Conservative trolls & anti-LGBTQ industry manufacture horrid lie about 'Desmond Is Amazing'

'Desmond is Amazing' is a young activist and an inspiration.

There was a situation brewing that I avoided because when it initially began, I wanted to hear the entire story. You see, in the 13 plus years I have been posting on this blog, I 've run across many, shall we say, moral panics pushed by the anti-LGBTQ industry. These "moral panics" tend to be anecdotal incidents they claim prove that gays want to recruit children, silence evangelical Christians, etc. In the long run, these moral panics turn out to be incidents either deliberately inflated or the product of lazy journalism.

To cite a jaded line, I have seen them all. And this one is no different.

There have a series of nasty claims going about concerning a young activist and drag queen by the name of Desmond Napoles (AKA Desmond is Amazing). This young man has gained fame and positive attention because of his inspirational message:

Desmond has been the undisputed and most beloved young star of NYC Pride since 2015 when he danced his way into everyone’s hearts at the NYC Pride March in his choice of a rainbow tutu and sparkly gold beret. Overnight, Desmond’s story was featured on NewNowNext, Yahoo, Perez Hilton, and Out Magazine. Quickly, he became an internet sensation and was well-known by millions worldwide. Desmond’s mother’s acquaintance created a Facebook Fan Page, called “Desmond is Amazing” to share his continuing journey with others. The name stuck, and Desmond decided to use it as his official stage name. He has named his fans his "Amazies" and is extremely grateful for their continued love and support. 

People were delighted to see a child who was accepted and able to be who they wanted to be, something that very few people have had the freedom as children to do. Even in our modern society, it is all too common for parents to treat their children as mini versions of themselves. They allow their child to wear only what the parent selects, play with toys the parent believes is most appropriate for the child’s gender, force the child’s interests with what is widely socially accepted, and stress that the child’s values and ideas should only align with their own.

There was a nasty rumor going about concerning a recent event he held.

'Trump's trans military ban garners meaningless (for now) court victory' & other Fri afternoon news briefs

Appeals Court Gives Trump First Win on Trans Military Ban - For now, the ruling is essentially meaningless. The ruling only eliminated one injunction against the ban. It still can't take place because of other court injunctions. Still, it is a drag to hear groups like the Family Research Council crow over it.

The Federal Judges Who Ruled in Favor of Trump’s Trans Ban Don’t Understand What It Means to Be Trans - According to The Slate, ignorance about the transgender community led to the ruling.

You can read how the Family Research Council is crowing about the decision via this link, but it would be more pertinent to remember (via this link) how the hate group helped Pence to craft false reasoning for the ban via junk science in contradiction to the information put out by the committee picked to investigate the issue.

Lesbian EEOC appointment dies in Senate - It took them a number of years and a bunch of lies (remember when they falsely claimed she said "gays win Christians lose" ) but those bastards finally got Ms. Feldblum removed from EEOC.

 Related posts on the religious right's of war lies on Ms. Feldblum over the years:

Anti-gay Family Research Council still can't prove accuracy of alleged Feldblum quote 

Anti-gay spokesman spins ENDA horror story via distorted comments

Religious right spokesman tells deliberate lie on Obama appointee  

Video: FRC invited Chai to speak; now slicing both her footage and her back

Here Are the Worst Anti-LGBT Bills to Watch for in 2019 - Bring it on, bitches. Ain't nobody scared of any of you.

Questions of electoral fraud kept anti-LGBTQ pastor from Congressional swearing in

Mark Harris

One person who won his election in November wasn't sworn in today as a member of the new Congress. And it should be of extreme interest to the LGBTQ community.

From Right-Wing Watch:

Newly elected members of the House of Representatives were sworn in on Thursday, but anti-LGBTQ activist and pastor Mark Harris was not among them. 

 On Election Day, Harris appeared to be the winner of a close race in North Carolina’s 9th congressional district, but the state’s bipartisan election board refused to certify the results of the race. Evidence began piling up that a political operative hired by Harris—in spite of red flags about his past behavior—may have engaged in potentially illegal and fraudulent shenanigans involving the collection of absentee ballots in both the Republican primary and general elections. In that now-questionable primary race, Harris unexpectedly defeated incumbent Rep. Robert Pittenger. 

