Ted Cruz quietly becoming the anti-gay right's favorite GOP presidential candidate

Editor's note - Today's news briefs may be either pre-empted or postponed.

Ted Cruz

Here is a scary FACT. While Donald Trump is grabbing all of the headlines and attention, Ted Cruz (a more serious candidate for president) has been quietly grabbing support and endorsements from anti-gay organizations and figures.

From Right Wing Watch:

Ted Cruz won a major victory in his effort to consolidate support from the Religious Right today when he was endorsed by Bob Vander Plaats, who leads the Iowa-based conservative group, The Family Leader. Vander Plaats, a two-time gubernatorial candidate who in the two previous election cycles backed Iowa caucus winners Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, respectively, offers one of the most highly sought after endorsements in the state: Donald Trump reportedly joked that he would turn his plane around to join The Family Leader’s presidential forum if Vander Plaats would guarantee him his backing. Vander Plaats is one of several right-wing figures to coalesce behind Cruz, who has attracted the support of ultraconservative activists like Troy Newman, who wishes the government would execute abortion providers; Ron Baity, a pastor who links gay rights to Ebola; Flip Benham, a convicted abortion doctor stalker who holds protests at gay couples’ weddings; Sandy Rios, a virulently anti-LGBT radio host and hate group official; Dick Black, a Virginia lawmaker with noxious views on marital rape and “baby pesticide”; and Cynthia Dunbar, who thinks gay rights advocacy is “the same type of thing that was done in pre-Holocaust Germany.” 

And then there are these words from Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council via email:

The campaign's intentional effort to win over social conservatives is paying off, as Cruz pieces together a formidable army of support from evangelicals, whose causes he has never failed to champion. While Ted has been effective on an array of national issues, he hasn't strayed from his theme -- which is that 2016 is going to be a "religious liberty election." That continues to resonate with Americans, who open their newspapers every day to a new story of religious hostility -- whether it's the Air Force Academy football team or the University of Tennessee's censorship.

Unlike the ghosts of candidates past, Cruz is not only unafraid of the tough issues -- he's fearless in tackling them. Just this week, the senator blasted the most disliked commander-in-chief in generations, telling a group of black pastors that it's no wonder President Obama has a pathetic level of support (15 percent) from American service members. "You look at the military," Cruz told FRC's E.W. Jackson, "and one of the things we've seen is morale in the military under the Obama administration has plummeted, and it has plummeted because you have a commander-in-chief that doesn't support our soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines." He won't even name the enemy "radical Islamic terrorism," Cruz went on, and is "more interested in promoting homosexuality in the military" than in "defeating our enemy."

I don't know how you feel, but I personally think Cruz is scarier than Trump. Trump is a self-aggrandizing blowhard. Cruz may actually have a shot at being the GOP nominee.

Cincinnati bans fraudulent practice of "ex-gay" therapy

Even though I hope Cincinnati's pro-football team loses to the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, I must commend the city for taking the right step in ensuring the health of lgbts and particularly lgbt children. And it did this in spite of opposition.

From Cincinnati.com:

Almost two dozen pastors and citizens packed Cincinnati Council Chambers on Wednesday in an organized effort to stop a proposed city ban on so-called "conversion" therapy for gay youth.

In the end, council voted 7-2 to pass the law, which prohibits therapy designed to change sexual orientation or gender identity for minors, and imposes a $200-a-day fine on violators. Cincinnati follows four states – California, Oregon, Illinois and New Jersey – and the District of Columbia banning the therapy, becoming the first city outside of D.C. to do so.

 . . .  "This is about saving the lives of LGBT people," said Councilman Chris Seelbach, who led the effort to bring the ban to the city. He spoke of Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teenager who killed herself last December; her suicide note cited the controversial therapy to which she had been subjected.
"She challenged us to make her death matter, and we’re doing just that," Seelbach said.

Twenty-one people spoke out against the ban during Council's comment period, decrying it as an assault on free speech and freedom of religion.

These folks should be aware of the fact that both freedom of speech and religion have reasonable limits. You can't yell "fired" in crowded theatre and parents can't keep their children from getting proper medical care even if they claim said medical care is against their religion.

And according to several medical organizations; including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and the American College of Physicians, "conversion" or  "ex-gay" therapy is not only fraudulent but can pose a serious danger.
 

'Community, school board strike back against Liberty Counsel lawsuit threat' & other Thur midday news briefs

Score one for the good guys.

