupid.  

To Avoid Marrying Same-Sex Couples, 14 Florida Counties Stop All Courthouse Weddings - I reiterate - Total and completely stupid. 

 LGBT-owned firms get diversity boost - This is sweet!  

Michael Sam sells more NFL jerseys than top draft pick Jadeveon Clowney - Oh come on, guys. Hurry up and draft this guy!  

Porno Pete Ends 2014 Bemoaning Anti-Gay Losses, Writing Poetry - Some folks will ask why am I paying this nut any attention. It's simple. Anyone who has the temerity to rhyme "gayness" with "anus" deserves some sort of prize, even if it is the booby prize.

'Gay agenda' - fact vs. fiction

I read the following amusing "news article" courtesy of the American Family Association's One News Now:

The Human Rights Campaign has launched an $8.5 million campaign targeting three states in the South with the homosexual agenda. Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) says the strategy is obvious.

"The Human Rights Campaign, the world's largest homosexual lobby group, knows that the Bible Belt is the last bastion of people who are really solid on the homosexual issue," he explains. "And so they're naturally going after Mississippi, Alabama, [and] Arkansas; they're going after those states that still believe strongly in the Word of God."

Tim Cooke, the CEO of Apple and a native of Alabama, has come out as a homosexual and has made a substantial donation to the campaign targeting the three states. So LaBarbera urges pastors to realize that the movement, which sees homosexuality as a "gift" from God, is a battering ram to attack the Christian faith.

"They have to do things like change the definition of marriage. It's all a part of a desperate quest for affirmation -- anything it takes to take this thing which is a sin and turn it into something good or a civil right," the AFTAH president submits.

He concludes that people of faith, especially pastors, "have to be the ones who point this out to the rest of the culture."

It is an ignorant one-sided piece of propaganda which only serves to as a pitiful attempt to keep LaBabera in the public eye. It also underlines why those who share LaBarbera's point of view are losing ground everyday.

They continue to speak of the lgbt community as outsiders, as mysterious invaders looking to bogart ourselves into American culture and cause all sorts of mayhem.

They can't seem to understand that they are clinging to old images and old fears.  Meanwhile, the following video represents what we really are. And it also represents the simple fact that America has passed LaBarbera and company by.And the almost sad thing is that LaBarbera and company fails to realize this fact:

'Marriage equality set to begin in Florida' & other Friday midday news briefs

Federal Judge Allows Gay Marriages To Begin Across Florida - We won this a long time ago but SOME FOLKS were and still are determined to drag this out . . . 

Despite Federal Ruling, Florida AG Refuses To Direct Court Clerks To Issue Marriage Licenses - . . . for as long as they can.  

New And Disturbing Details Emerge About Leelah Alcorn's Life From Posts She Made To Reddit - The death of transgender Leelah Alcorn is still reverberating through our community as an example of how ignorance and transphobia can take the life of a child. I pray for all involved, including the parents, who are the cause of so much anger. Some folks may get angry at me for this but I stand by it. It has been my experience that a lot of times as they get older, some homophobic and transphobic parents who disown their children tend to come around. Probably because the parents realize how their stringency has caused them to hurt their children and how much needless time is wasted over their own lack of trust in their children. In spite of their misgivings and reluctance, they have the conversation with their child they should have a long time ago and come to an understanding and a degree of acceptance. Leelah Alcorn's parents will never have that luxury. Some folks may not believe this but the time will come when they regret their role in their child's death. God help them because I don't want to be there when they do and when they realize nothing they do or say will bring their child back. It will be punishment enough for them.

Leelah Alcorn And The Quiet Genocide Of Transgender People - More on this awful situation.  

Catholic Organization Cancels Agreement For Same-Sex Wedding Reception; Changes Mind After Uproar - You accepted the reservation in September and NOW you want to change your mind? 'Religious liberty' my tuckus!  
 
Are Gay Rights Advocates Facing An Uphill Battle For Rights Beyond Same-Sex Marriage? - Uphill, downhill, level field. It don't matter. I'm ready to fight. We will get what belongs to us.

Anti-gay hate group planning something big and especially homophobic for 2015

Tim Wildmon of AFA

"Early next year, AFA will launch a new project unlike any other in the pro-family movement. It’s been almost a year in the making and we’re just about ready to release it.

Because atheists and homosexual activists will go all out to attack AFA and this revolutionary new tool for Christians and their families, I can’t go into much detail right now. But…I can tell you that we have put an enormous amount of work and financial resources behind it."

I got an email asking for money from the anti-gay American Family Association and its president, Tim Wildmon, earlier this week. Included in the ask was the above statement. Apparently AFA has big plans for 2015 and those plans will involve attempting to make life for the lgbt community all sorts of hell.

No matter. I've a couple of plans myself.  And knowing the American Family Association and its reluctance to put a kibosh on the mouth of its most visible member, Bryan Fischer, I'm willing to wager that my plans will succeed and theirs will fail.

Editor's note - part of MY plan includes getting a copy of this free online booklet to as many folks as possible:

How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America

Download your copy now. It's completely free and safe.

'End of 2014 - life, death, & resolve' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Gay Black Men, It's Time to Do Away With 'Trade' and Down-Low Brothers in 2015 - Triple AMEN to this post. 

Trans teen: ‘My death needs to mean something’ - no one should have to die to make a difference in the world, especially a child. We have LOTS more work to do in the coming year. 

 Gay-hating Duggars have a lesbian in their family — and she thinks they’re crazy - I got news for girlfriend. We ALL think they are nuts. 

 Peter LaBarbera’s Terrible, Horrible Anti-LGBT Year - Any time THAT turkey has a bad year is always a reason to celebrate.  

The Top Sports Moments of 2014 That Scored Major LGBT Points - Cause I love me some sports. Playing football is the only time I ever got cheered for chasing, tackling, and wrestling down a man to the ground.

Defense Secretary Hagel's holiday message includes gay military couple

The above holiday greeting from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and his wife, Lillibet, includes nice addition - an image of MM2 2nd Class Jerrel Revels' proposal to his boyfriend Dylan Kirchner.

According to the Huffington Post:

This viral gay marriage proposal happened in 2013, just two short years after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A gay military couple has reportedly never before been included in the Defense Secretary's holiday message for the troops.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

'Top 14 anti-lgbt villains of 2014' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Parents who spoke out for their LGBT children in 2014 - THESE folks should be commended for being true loving parents. 

14 Of The Worst Anti-LGBT Villains Of 2014 - Meanwhile, THIS usual cast of nauseating characters need a swift kick in the tuckus (figuratively, of course).  
  
ADF Lawyer: Gay Rights Opponents May Soon Be 'Put In Jail For Standing For Marriage' - Oh please. I'm still waiting for us to "arrest pastors for preaching that homosexuality is a sin" due to lgbt-inclusive hate crime laws.   
Rhode Island Supreme Court Shoots Down Firefighters' Religious Liberty Lawsuit - That ends that (hopefully).  

The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality - With marriage equality becoming a reality, there will be many books like this one. I'm still waiting on someone to write how lgbt bloggers contributed and rocked the fight for marriage equality. Come on, my mystery writer. I don't want to end up like Little Richard going "I'll tell the real story . . ."