 “Republican Mark Harris was meeting with state election investigators Thursday morning even as he asked a Wake County Superior Court judge to certify his election in the 9th Congressional District immediately,” reports the Charlotte Observer.

Right-Wing Watch goes on to point out how the campaign for Harris was a huge deal to the religious right, even to the point of having Mike Pence's wife, Karen, campaign for him.

And this situation should be a huge deal to the LGBTQ community because Pence is well-known for his statements and actions against the community.

According to The Advocate:

In 2012 he led the fight for a North Carolina constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The amendment passed, but it was struck down, along with similar laws in other states, by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015. Shortly after the ruling, he said, “Five rogue lawyers on the U.S. Supreme Court say ‘no’ and suddenly the media is sweeping the county saying same-sex marriage is the law of the land.” He contended that such changes in law can be made only by legislatures, not courts. He continues to hold that view, although he told the Observer this year that he accepts that same-sex marriage is “exercised currently as the law.”

In addition, Harris was reported to have suggested that things were better when "homosexuality was criminalized.

As it stands right now, too bad Harris wasn't as strident against voter fraud as he is against the LGBTQ community.

'Record number of LGBTQ members of Congress sworn in today' & other Thur midday news briefs

Record number of LGBT members of Congress to be sworn in today - Sweet! I said it once and I will say it again. If LGBTQs want to change the system of how the religious right bogarts and pushes members of Congress to support their mess, we need to be in the arena. I am not saying vote for someone simply because they are "family." I AM saying that a few us in Congress can't hurt. Especially with a presidential administration such as this. 

The Trump administration is planning a far-reaching rollback of civil rights law - And looks like the Congress is coming in just in time.

Trump Is In His Best Position Yet To Confirm Incompetent Judges - Unfortunately, there is a bad side. Another year of fighting like hell. Bring it on.

Retirement Housing Options for LGBT Seniors - Wonderful! Our elders need not be forgotten.

Brazil’s new president Jair Bolsonaro already let down the LGBT community - The struggle is real and it is universal, y'all. This joker didn't even wait before acting the fool.

Anti-LGBTQ evangelicals continue to debase themselves in defense of Trump

Whether it be Jerry Falwell, Jr's embarrassingly un-Christian interview defending Trump (for which he was rightfully vilified for), Franklin Graham's tone deaf claim about the media unfairly targeting Trump, or the American Family Association's pushing of Trump's lie that Obama has a wall built around his house (even after the claim was refuted), it's rather sad to see the anti-LGBTQ evangelical right end 2018 and begin 2019 debasing themselves in front of the nation to stay in Trump's good graces.

Sad that is, except for those of us who always knew they were phony. However even the most jaded of us simply have to be shocked at what the Family Research Council is doing to pass Trump off as a latter-day Franklin Roosevelt cum Ronald Reagan. Apparently the organization is presenting a different view of the government shutdown which is plaguing the country.

You know the shutdown which Trump said he would own because he wants us to pay for some ridiculous and disgustingly expensive border wall. A border wall, mind you, that he said repeatedly that Mexico would pay for.

Of course in its Washington Update, FRC doesn't include any of this. Instead the group chose to post stuff like the following:

This shutdown is playing an important role in setting the tone for government for the next two years. As we move into a new Democrat-controlled Congress, the president's resolve will be tested against legislators bound to obstruct him at every move. Unlike other politicians who come to the negotiating table waving a white flag, President Trump is standing firm for his promise of border security. Donald Trump campaigned on border security, and he is simply keeping his promises to the American people. 

President Trump strongly believes, and I agree, that it's time to take our border security seriously, because we care that American greatness can safely be offered to all who come here legally. Our hard-won freedom must be protected by the rule of law. Failure to preserve this rule of law will lead to a loss of freedom and safety for all Americans.