Conservatives Threatened A School For Supporting A Transgender Student. Their Response Was Perfect. - Wonderful!  When a school in its area is threatened with a lawsuit for having kids read a book about a transgender child, the Mount Horeb Area School District community (Wisconsin) strike back by having a public reading of the book AND the school board unanimously passes full transgender-inclusive measures. This tea is so sweet and lemony when it is sipped.  

Tennessee school wins right to ban gays and women who’ve had sex: ‘This is who we are’ - "For our religious liberty . . . and everything . . ."  

Anti-LGBT Texas Officials Claim They're Being Bullied By Pro-Civil Rights Group - Cue the violin. If you are affiliated with national anti-gay hate groups, you only have yourself to blame for the attention you receive.

Texas Appeals Court Reinstates Convictions Of Hateful, Violent Gay Pride Protesters – Texas is popular today (and not in a good way). 

 Lastly, two posts from the past two days to serve as reminders: 

 Muslims join lgbts as the victims of Family Research Council lies 

  That time when a Family Research Council spokesman wanted to 'export' gays . . .  

The Family Research Council uses junk science and lies to demonize the Muslim community, just like it usually does against the lgbt community. And it wasn't that long ago that a member of that group was talking about "exporting" gays, much like Donald Trump is talking about not allowing Muslim immigrants to come to the United States. It's sad and funny that scapegoating never changes except for the names of the innocents who are targeted.

Muslims join lgbts as the victims of Family Research Council lies

Tony Perkins lies about Muslims the same way he lies about lgbts.

I generally go after the Family Research Council for the lies and distortions it spews about lgbts. However, since Donald Trump's eruption against the Muslim community, all attention seems to be there.

And this includes that of the Family Research Council's.

I wish I could say  that the organization actually shows itself as the Christian group it claims to be - i.e. the reason it claims to be against lgbt equality - by calling out Trump's incendiary and prejudiced rhetoric, but no such luck.

Instead, FRC uses techniques which us lgbts should be used to (citing distorted or junk science and wholesale demonization under the cover of religion) to actually defend Islamophobic prejudice in general.  The following is just a snippet from an email by its president, Tony Perkins:

What most people either don't realize or willfully ignore is that only 16 percent of Islam is a religion -- the rest is a combination of military, judicial, economic, and political system. Christianity, by comparison, isn't a judicial or economic code -- but a faith. So to suggest that we would be imposing some sort of religious test on Muslims is inaccurate. Sharia is not a religion in the context of the First Amendment. Under the framework proposed by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rick Santorum, America wouldn't vet refugees based on religion but an ideology that's incompatible with American liberty. "I've proposed actual concrete things [like eliminating the visa lottery system] and immigration law that would have -- not the effect of banning all Muslims, but a lot of them," Santorum explained.

The bottom line is this: the U.S. Constitution is an agreement between people about how they'll be governed. What good is it if people immigrate to America with the sole purpose of undermining that contract? We shouldn't be embarrassed to say that we oppose those who want to come to the United States to destroy it. And while most Muslims are not radicalized, Sharia certainly encourages it. Based on polling from the Center for Security Policy, that's the system most would choose. The majority of Muslims in America believe they "'should have the choice of being governed by Sharia [law].' Sharia authorizes such atrocities as murder against non-believers who won't convert, beheadings, and more unthinkable acts that pose great harm to Americans, especially women."

First of all, for an organization constantly whining about attacks on religious liberty, it is extremely hypocritical for the Family Research Council to dictate what encompasses Islam. No matter what the organization says, Islam is a religion, just like Christianity. And if one looked at the historical perspective, Christianity  once embraced a military, judicial, and economic code in Europe and in the early days of this country.  Lastly, as much as FRC likes to brag how Christian beliefs encompasses the actions and decisions of its favored legislators and leaders, the fact that the group seeks to pull back and claim that Christianity is merely a "faith" is morally dishonest.

That time when a Family Research Council spokesman wanted to 'export' gays . . .

I noticed that the Family Research Council, that lovely "Christian" group, has been conveniently silent during this madness with Donald Trump and Muslims. It's probably because a few years back, a spokesman with the group, Peter Sprigg, made the following comment about "exporting" gays:



The mindsets that prejudiced fanatics share are certainly fascinating, aren't they?

