The Family Research Council isn't helping Mike Pence by defending his homophobic career

Mike Pence

In spite of a recent campaign against reality by his allies, we all know that Vice President Mike Pence is a homophobe who has made a political career off of stigmatizing the LGBTQ community behind the veneer of  simple religious beliefs.

A recent article by CNN only underscored this:

Vice President Mike Pence once argued that homosexuality was a choice during his fight in the early 1990s against local efforts in Indiana to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Pence's opposition to LGBT equality has long drawn the scorn of gay rights activists and made him a champion of the Religious Right. 

But scrutiny of Pence's record on LGBT issues intensified recently when White House Deputy press secretary Judd Deere suggested last week in a tweet that the vice president wasn't anti-gay because he was having lunch with the Irish prime minister, who is gay, and his partner during a state visit. 

The little-explored episode in the 1990s, unearthed in local newspaper clippings during a deeper KFile review of Pence's record on LGBT issues, highlights an early window into the now-vice president's public activism and views in opposition of gay rights. Darin Miller, a spokesman for Pence, told CNN in a statement that the vice president "has always opposed discrimination in any form and defends the Constitution's protection of the rights of all Americans regardless of race, sex or religion." 

 Pence argued in the 1990s that, unlike protections for African Americans, homosexuals choose or learn to be gay and was part of a "grassroots-generated movement for recognition of homosexual rights" nationwide.

. . . The American Psychological Association said in 1992 that data did not support the view that homosexuality was a choice and studies at the time in the 1990s suggested homosexuality was biological and genetic. The arguments made in the 1990s by Pence would echo those he later emphasized when he ran for Congress in 2000 when his platform protested extending civil rights protections to gay Americans. But the 1990s comments show for the first time Pence calling homosexuality a choice and offer a clearer view into Pence's view on gay Americans at the time. 

Hoping to offer some type of defense to Pence, Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council attempted to play down the revelations of the CNN article in a piece on FRC's webpage. It's a rather boring piece except for this part:

Most of the arguments Pence offered in 1993 are the same arguments that we at Family Research Council and other social conservatives make today in opposing radical LGBT rights legislation like the proposed federal Equality Act.   What would be news is if Mike Pence had ever taken any other position.

No, Peter. The news is that you freely admit that the position FRC takes against the LGBTQ community is old, antiquated, and totally against science. Not to mention rooted in fear stories and out-and-out lies, such as claiming that gays shouldn't be employed as school teachers.

Keep it up, Peter and FRC. Pretty soon folks like myself won't be needed with y'all telling on yourselves.

Gay conservative owes happiness to making LGBTQ community miserable

A prominent gay conservative got married recently and as you can tell by my retweet, I'm not necessarily ready to throw the rice:

Mr. Benson helps to edit a site - Townhall - which regularly smears the #LGBTQ community. Writers there have slammed marriage equality. I hope Mr. Benson enjoys his life while making sure the rest of the LGBTQ have problems enjoying ours. https://t.co/OG98lQJcoF

— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 12, 2019

Guy Benson is an openly gay conservative writer who contributes to Fox News network and is also political editor of the site Townhall.  He recently married his boyfriend, Adam Wise.

Let me repeat that last part. He is a contributor to Fox News - the network whose anchors have given anti-LGBTQ groups uncontested platform time via softball interviews.  That is when they aren't demonizing and misgendering the transgender community, lying about Trump's horrible anti-LGBTQ record, or helping to plant the idiotic notion that LGBTQs are attempting to "sexualize" or "groom" children.

And then there's Townhall, home of writers such as

Ben Shapiro: No, the gay rights movement and the broader American left celebrated the same-sex marriage decision in wild fashion because the decision established two fundamental notions: First, that government has replaced God in the moral pantheon of the United States; second, that the new god-government has the power to root out and destroy any God-based institutions, destroying the social capital and fabric that holds together the nation.