God Lord! What kinda of wannabe Kate Smith singing 'God Bless America' bullshit is this?

The tackiest thing about all of this is that these evangelical groups and figures aren't fooling anyone. Granted, they have their followers who will believe anything they say, but for the most part, as they continue to praise Trump, build up Trump, or kiss Trump's butt, they are merely digging a hole in which their credibility will continue to fall.

Why do they do it? This article from Buzzfeed gives a good indication. It could be all about the judges he appoints and how their agenda could be fulfilled via these judges.  This opinion piece, via The New York Times, claiming how Trump fulfills their hidden lust for a dictatorial nationalist government also makes a wonderful argument.

But in the meantime, will they ever reach bottom? I personally don't give a crap because I'm remembering all of the times when these folks attacked the LGBTQ community. All of the times they called us evil or godless. How they constantly ruminated on our supposed sins and spun (hell, they still spin those stories) about how we are plotting to put Christians in jail or recruit children.

This new position they have carved out for themselves as Trump's unofficial excuse force could be a negative game changer for them having the power to continue peddle lies about the LGBTQ community. That is if I'm not the only one who is petty enough to collect receipts.

Come on, my LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Don't let me be alone here. Now is the perfect time to be petty.  

'Bigots cruelly mock trans woman angry over getting misgendered' & other Wed midday news briefs

Whether, L, G, B, or T, you get tired of people #@!* with you and 'snatching wigs' is the best therapy for it.

Conservatives viciously mock a trans woman who was misgendered on video - I've heard about this video and have seen it. A lot of folks were saying the trans woman should have acted better. Maybe or maybe not. But I will say this. I don't give a crap. It's wrong to make someone the butt of jokes. That shyte ain't right and it ain't funny. And I say this as someone who have watched people goad gay folks to act out, then make them into the bad guys because they wouldn't take the abuse. I've walked into a room filled with my so-called black brothers and sisters and have been laughed out simply because I seemed to "gay" for their company. Maybe there is a time to act with dignity. But sometimes you get tired of people #@!* with you. So I have a hard time thinking that sister girl in the video is at fault. But I will say this - it's not funny to goad someone then make it viral. It's cruel and nasty. And I have a hard time with that "if only she acted this way or that way" stuff. Homophobes and transphobes are just like racists in that it doesn't matter if you act like the most dignified person in the universe. They are going to hate you and belittle you in anyway they can. The video probably caught sister girl at at time in which she got enough of it.  It's like I said earlier, sometimes you get tired of people #@!* with you. I'm done. 

These beautiful brides got married minutes after it was legalized in Austria - Austria made marriage equality legal and didn't even have to wait for us to take full advantage of it.

White House considers lifting sanctions so anti-LGBTQ Russian official can visit - Oh really? Then again maybe not. 2019 will be another year of collecting the receipts. But this year, we should plan on fully using them. 

Rose Parade Queen Is First From LGBTQ Community - Another barrier crossed. It may seem small to some, but it's not. 

29 Senate Democrats call on OPM to restore trans employee guidance - Damn skippy.


Editor's note - I hope my friend Monica Roberts at Transgriot don't mind me nabbing the above graphic.

'21 LGBTQ celebrity coming-out stories that shaped 2018' & other Mon midday news briefs

Editor's note - barring anything else, this will be my last post of 2018. It's been a wild year which is ending with victories for the LGBTQ community in spite of certain folks . And it's another reminder of why we fight as well as how we should - with no apologies.

Janelle Monae

Here Are 21 LGBTQ Celebrity Coming-Out Stories That Shaped 2018 - I recognize the need for public figures to come out (whenever they can). Positive visibility means so much to us all, particularly our kids.  

Who were the worst politicians of 2018? The list is practically endless.- Especially when we got bozos like these around. 

Google continues to host ex-gay therapy app on its platform - Google . .. we have to have words.

First openly gay man to adopt a child in Canada reveals struggle in memoir - Wonderful memoir. 

 10 LGBTQ ads from 2018 that sold everything from potatoes to shampoo - It's wonderful to have progressed so much that businesses see you as a group needing to be catered to. It is kinda bad in way, but still cool as shit. 