'The victims of 'religious liberty'' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

 We Were Turned Away on What Should Have Been Our Happiest Day Because We're a Same-sex Couple - This wonderful post underscores what we need to do when it comes to the bogus religious liberty argument. The religious right bogarts time focusing on those who discriminate, painting them as the victims when they are not. We need more lgbt couples telling THEIR stories of how they were discriminated against and how this discrimination is an attack on their rights and dignity. 

FRC: 'Sexual Radicals' Are Coming After 'Your Family' - Lovely! Tis the season to fundraise by demonizing lgbts. For the Family Research Council's information, we are not after families. We just want Judy Garland's birthday to be declared an international holiday . . . 

 911 Audio: Hotel Manager Reports Guest For Being Transgender - Hot mess and a half!!

 LGBT and Allied Community Dominates Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations - In the nominations which are the precursors to the Oscars, lgbt-themed movies did well. Of course I'm not satisfied, but it's a start.

 Law Created To 'Protect' Magistrates From Marrying Same-Sex Couples Now Target Of Federal Lawsuit - Things just got interesting in North Carolina!

 This Man Is Challenging Jamaica’s Ban On Homosexuality - Kudos to this brave man.

Muslims and Gays - GOP targets for the 2016 election

Thanks to Donald Trump, the 2016 presidential election is turning into a sort of open season on Muslims. However, the lgbt community shouldn't feel left out. We're not exactly left behind on the pecking scale of scapegoating. Think Progress has come out with an excellent article showing that while Trump has made attacks on Muslims into a main issue, other GOP candidates have extreme anti-gay positions. Allow me to give a few examples:

Rubio

Marco Rubio:

In an interview this weekend with David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Marco Rubio outlined outlined extensive plans for enabling discrimination against LGBT people in the name of religious liberty. As president, Rubio said he would do the following:

• Rescind President Obama’s executive order protecting the LGBT employees of federal contractors.
• Only appoint Supreme Court Justices committed to undoing marriage equality and a woman’s right to an abortion.
• Protect religious organizations that wish to refuse service to same-sex couples.

Rubio seemed to imply that employing and serving LGBT people were themselves sinful actions. “There are many government contractors and small companies who provide services to the government who are faith-based people, and they are being compelled to sin by government in their business conduct,” he said. “That is not something we should be supporting.”

Cruz

 Ted Cruz:

Ted Cruz recently sat down with National Organization for Marriage founder Robert George for an interview on EWTN, a Catholic television network. In one segment, Cruz agreed with George that the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision was “profoundly wrong,” “fundamentally illegitimate,” “lawless,” and “not based on the Constitution.”

Cruz then referenced Justice Anthony Kennedy’s recent comments that a public official that can not follow the decision, like Kim Davis, should resign. During his remarks, Kennedy alluded to the fact that very few judges resigned from the Nazi German government. Thus, Cruz claimed, he was comparing the Supreme Court to Nazis. “This isn’t me calling them the Nazis,” Cruz explained, “this is Justice Kennedy calling the court on which he serves, calling the opinion that he wrote — analogizing that to the Nazi decrees that we must obey. That is an arrogance, it is an elitism, it is being out of touch with our nation.
”
In another segment, Cruz fielded a question about accommodations for transgender students in public schools. He condemned such policies as “ridiculous” decisions made by “zealots.” “I don’t want my daughters taking showers with little boys; I don’t want them when they’re in junior high or high school. And it’s absurd. No parents do.”
 

And those two are seen as the front-runners behind Trump. The others - Huckabee and Carson - aren't exactly "prom nights" for the lgbt community.

In light of what we have gained this year - i.e. marriage equality - it would be cultural suicide for the lgbt community to sit this election out or not pay attention to the Islamophobic rhetoric coming out of the mouths of the GOP.

'The anti-gay right and the targeting of transgender children' & other Tue. midday news briefs

District 211 keeps deal on transgender student after heated debate - In the case of the transgender student in Illinois, confusion reigns. There are some stories which say the school capitulated to the Justice Department in this situation. But it's not clear.

How One Illinois School Really, Really Wants To Discriminate - One thing which is clear is something everyone is missing in terms of just how sinister transphobia is as compared to basic homophobia. False claims about gays and lesbians being predators were centered more on adults. The negative effects of these claims trickled down to gay and lesbian children, making us feel isolated and depressed. In the case of transgender children, the anti-gay right and their supporters have NO compunctions with putting the bullseye directly on the child. 

'We will teach tolerance': After community debate, Mount Horeb School Board approves transgender measures - But there is good news in Wisconsin without any confusion.  