Dennis Prager: Virtually every week, there seems to be another issue that preoccupies the country. But while our attention is focused on President Donald Trump, Google, Charlottesville, Russia, impeachment, Jeffrey Epstein, the next elections, racism, a trade war with China, the #MeToo movement or something else, LGBTQ organizations are quietly going about their work dismantling ethical norms, making a mockery of education, ruining innocent people's lives and destroying children's innocence. 

and John Hawkins: Gay scoutmasters would be more likely to molest Boy Scouts: There's a lot of back and forth on whether gay men are more likely to be pedophiles than heterosexuals, but in the end, it really doesn't matter very much when it comes to the Scouts. Why is that? Because a teenager in the Boy Scouts shouldn't be spending a lot of alone time out in the woods with someone who could potentially be attracted to him. This is so basic we don't even think about it when teen girls are involved. If a thirty year old, strapping male P.E. teacher took a group of 15 year old cheerleaders out in the woods, their parents would GO INSANE. Incidentally, they'd be right to be upset. Similarly, a gay man has no business being in the woods with a bunch of teenage boys. In fact, if the Boy Scouts ever allowed gay Scoutmasters in their organization, it would kill them as dead as Disco because most parents don't want their child spending a lot of alone time with an adult who could be sexually attracted to him. In fact, that is so obvious it's clear that the people pushing this idea the hardest are primarily concerned with destroying the Boy Scouts, not enabling "gay rights."

These columns were published after Benson became editor. In the spirit of being a "conservative," he aided and abetted  this mess.  And in the spirit of "tolerance," the LGBTQ community is supposed to be silent. We are supposed to take this abuse like Celie in the The Color Purple before she found her sister's letters

Damn that.

Call me intolerant if you want, but I refuse to celebrate the wedding of a gay man who gets his coins by creating a platform for lies about gays  destroying religion, ruining lives, and recruiting children.

In a cushy interview with Buzzfeed after he came out, Benson said the following:

“Gay rights is not something that dominates my attentions — or my passions . . ."

No shit.  Benson doesn't have to worry about gay rights. He's upper-middle class, white, and male. He is insulated in a world which simultaneously kisses his ass and rewards him for simply existing.  We are all generally defined by our experiences in life. But in Benson's case, he is defined by his lack of experiences and not only that, is made to feel that his privilege is something he earned instead of being born into. It's a totally different reality than being a transgender woman being attacked while minding her own business or a young gay man or lesbian being bullied to the point of wanting to commit suicide.

Don't get me wrong. I don't wish Benson or his husband any ill will. They deserve happiness, as we all do. However no one should ignore that Benson owes his income to creating circumstances which undermines the ability of the rest of the LGBTQ community to be happy.

And that his marriage is due to the efforts of people who Benson gets a very nice paycheck for helping to disparage and smear.

'Must-See TV for LGBTQ Viewers in Fall 2019' & other Thur midday news briefs

Must-See TV for LGBTQ Viewers in Fall 2019 - Take some notes.

Wash. florist returns to Supreme Court for right to refuse service to gays - Guess who's back. And her case is a bit more flimsy this time. 

 Related post from June - Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman and her lawyers aren't being truthful about her case 

‘Trans bathroom bill’ author elected to Congress in North Carolina special election - Ugh! Another one in Congress.

The 'Dangers' of Homosexuality in 1966

Call me sadomasochistic for it, but there are times in which I like to look read past articles or look at past videos which show the world when things weren't as positive towards the LGBTQ community. That's not to say that things are all okay for us at the present, but a look in the past adds perspective to where we are and where we need to be going.

And this video is a doozy. It's a clip from a PBS special (American Experience) about the Stonewall Uprising and it features a police office, John Sorenson, lecturing 8th graders on homosexuality in 1966. Needless to say Sorenson is not a fan of our community. During that time, homosexual acts were against the law in a wide majority of states. And Sorenson was determined get across these laws would be prosecuted to their fullest extent.

Transcript:

Detective John Sorenson, Dade County Morals & Juvenile Squad (Archival): There may be some in this auditorium. There may be some here today that will be homosexual in the future. There are a lot of kids here. There may be some girls here who will turn lesbian. We don't know. But it's serious, don't kid yourselves about it. They can be anywhere. They could be judges, lawyers. We ought to know, we've arrested all of them. So if any one of you, have let yourself become involved with an adult homosexual, or with another boy, and you're doing this on a regular basis, you better stop quick. Because one out of three of you will turn queer. And if we catch you, involved with a homosexual, your parents are going to know about it first. And you will be caught, don't think you won't be caught, because this is one thing you cannot get away with. This is one thing that if you don't get caught by us, you'll be caught by yourself. And the rest of your life will be a living hell. 