BTW - I have new fans:

 

LGBTQ community grabbed many 2018 victories in spite of Trump & religious right

The LGBTQ community had a very trying year with Trump trying to give us hell and various anti-LGBTQ groups and personalities exploiting their proximity to his Administration to rain more nonsense on our heads.But as 2018 closes, it all goes to show that the old saying of "no struggle, no progress" rings true . The adversity the LGBTQ community went through brought out the best in all of us. And while we lost a few minor scrapes, we won huge battles and gained new heroes in all fields. LGBTQNation  breaks it all down in The best things to happen to the LGBTQ people in 2018. While the excerpt below only covers the political spectrum, LGBTQNation covers our victories in a wide variety of areas, including entertainment and sports. The entire list is a much needed ego booster and it proves one thing about the LGBTQ community and those who support and love us - we know how to win the hard way

Colorado voters made history by choosing Jared Polis to become the state’s next governor, making him the first openly gay governor.  

Kate Brown, the nation’s first openly bisexual governor, won her re-election bid in Oregon.  

Kyrsten Sinema won her senatorial bid in Arizona, becoming the first openly bisexual person elected to the US Senate. 

 In Kansas, Sharice Davids became the first Native American lesbian elected to Congress.  

Chris Papas became New Hampshire’s first openly gay congressman.  

Zach Wahls, who defended his lesbian moms in a public hearing on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, won his bid to become an Iowa state senator.  

Kansas governor-elect Laura Kelly affirmed that she would sign an executive order protecting LGBTQ state employees from discrimination once she assumes office.  

Maryland gubernatorial candidate Richard Madaleno made history by sharing a kiss with his husband in a political ad.  

New Hampshire’s legislature passed a bill to ban conversion therapy.  

Maine’s governor also signed a law banning conversion therapy.  

Delaware became the 14th state to ban conversion therapy for minors.  

Massachusetts voters defeated a right-wing bid to strip trans people of civil rights.  

Vermont’s governor signed a bill requiring gender-neutral public bathrooms.  

California passed a law stating that transgender foster youth have a right to “gender-affirming health care and gender-affirming mental health care.” 

 Colorado made history as the first state to issue an intersex birth certificate to a person that is medically accurate.

I am sure there are a lot more LGBTQ victories and I think the LGBTQNation should be given some levity if  there are some you don't see.  Simply go to the article and list it in the comments section. 

Trump Administration affiliated hate group tops list of 2018 'Top 10 Biggest Homophobes & Transphobes'

The Advocate recently announced its list of  The 10 Biggest Homophobes and Transphobes of 2018 with the top prize not going to Trump, but an anti-LGBTQ hate group. And not one we would expect.I personally think this is a wonderful choice because it recognizes the simple fact that those who do the most damage to the LGBTQ community are generally hidden in the shadows. It's easy to raise hell at Trump or guess which member of the Family Research Council is secretly gay, but it takes genuine perception to ignore those easy marks and instead, focus on the planners draped in darkness. And when it comes to planners draped in darkness, anti-LGBTQ hate group, the Alliance Defending Freedom wins the prize in a landslide:

The year's top Phobie Aware goes to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal nonprofit that specializes in causes important to the religious right. The group represented Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips at the U.S. Supreme Court, winning a measured victory — the court ruled that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which found Philllips guilty of violating the state's anti-discrimination law by refusing to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, did not show sufficient respect for his religious beliefs. The court, in a decision issued in June of this year (arguments were heard in 2017), therefore vacated the ruling, but it did not approve a broad license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, which is most likely what the ADF wanted. The ADF is still fighting for the right to discriminate. It's asked the Supreme Court to take up cases where ADF is trying to end a Pennsylvania school district's transgender-inclusive restroom policy and advocating for a funeral home's right to fire a trans employee. Oh, and it's got another case involving Masterpiece Cakeshop, for a refusal to make a birthday cake that celebrates a trans woman's gender transition. The ADF contends that the state of Colorado is harassing Philllips by expecting him to obey the anti-discrimination law.