Sharp Rise In HIV Among Young Black Gay Men Is “An Injustice,” Health Official Says - Yes it is. And symbolic how in both the lgbt AND African-American communities, gay black men are falling through the cracks. Don't pray for us afterwards. Help us now.

Same-sex adoption case challenges what it means to be parent - Still things to do . . .

Huckabee thinks he can take away rights that lgbt Americans earned

Most of us are alarmed about Donald Trump because he is a bombastic fool whose ideas are a threat to the integrity of this country. But let's not forget others whose ideas are equal threats, even though they aren't as vulgarly bombastic in expressing them. Take this video above of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee being interviewed by NOM founder Robert George. Huckabee is explaining why he would actually ignore the SCOTUS ruling which legalized marriage equality. He comes across as calm and deceptively reasonable, but allow me to decode what he says:

"I don't like the ruling so as president, I will ignore it. Even though it had gone through the proper channels, I will usurp the authority of the Supreme Court because they didn't rule the way I wanted them to. And of course my way is the right way because I worship the correct God. Who cares about gays because really they don't count as American citizens." 

No matter how pretty you attempt to make it sound, b.s. is b.s. whether it is from obnoxious individual such as Donald Trump or a deceptive homophobe like Mike Huckabee.

Allstate Insurance commercial continues wonderful trend of spotlighting same-sex families

One day, commercials featuring same-sex families won't be as a big deal, but something rather commonplace. Either way, it's still wonderful to show these realities:

Kansas embroiled in HUGE gay adoption scandal - News Brief Special

Editor's note - Today's news briefs are devoted to a huge controversy brewing even as we speak in Kansas involving gay adoption. We cannot ignore this: 

  Topeka Child Abuse Case Raises Questions About Kansas Policy On Gay Adoptions - And this is the case that started it all. A heterosexual couple was granted custody of a child over a lesbian couple last year. The heterosexual couple has just been arrested on multiple accounts of child abuse.

Johnson County judge: Kansas agency conducted ‘witch hunt’ against lesbian foster parents - While investigating the above case, this 2013 sealed court ruling came out involving ANOTHER case with a same-sex couple.

 Schumm's father testified in landmark case on same-sex adoption - Something worth knowing - the father in the Topeka case who was arrested has a very interesting linkage to individuals who testify as "expert witnesses" against gays. His father, though not testifying in this particular case, has been called to testify against same-sex parenting in other cases, particular in Florida, where he was accused of "cooking his data." He also cites the discredited work of Paul Cameron. 

 Lawmaker calls for audit into anti-gay discrimination claims against DCF - As you can see, the situation has blown up into a huge controversy.

More same-sex couples accuse DCF of discrimination - We are talking HUGE. 

 Kansas senator criticizes media coverage of foster care and gay rights - And the opposition has been knocked on their behinds. 

Photo take from www.watermarkonline.com

Rubio wants to reverse Obama's pro-LGBT executive orders

Marco Rubio

Presidential candidate Marco Rubio seems to think that he is running for "Christian-in-chief" rather than "Commander-in-chief."  From The Washington Blade:

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has pledged to reverse President Obama’s executive order barring anti-LGBT workplace discrimination among federal contractors, saying faith-based businesses are “being compelled to sin by government in their business conduct.” Rubio made the remarks during Thanksgiving week in the same interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network in which he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in favor of same-sex marriage is “not settled law.” The media outlet didn’t publish the portion of the interview in which Rubio talked about Obama’s order until Saturday.

 . . . The U.S. senator from Florida said the U.S. government must not requite organizations “motivated by their faith or organized around their faith from having to violate the tenants of their faith, and that includes government contractors.” “There are many government contractors and small companies who provide services to the government who are faith-based people, and they are, they are being compelled to sin by government in their business conduct,” Rubio said. “That is not something we should be supporting.”

Rubio's comments underscores just how far this ridiculous argument regarding "religious liberty" has under gone.  Sacrificing fairness for the sake of religion puts us back in the dark ages.

'Flawed research still being used against same-sex parenting' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Mark Regnerus' debunked study is still be used against gays

Op-Ed Why attacks on same-sex parenting depend on flawed research - Wonderful piece by Nathaniel Frank which touches on something always sticking deep in my craw. Anti-gay groups and and their spokespeople have constantly used flawed or cherry-picked information to demonize lgbts. They've been doing it for decades and if it weren't for the hard work of various folks - THIS blogger included - they would still be getting away with it. You see, the usage of flawed and cherry-picked info by anti-gay sources doesn't get the attention it deserves in the mainstream press, lgbt and otherwise. 