Virginia Apuzzo: I grew up with that. I grew up in a very Catholic household and the conflict of issues of redemption, of is it possible that if you are this thing called homosexual, is it possible to be redeemed? Is that conceivable? And that, that was a very haunting issue for me. I entered the convent at 26, to pursue that question and I was convinced that I would either stay until I got an answer, or if I didn't get an answer just stay.

There are people and groups who want to bring this horror back. If not via letter of the law then definitely by spiritual connotation. They want us to be so scared that we don't live our lives authentically for fear of repercussions which would serve to remind us of how supposedly undeserving we are. Psychological cages are just as awful as physical ones.

Don't fall for it. And don't let the fear stop you from being who you are and for fighting for us all. It says a lot that if someone like Sorenson made such a speech today, all hell would break loose. That's what our community did. His nonsense is what we have defeated time and time again. And will continue to defeat in all of its ugly forms.

'LGBTQ self-defense classes gaining worldwide popularity' & other Wed midday news briefs

LGBTQ self-defense classes are gaining popularity around the world - Yep. I totally approve of this. People are becoming stupider than before.

Gay US ambassador marches in first-ever Bosnia Pride parade - Niiiice!

E.W. Jackson: ‘Homosexuality Is Not Normal and Normal People Find it Disgusting’- Yet he can't stop talking about gay sex. 

Brazilian YouTuber Hands Out Free LGBTQ Books in Protest of Censorship - Try to hold us down and we find new ways to rise.

On Tuesday, Jerry Falwell, Jr. learned the definition of the word 'receipts' . . . the hard way

Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Poor Jerry Falwell, Jr.

And when I say that, I am being extremely sarcastic. The truth is the recent controversy involving him and Liberty University couldn't have happened to two more deserving entities. I should say three entities because even though he is deceased, to see the moral collapse of the legacy that Jerry Falwell, Sr. built is delicious, seeing that he built this legacy partly on lies and homophobia.

On Monday, a blockbuster article came out in Politico detailing how Falwell, Jr. practically rules Liberty University - the Christian college his father created and built - not as a servant of God but as a personification of God.

This story had it all. Corruption, greed, intimidation, power-grabbing. Even sex:

Reuters reported in May that former Trump lawyer (and current federal prisoner) Michael Cohen had helped Falwell deal with the fallout from some scandalous photos. The Miami Herald confirmed in June that the photos existed, and that some of them featured his wife, Becki. And according to Politico, Liberty officials said Falwell showed or sent male friends and associates, including at least one Liberty employee, photos of Becki “in provocative and sexual poses.”

Needless to say that even though some feel that the article probably won't bring down Falwell, Jr. (sexism, homophobia, and racism combined are one hell of a drug, or in this case, aphrodisiac), it still has him attempting to apply scotch tape to his now tattered reputation. Of course if you ask me, his reputation began to develop creases the day he decided to become an ecclesiastical suppository for Trump.

'Don't harass trans women if you don't want to get arrested' & other Tue midday news briefs

Embarrassed mother arrested in front of children for allegedly trolling a trans woman on Twitter - Looks like she got what she deserved. Don't harass folks and you won't get embarrassed.

Elizabeth Warren Vows To Fight For LGBTQ Equality In Surprise DragCon Video - You have to give her major props for this. 

'Dozens attend vigil for murdered transgender teen in Baltimore - Sigh. 

‘Endure until you die’: LDS Church’s LGBTQ policies put gay youth at risk, advocates say - Damn that!