Check out The Advocate's entire list, but note the significance of ADF topping the list.  As the links below demonstrate, ADF's attack on the LGBTQ community goes way beyond supposedly defending "religious liberty."  But now, it can no longer do these things powered by being behind the scenes.

Related posts:

NoGaysAllowed

The extremism of anti-LGBTQ powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom

New Justice Department Spokeswoman Comes From Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group

Jeff Sessions consulted Christian right legal group on religious freedom memo

Jeff Sessions Assures Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group They're Okie-Dokie

SPLC refutes Sessions’ comments about hate group designations

Is Alliance Defending Freedom a hate group? Just look at their work.

'Landlord caught on video kicking out a tenant because he's gay' & other Fri midday news briefs

Gotta give the shout first first to my girl Cristan Williams and myself! The Advocate article about our efforts to call out anti-LGBTQ propaganda came out today. We were both featured in the Best of 2018 issue. Thank you to Diane Anderson-Minshall for a wonderful article!

Hateful landlord caught on video kicking out a tenant because he’s gay - We got you! On tape. This is what can happen when we aren't protected by law. The Florida county where this happened has no laws protecting LGBTQs from housing discrimination. The landlord may have broken other laws which could help the young man, but still.

 Defense Sec Mattis Quits, After Going Along With Trump on Trans Ban - The resignation which has sent huge shockwaves in DC. While there may be a need to attack Mattis because of how he went along with Trump's ridiculous trans ban, I think he did it only out of a sense of duty to the presidential office. In truth, I think he may not have been in favor of it and the way it was done underscored the difference of opinion which is the reason for him stepping down.  

Family Research Council: LGBTQ rights shouldn't be protected under law because of children & 'health hazards' - Post from last night which proves that no matter what they claim, religious right opposition to LGBTQ equality is not rooted in fear or an adherence to "religious liberty." It's all about the hate and the demonizing. 

 A push for compromise on LGBTQ protections may tear evangelicals apart - Come on with it.  

The Year LGBTQ Pop Culture Broke Big, But Didn't Make Bank - Just this time. If we didn't make bank this time, we will next time. 

And to make it a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc just in case I don't post again before then .  . . Charlie Brown music and dancing:

Family Research Council: LGBTQ rights shouldn't be protected under law because of children & 'health hazards'

The Family Research Council implies this as a reason why LGBTQ rights shouldn't be protected under the law.

Today, the Family Research Council published something which more than proves why the organization deserves its SPLC-designated status as a hate group.

FRC not only demonizes the LGBTQ community and portrays us as predators and a health hazard. Via the help of frauds it designates as experts, group publishes distorted research papers aimed at the same goal of stigmatizing the LGBTQ community.

In the latest one, Why "Sexual Orientation" and "Gender Identity" Should Never Be Specially Protected Categories Under the Law, FRC makes the argument that the rights of LGBTQs should not be protected under the law.

On its webpage, FRC said the following about the paper:

In recent years, efforts by LGBT activists to insert "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" 

("SOGI") as specially protected categories in the law have continued at the state and local levels, but they have not made much progress in Congress. 

With Democrats taking over the House in 2019, that may change. We can expect a renewed push for the sweeping and extreme bill called the "Equality Act." Some members of Congress may even respond by proposing an ill-conceived compromise, dubbed "Fairness for All," that combines a SOGI law with limited religious liberty protections. 

 In anticipation of these debates, FRC has already produced a new publication with a concise explanation of Why "Sexual Orientation" and "Gender Identity" Should Never Be Specially Protected Categories Under the Law. Written by Senior Fellow Peter Sprigg, the new Issue Brief explains that SOGI laws are not justified in principle; are invasive and cause tangible harms; and are coercive and cannot be reconciled with religious liberty.

First of all, let's talk about Sprigg. He is no expert He is a failed actor and a pastor who has a history of publishing piss-poor junk-science filled propaganda. I've written extensively on several of his papers and statements including when he said gays should exported from the United States.