Transgender Actress Mya Taylor’s Journey From Unemployed Sex Worker To Oscar Contender - Wonderful interview with one of the stars of probably the best movie of the year you haven't heard about. I've seen the preview and I loved it. I am rooting for Oscar consideration. It would certainly provide a positive shot in the arm for the Academy and America in general.  

Michigan GOP to Introduce Resolution to Nullify Obergefell - You can't nullify a SCOTUS decision. You really should try doing something, like helping the citizens of your state. You know, the job you were elected to do.

Effort To Repeal Anchorage’s LGBT Rights Law Focuses On Bathrooms - Oh great. Here we go again with the "bathroom bill" mess. But this article involves a little kernel we should use - the person behind the effort to repeal this bill couldn't cite any proof of her horror stories about "predators in women's restrooms."  

The Absurd Reason Why Kim Davis Is Being Touted For TIME's Person Of The Year - Lawd, give me strength. If this woman is EVEN considered for this honor, I will be one pissed-off queen. And me pissed off is NOT a pretty sight.

Throwback Thursday - Blazing Saddles & The Ritz

I interrupt my nightly blogging regarding anti-gay distortions to make this announcement:

There is just too much damn sadness in the world today.  So for Throwback Thursday, I posting clips from two of my favorite movies.

The first is from the Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. Never mind what it's about. Let's just say it began as a comedy western until the fourth wall was broken, thereby causing this inside joke about old Hollywood musicals to erupt in delightfully offensive chaos:



The second clip is from the movie The Ritz, which really didn't do that well as a motion picture, but it was a hit as a Broadway play, which earned Rita Moreno a Tony award as incredibly bad singer Googie Gomez. Here she is doing her hit number in a gay bath house. And it is bad. Hilariously so. Although I LOVED the way she walked out at the beginning:

'Dehumanizing transgender children is wrong' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Christian schools seek Title IX waivers to bar trans students - Feel free but don't think you have a right to tax dollars. Exemptions only go so far and they should never coddle discrimination, particularly when it comes to our lgbt kids and their education. 

6 State Leaders Argue Transgender Students Deserve No Accommodations In Schools - Simply tacky to treat our kids this way.  

Breitbart Uses "Trannies" To Mock 15-Year-Old Transgender Activist - Second verse, same as the first. Stop picking on transgender folks, especially the children.  

Dominican cardinal calls married gay U.S. ambassador ‘wife’ - It was meant to be nasty and it's not the first time this cardinal got ugly with the lgbt community.  

Arkansas Refuses To List Same-Sex Parents On Birth Certificates Despite Judge's Ruling - Uh hello! Arkansas needs to get with the program.

Ted Cruz has conference call with extreme anti-gay activists, attacks lgbt equality

Ted Cruz

It's not just that presidential candidate Ted Cruz had a conference call with anti-gay activists. It's also the fact that these activists are extremely hardcore anti-gay:

From Right Wing Watch:

Sen. Ted Cruz continues to woo anti-gay extremists, this time appearing on a conference call for conservative activists organized by E.W. Jackson, the former GOP nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia. During his run for office, Jackson won notoriety for his remarks about gay people, whom he referred to in one interview with fringe anti-gay leader Peter LaBarbera as “perverted,” “degenerate,” “spiritually darkened” and “frankly very sick people psychologically, mentally and emotionally.” As it happens, LaBarbera, the leader of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, was on the call that Jackson organized with Cruz last week and had a chance to ask the Texas Republican about his stance on “the gay agenda.” LaBarbera asked Cruz how he would reverse the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling and if he would “end Obama’s policy of actually flying the rainbow flag at U.S. embassies worldwide” and oppose “the Equality Act, which I’m calling the Homosexual Superiority Act, in Congress.” Cruz only answered LaBarbera’s first question about the Obergefell case, railing against the landmark gay marriage decision as “one of the greatest threats to our democracy we had seen in modern times,” and went on to criticize President Obama for being “more interested in promoting homosexuality in the military than he is in defeating our enemy.”

I know the lgbt community likes to have our autonomy when voting, but it would do us well to pay attention to this upcoming election because some folks are determined to make us one of the issues . . . again.