Gaslighting by gay conservatives can't wipe away the homophobic slime from VP Pence's political career

In an act which really puts the "gas" into the word "gaslighting" conservatives are attempting to claim that VP Mike Pence is not homophobic. It's bad enough that this is happening, but as Media Matters for America points out, the fact that gay conservatives are participating in this fraud makes it worse:

Gregory T. Angelo is the former president of the Log Cabin Republicans and a vocal defender of Pence. And if an April article in The Daily Beast is to be believed, his defense of Pence is less about personal belief and more about personal desire for a career advancement in the Trump Administration:

“Log Cabin Republicans didn’t endorse Trump when [Angelo] was head of that organization, and now he’s trying to be relevant after a completely ineffective attempt at leading an organization to support LGBTQ issues and candidates,” a gay Republican former candidate for office told The Daily Beast. “With an administration, and a vice president, wanting to add some window-dressing of LGBTQ support while they advance policies that harm LGBTQ Americans, Gregory sees his chance to gain real access—for business or a job—not for making a difference in people’s lives. This is about him.”

It's rather sad, if you ask me. It's even sadder that the Log Cabin Republicans as a group has followed Angelo's lead via its unbelievable endorsement of Trump for the 2020 elections in spite of all of the chaos and hell his Administration has attempted to reap upon the LGBTQ community.

'Uber driver accused of kicking out lesbian couple for kissing' & other Mon midday news briefs

This footage of an Uber driver kicking out a lesbian couple is jaw-dropping - We will see what Uber does next.

UPDATE - She got fired.

Religious Liberty and LGBTQ Families - It's deliberate how when some talk about "religious liberty," they omit talking about how it harms LGBTQ families. 

World’s first openly gay prince endured shock therapy to ‘cure’ his sexuality - The struggle is real, y'all. 

Unqualified And Ideological: A Guide To Trump’s Worst Judges - They won't beat us, regardless.

Trump Administration accused of inflating number of complaints to justify anti-LGBTQ religious exemption policy

You mean the Trump Administration may have lied again? Color me not shocked.

Sometimes when Trump acts like a colossal jackass, he takes attention away from issues which need media coverage. In this particular case, the week-long embarrassing controversy he initiated involving Hurricane Dorian and Alabama sucked up all of the air while a serious charge about one of his policies went unnoticed.

From Bloomberg:

President Donald Trump’s plan to let doctors and hospitals refuse services based on their religious beliefs or moral convictions should be scrapped without a trial or put on hold until litigation over the policy is resolved, a federal judge was told by states and cities that sued. 

Evidence produced since the lawsuit was filed in May shows that the administration, in seeking to justify the rule, vastly inflated the number of complaints filed by religious health-care providers who claimed they were discriminated against or forced to provide services that violate their personal beliefs, the almost two dozen states and cities said Thursday in a court filing. 

The government “falsely cites to evidence that it does not actually have,“ according to the group, which includes New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii and Chicago. 

The clash over the so-called conscience rule is emerging as a major test of Trump’s ability to broadly expand protections for religious businesses and employees who might be accused of discriminating against women, religious minorities and the LGBTQ community for refusing to provide services. 

In May of this year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a new policy which would allow healthcare workers to refuse to treat patients or provide services if they voiced a religious objection.

According to LGBTQNation:

The rule would allow workers to refuse to provide basic health care like birth control, refuse to treat women who have had abortions, and discriminate against gay or lesbian individuals and their families, including their children. The change is part of the Trump administration’s push to give Christians a license to discriminate under the guise of “religious freedom.”

Conservative and religious right groups praised this new policy, which was supposed to be implemented in July.  But lawsuits filed by 16 healthcare groups and physicians, organizations such as the Center for Reproductive Rights, Lambda Legal, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State,  and several states forced the Trump Administration to delay implementation of the policy until November.

We will see what happens next, that is if Trump doesn't decide to pull another stunt to grab all of the media's attention.

'Holy Bullies & Headless Monsters celebrates 13 years, Drew Brees clarifies, & other Friday midday news briefs

It's that time again!!!!!

Thirteen years ago, I began this blog to expose how the anti-LGBTQ industry distorts and lies in order to demonize my brothers and sisters. It's been a wild ride which includes mentions in publications like The Daily Beast, the Advocate, The Washington Blade and a host of awards including a GLAAD Media Award (and four nominations). And the ride ain't over yet. It's not even close to being over. Thank you all of my friends and supporters for guiding me along the way, keeping me sane, and lifting me up.