'Homophobic note ruins night out with friends in Columbia, SC' & other Thur midday news briefs

A homophobic note left in a takeout bag caused a firestorm in Columbia, SC

A gay man found a note calling him a ‘fag’ in his restaurant takeout bag - In Columbia, SC! Why can't my state make POSITIVE LGBTQ news? Or rather, when we do, folks ignore it. But when something like this happens, look out! 

At least the culprit was fired. 

With ‘Hometown,’ Brandon Stansell Wants To Remind LGBTQ Country Fans They’re Not Alone - I applaud him for this.  

Trump’s military is discriminating against people living with HIV now, too - When the walls come crashing down on this charlatan, I'm going to take time out of my schedule of reminding how the religious right was up his tookis to dance on the grave of his failed political career. 

 Just one gay acquaintance can change hearts and minds on LGBTQ rights, study finds - I guess in this case, "having a gay friend" is a good thing.

Religious right leader calls harassed trans child a liar

Allen Whitt

Earlier today,  I posted about an incident in which an assistant principal allegedly harassed a transgender boy in a school restroom. As of now, the assistant principal has been suspended.

A West Virginia high school suspended its assistant principal on Tuesday after a transgender student accused him of harassment. 

Liberty High School assistant principal Lee Livengood was suspended with pay following a complaint by sophomore Michael Critchfield, who said Livengood harassed him in a school bathroom last month, according to West Virginia's American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the child. 

Critchfield, who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male, told ACLU that Livengood approached him in the boys bathroom on Nov. 27, and said: "Why are you in this bathroom?" and "You freak me out."

And the anti-LGBTQ industry aren't happy about it. From fake news site of the American Family Association, One News Now (by way of Right Wing Watch), comes the sad fact that while the anti-LGBTQ industry's propaganda scare tactics on the transgender community mimic its attacks on gay males, the difference is that they don't mind targeting transgender children.

When these so-called morality groups and personalities linked gay men and children, the connotation was always "protecting the innocent children." But with their smearing of the transgender community, they don't mind portraying transgender children themselves as predators. Or liars.

 A religious right group in West Virginia weighed in on the controversy at Liberty High School:

Allen Whitt, president of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia, says he is skeptical of the student's claim.  

"Because for those individuals," he says, "especially students who are suffering from the mental diagnosis of gender dysphoria, if someone is prone to lie to themselves about the very nature of their biology, then they will also be likely to lie about other salacious details that may help to further their activism."

So it's not enough for these folks to label our trans kids as predators. They have to call them liars, too?

Just who are the bullies here?  Who are the predators?

'Parents & communities defend Drag Queen Story Hour against naysayers' & other Wed midday news briefs

Drag Queen Story Hour is popular with parents and their children.

Huntington Woods debate: Kill or keep library's Drag Queen Story Hour?

 Councilman faces backlash after criticizing Drag Queen Story Hour

 Science supports Evansville's 'Drag Queen Story Hour'

In Michigan and Indiana communities, some folks "came for" - bared their fangs at - the event known as Drag Queen Story Hour.  They were promptly sent back with heads lowered and the tails between their legs by other members of the community who refused to condemn the event. To the contrary, Drag Queen Story Hour was shown to have mega support.

This Is How LGBT Women's Media Is Fighting Back Against An Anti-Trans Movement - hell yes! That TERF crap has to be exposed and shouted down. I do NOT stand for anyone in our community seeking to dehumanize other brothers and sisters/

Gus Kenworthy burned Trump with a ball culture reference & queer Twitter is here for it - You better believe it. The Orange Menace isn't allowed to say "Paris Is Burning" . . . for any reason.

Denver Mayor Moves To Ban Conversion Therapy For LGBTQ Minors - This is sweet!

A short history of LGBTQ superheroes - We have certainly come a long way

And now a brief change of pace simply because though it's Tuesday, I am slightly burnt out. While I rest up, I want you to check out the above educational and empowering video from six months ago.