'Anti-gay activist returns with new trash' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Ryan T. Anderson

The Conservatives’ Guide To Justifying Discrimination Against LGBT People - Like a horror movie fungus, Ryan T. Anderson is back. Fresh from his marriage equality defeat, Anderson is now talking about justifying anti-lgbt discrimination.  

Chicago's first LGBT retirement center: 'Here, people would come to my aid' - Wonderful idea. We often forget the elderly lgbt community. 

When Condoms Aren't Enough - From the article - "Critics of the HIV-prevention pill say it's not as good as safe sex. That's a false comparison, and a dangerous one."

 8 Common Misconceptions About HIV And AIDS - Still needs to be known.

Trigger warning be damned - Let us all see the vile face of transphobia, homophobia

In yesterday's newbriefs, I made a serious error.

I linked to a story about a homophobic, transphobic Jacksonville preacher who claimed that he was going to be using the bathroom while dressed in drag.

He said that this was his idea of protesting a human rights ordinance. Well being the talker that he is, the preacher didn't follow through with his claim. However, he was passing out a flyer which I found so disgusting that I refused to post it.

That was a mistake. As nauseating as it is, sometimes it is the duty of us lgbt bloggers to shine a light on the hatred that the media and "upstanding bougiee" lgbt activists won't.  What you are about to see is filthy, vile, disgusting. Ignoring it won't make it go away, sidestepping it won't make it go away. And laughing at it doesn't diminish the power of fear is invokes in those ignorant of the transgender community.

To some of you it may be amusing, but don't be so quick to laugh.

This is the work of those who would stoop to lies and distortions in order to strip the lgbt community, and particularly our transgender brothers and sisters, of their humanity and reduce us into boogeymen out to corrupt children.

And remember that there really is no difference between this flyer and the junk put out by "mainstream" anti-gay groups such as the Family Research Council, except for subtlety. They may not spotlight flyers as extreme as the one below, but language veers toward that direction.

 In the end, it's all a means to the same sick end:

James Dobson's 'fun' conversation about gays and stoning

Nothing says "vile conversation" more than being the subject of a condescending conversation held by James Dobson about being stoned - and not the good kind of stoned.

But it helps to keep perspective. Ten years ago, Dobson was an unstoppable "kingmaker" in the Republican party who led the then successful charge against marriage equality. And look at him now. Defeated and stumbling through a silly conversation with some no-name televangelist about "stoning gays." He is against it, by the way.

It just goes to show you that the lgbt community seems to have more enemies than James Bond. But like James Bond, we have defeated them all.

'GOP candidates cozying up to anti-gay hate group' & other Tue. midday news briefs

This Hate Group Leader Has Hosted Most Of The Republican Presidential Candidates - This news brief is dedicated to the "why do you give them so much press. if you ignore them, they will go away" crowd. Here's a news item for folks - according to Media Matters, Tony Perkins of the anti-gay hate group the Family Research Council has hosted most of the Republican presidential candidates on his radio show or at FRC-sponsored events. Ignore the Family Research Council like you would a shark when you decide to go swimming and see what happens . . . 

Remembering Mike Sisco & Oprah on World AIDS Day - My post from this morning. I didn't get a chance to send it out to as many folks as I would like. As we recognize today as World AIDS Day, let's take an uncomfortable but necessary look at the past so we don't forget not only how views of HIV/AIDS have changed but also how some views may not have changed. The clips in the post is from the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1987. It centered around a controversy in Williamson, WVA when Mike Sisco, a man living with AIDS, took a dip in the community pool. The ignorance and fear will simply make you sad.

 'A Day With HIV' Campaign Recognizes World AIDS Day - Because of people like Mike Sisco, we are more educated. We have a long way to go, but let's never forget those who endured so all of us don't have to.

  Judge: Fired Trans Woman Doesn't Have to Reveal What's Between Her Legs - You damn right she doesn't! What kind of creepy, humiliating mess is that?

 Anti-Gay Jacksonville Pastor Drops Plan To Dress In Drag To Protest Human Rights Ordinance - At first glance, I thought this story was funny, but then I saw the flyer he was passing out. It's so disgusting that I REFUSE to put it on my blog, but if folks want to see the stereotypes and hate the transgender community has to fight, feel free to look, unless your tolerance for bull@^!$ is very low.  

Maddow: Cruz Must Answer For Appearance At 'Kill-The-Gays' Conference - Go get 'em, Rachel!