Drew Brees: I Was Unaware of Focus on the Family's Views When I Shot Promo Video - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees teamed up with anti-LGBTQ group Focus on the Family for a "Bring Your Bible to School Day" event but claims not to know the group's history of lobbying against our rights and safety. I tend to believe him because, let's face it, a lot of folks aren't aware of how insidious some religious right groups are. You know how this country is about its football heroes, so some folks aren't going to be happy at us for pressing the issue. Let them. Our rights, community, and families are at stake. It's good that Brees clarified the situation.

Kristen Stewart’s experience is emblematic of LGBTQ people’s struggles in Hollywood - So true, unfortunately. 

These 48 Lawmakers Want to Legalize LGBTQ+ Discrimination - Don't forget. 

The rise of anti-trans “radical” feminists, explained - Wonderful article explaining the exploits of a bunch of awful individuals. I have ZERO respect for members of our community who will work with the anti-LGBTQ industry to destroy their own people. What makes these shortsighted folks think that the target won't be on them, next? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Religious right wants to steal LGBTQ tax dollars but are too cowardly to say so

The religious right wants our tax dollars while reminding us that we are not fit to raise children.

Read this article courtesy of the American Family Association's propaganda news source One News Now. See if you can point out the gaping hole of omission. It should be relatively easy:

Ten states and more than 40 members of Congress are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case of Fulton et al v City of Philadelphia, a case pitting religious beliefs against homosexual rights.

Sharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Bush are Philadelphia foster moms standing up for Catholic Social Services, a faith-based agency that's been operating for over 100 years.
In 2018, the City of Philadelphia barred Catholic Social Services from placing children in homes due to the agency's policy against placing children with same-sex couples.
"The city is currently in a foster care crisis," said attorney Nick Reaves of Becket, the law firm representing Fulton and Simms-Busch, in an interview on the "Washington Watch" radio program. 

"In about March 2018," he advised, "the city said they needed 300 new foster families to care for kids in need, but just a few days later the city turned around and said that they were going to close Catholic Social Services -- one of the most effective agencies in the city -- just because they disagree with their religious beliefs about marriage." 

Reaves added there are services in Philadelphia that serve LGBTQ households. 

"The city has supported those agencies but yet they're trying to close down agencies like Catholic Social Services," Reaves continued. "I think the reason you see so many lawmakers and states getting behind the Fulton petition is because it's a national issue."
Becket alone has multiple cases on this issue. 

"We have another case in Michigan on this issue," said Reaves. "There's also a case in South Carolina, (and) there is a case in Texas."

While lying about the LGBTQ community attempting to "punish" Christians (and children), One News Now left out the main issue of the controversy - the simple fact that these adoption agencies were receiving a large amount of tax dollars while practicing discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

According to Philly News in March 2018:

The city announced Thursday that it had stopped two faith-based agencies from placing foster children after learning the organizations discriminate against LGBTQ people. The Philadelphia Department of Human Services has ceased foster-care intake with Bethany Christian Services and Catholic Social Services, pending an investigation by the Commission on Human Relations.

. . . A same-sex couple who approached Bethany Christian Services about becoming foster parents were turned away in October. Catholic Social Services told the Inquirer and Daily News it also does not work with LGBTQ people interested in being foster parents, though it knew of no inquiries from same-sex couples. Together the agencies have received about $3 million in foster care reimbursement funds from the city each year.

The Huffington Post was more specific about the reimbursement amounts. In 2017:

 . . . Philadelphia reimbursed Bethany to the tune of $1,314,562 in city, state and federal funds to operate foster homes and gave Catholic Social Services $1,667,745.

Also, in the One News Now article, cases in Michigan and South Carolina were mentioned. According to the same Huffington Post article:

Miracle Hill Ministries, a South Carolina Christian organization, stipulates on its website that foster parents must “have a lifestyle that is free of sexual sin” ― listing “pornographic materials, homosexuality, and extramarital relationships” as specific examples. The organization has already received more than $4.6 million in federal and state funding in the 2018 fiscal year, according to a South Carolina Department of Social Services spokeswoman . . .

Michigan paid St. Vincent Catholic Charities, a nonprofit in Lansing, Michigan, at least $10.6 million in federal and state funds for foster care payments alone over a two-year period that ended in September 2017, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services data. But St. Vincent “cannot provide written recommendations and endorsements of unmarried or same-sex couples,” Melinda Skea, a spokeswoman for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is handling the organization’s media inquiries, told HuffPost in an email.