While nowhere near fulfilling my dream of seeing an androgynous black gay guy in leader and faux fur who can do karate, shoot big guns and manages to save the Earth while doing both, this video looks at a short evolution of LGBTQ super heroes and exposes the truth about the unknown queer factor in many widely known ones.

For those who say "why is this a big deal, " I have two things to say. If you are a LGBTQ making such a comment, report to National Headquarters immediately. Watching 24 hours of Bette Davis movies or the 1969 Cher movie Chastity and then Cher's appearance on Scooby Doo  back-to-back should reprogram you. Or drive you nuts.

 If you are a heterosexual making such a comment, then just hush. An eight-and-a-half minute video on LGBTQ superheroes won't kill you, especially seeing that you don't even have to watch it. And don't even start with me about stealing the "innocence" of children reading comic books. If your kids can handle the fact that Iron Man is an alcoholic, I doubt the knowledge that Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are getting it on will damage them.

'ACLU intervenes for trans high school student allegedly bullied by assistant principal' & other Tue midday news briefs

ACLU intervenes with transgender Liberty High student allegedly bullied by assistant principal -

Critchfield said Livengood continued to harass and intimidate him, ultimately challenging him to use a urinal to prove that he was a boy . .  . 

At the end of the exchange, Mr. Livengood said to Critchfield, “Not going to lie. You freak me out,” in front of the other students and the chaperone,” Critchfield said.

‘You Freak Me Out’: West Virginia Trans Student Says School Official Bullied Him In Bathroom - More details about the incident. For all of the instigation created by claiming trans students are a danger, it seems to be that the dangers are caused by those supposedly trying to "protect" others from these trans students. 

Russian election trolls set up a fake hotline for youth who were coming out - If this doesn't get you angry, check your soul. 

LGBT Youths at Substantially Increased Risk for Attempted Suicide - Can someone PLEASE point out how the anti-LGBTQ industry likes to cite things like this while at the same time undermining programs and things (i.e. GSAs) which would reduce the risk of attempted suicide.

Anti-gay bed & breakfast asks Supreme Court to expand Jim Crow-era provision - Tell me 
AGAIN how homophobia and racism isn't connected . . .

Sen Mike Lee's homophobia latest chapter in religious right's war on EEOC nominee

Chai Feldblum

Hold on to your hula hoops. GOP Sen. Mike Lee is holding up a Trump nominee because she supports LGBTQ equality. Don't faint yet because there is more to the story. So much more, in fact.

From Vox:

Conservative Sen. Mike Lee is taking a lone stand against a Trump nominee, blocking her from joining the office that takes workplace complaints because of her support for LGBTQ rights. 

Lee has argued that the nominee, Chai Feldblum, wants to “use the might of government to stamp out traditional marriage supporters” and called for a nominee “who respects the institution of marriage and religious freedom for all Americans.” 

President Trump put Feldblum in front of the Senate to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal office where Americans can turn for help with complaints about workplace discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, and other factors — including sexual orientation. 

Feldblum, who currently serves as one of the EEOC’s five commissioners, was appointed to the commission by President Barack Obama in 2010 and nominated for another term this year by Trump. 

. . Feldblum is the first openly lesbian commissioner of the EEOC and a longtime advocate for LGBTQ rights. She helped draft the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a proposed (but, as yet, never passed) federal law that would bar employers from discriminating against workers or applicants based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

In a February statement, Lee argued that Feldblum was too radical for the EEOC, casting her as an opponent of religious freedom. Feldblum “has described modern-day politics as a ‘zero-sum game,’ where rights for LGBT Americans are secured only by curtailing the rights of religious Americans,” he wrote, claiming that she opposes all religious exceptions to laws if they infringe on the liberty of LGBTQ people.

Notice that the article said that Feldblum was appointed by Obama. At the time of that appointment, religious right groups and their supporters opposed her to the point of launching an unsuccessful all-out attack by attempting to paint her as a "radical" who supported polygamy.

The most enduring lie they told against Feldblum was in 2009. They claimed she once flippantly said "gays win, Christians lose" when asked a question about anti-discrimination laws affecting evangelical Christians.  The alleged statement "gays win, Christians lose" was refuted by the group Media Matters and revealed in later years to be a truncated distortion created by a former employee of the Family Research Council.

'Trump's new chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is extremely anti-LGBTQ' & other Mon midday news briefs

Mick Mulvaney

Trump’s new chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is extremely anti-LGBT - This is the Trump Administration. Even his gay picks are problematic to the LGBTQ community. However, even so here is a list of Mulvaney's greatest homophobic hits. He was a legislator in my state of SC so I do know Mr. Lips (just look at his face) very well: 

 Mick Mulvaney's greatest homophobic hits, courtesy of GLAAD.

These publicly-funded schools ban pregnant & LGBTQ students. It’s perfectly legal. - Hidden mess like this is a side effect of when the anti-LGBTQ industry is allowed to seize a narrative and make it about supposed anti-Christian discrimination instead of actual anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

Bermuda Appeals Ruling That Struck Down Law Repealing Same-Sex Marriage - Geez, Bermuda. Stop being a butthead. 

Lost LGBT stories explored in Nottingham exhibition - I LOVE this. LGBTQ history 100 years before Stonewall.

 Why does the UK’s latest HIV prevention campaign exclude black and Asian men? - Y'all, we need to talk about this . . .

Bryan Fischer claims he didn't advocate kidnapping children from same-sex households. His tweets disagree.

Bryan Fischer

When giving an example of just how hateful and vindictive some members of the anti-LGBTQ industry are, many LGBTQs - particularly myself - will point to American Family Association personality Bryan Fischer.  Fischer used to be a spokesperson of the group, but he was turned out when his comments finally caused the group a tremendous amount of ire. What could one expect from comments linking gays to the rise of Nazis, claiming that the Constitution only protects Christians, or comparing black people to rabbits.

Fischer is still linked with AFA, from his radio show to published pieces for the group's fake news site,  One News Now. And thanks to that, we can add another adjective to describe Fisher:

Damned liar.

Recently, he recounted the sad story of Lisa Miller and Janet Jenkins, a lesbian couple who agreed to raise a child together. Miller decided that she was not a lesbian and sought to keep Jenkins away from the child, Isabella. The two went back and forth in the court system with Jenkins winning the right to see her daughter and eventually gaining custody. However Miller, with the help of members of the anti-LGBTQ industry, fled the country with the child in 2012 and Jenkins has not seen her since.

The situation continues to reverberate. In 2017, religious right activist Philip Zodhiates was sentenced to a three year jail sentence for helping Miller flee the country. Fischer sought to defend Zodhiates' actions as well as his own during the controversy.

..  . a second man, Philip Zodhiates, has been convicted of “an international kidnapping” for his alleged role in helping Lisa’s daughter escape the prison house of lesbianism and make it to safety in Central America.  

 My sympathies are entirely with the now Christian mother who repented of her homosexuality and also with the two Christian men in this circumstance.  

 The left came unhinged and accused me of supporting kidnapping raids on homosexual households to snatch children from their beds.  

 I, of course, have suggested no such thing.

Fischer, of course, is creating a careful deception. While it true, that he never said anything about "supporting kidnapping raids on homosexual households to snatch children from their beds," he said the following:

Fischer can attempt to create a distracting argument about his exact words, but no one should be fooled. He did in fact advocate kidnapping children if they lived in same-sex households.

Nice try, Fischer. But the internet is forever.

Saturday Night Live - What if Jesus came back & saw what was being done in His name?

A while back, Saturday Night Live used to have a animated segment called TV Funhouse. One of the funniest and on point was the video below. It shows what happens if Jesus came back to Earth during Christmas time and took a look at the stuff being done and said in His name.

The video stars Pastor Robert Schuller, Pat Robertson, Rev. Ike, Kathy Lee Gifford, Linus from 'Charlie Brown,' and of course Jesus. It's not necessarily an LGBTQ issue per se, but it is campy and makes a wonderful point.


SNL Real Audio - Jesus Today from David Daly on Vimeo.