It's not by accident that One News Now conveniently omitted mentioning these facts in its article. And it's not the only religious right entity which will sidestep the issue of LGBTQ tax dollars going to entities which practice anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

Last year, I had a discussion on Twitter with Kellie Fiedorek, an employee of the Alliance Defending Freedom.  For those not familiar, ADF has taken a lead position in pushing court cases seeking to undermine LGBTQ protections and safety. Its goal seems to be legalizing anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

During the discussion, Fiedorek defended an Oklahoma law which allows adoption agencies to discriminate against the LGBTQ community while receiving tax dollars.  Her answers to my question sounded rehearsed. But she couldn't answer whenever I asked about entities discriminating against the LGBTQ community receiving our tax dollars.

You see, folks like Fiedorek and groups like AFA and the Becket Fund don't want to have that discussion because it would steer away from the false picture they are painting. This issue of religious foster care and adoption agencies versus the LGBTQ community isn't about punishing folks for religious beliefs. At its heart, the issue is about religious entitlement and homophobia.  They want our hard earned money, but they don't want to acknowledge us as people capable of raising children. They want our tax dollars, but don't want to respect us as taxpayers who should be treated fairly.  They want the results of our labor, but want to also keep the rewards away from us.

And they think that "their faith" should give them that right.

'Kevin Hart tries and fails to gaslight Lil Nas X for coming out' & other Thur midday news briefs

Lil Nas X

Kevin Hart got upset that Lil Nas X came out & pretended like homophobia doesn’t exist - THIS mess right here is the reason for the blog post before this one.

Lil Nas X Gave a Masterclass on Dealing With the Gaslighting LGBTQ People Face Every Day - A more positive view of the incident. In case you can't tell, Kevin Hart had me snatching off my earrings.

3,000 expected to attend AIDS conference in D.C. this week - Wonderful!

Here’s How ‘Relish’ Could Raise The Bar For Transgender Teens In Film - Okay, this is interesting. 

African-American LGBTQ people exist. We made America great. Deal with it. - Speaking of the blog post I mentioned in the first news brief . . .

African-American LGBTQ people exist. We made America great. Deal with it.

I'm not here for any discussion or any debate. I don't give a damn right now about the differences between being black and LGBTQ. I don't want to discussion the minutia of similarities or differences.  I just have one thing to say.

 LGBTQ African-Americans are here. We exist. We will not make allowances for your disrespect, we will not remain in the background,  nor will we edit out portions of our lives to fit naive ideas of a homogeneous community or Ho-Tep fantasies of how black people should act. We're not here as your tokens or to amuse you. We aren't here to be pulled from one side to another. We are not here for you to make us supposedly choose which side of the aisle we stand on. Where we stand is where we have stood from the beginning and will always stand until the end of time. On our side.

Enjoy the videos:

Two things about this video. Every name is accurate, except possibly for George Washington Carver. His sexual orientation was never verified. People talked about his high pitched voice but there is a sad rumor about that which I won't go into.

The second thing is why the second video is necessary. This above video, made in 2013, failed to include our transgender brothers and sisters. The video below is a wonderful spotlight of transgender African-American historical figures, including my buddy from Transgriot, Monica Roberts:

'Tea party politician may go to jail for lie about gay sex scandal' & other Wed midday news briefs

This Tea Party politician made up a wild gay sex scandal about himself. He might go to jail for it. - Put his ass under the jail!

Kristen Stewart says she was advised to hide her sexuality for her career - Ooo, girl! I know how that is!

Inside the Supreme Court Discrimination Cases That Could Change LGBTQ Rights - Win or lose, we aren't going back to the way things were. We will push ahead, regardless.

Conversion therapy group founder comes out as gay, apologizes - Good for him!

12-year-old reminds us all that same-sex families will not be erased by the religious right

The question asked by Jak Guimbellot, the son of lesbian couple during a city council meeting in Olathe, Kansas highlights a huge portion of the American community which the anti-LGBTQ industry is trying to make invisible:

“I just don’t understand why if I’m with my mothers and we decide to go to a restaurant to eat, that we can be denied access and have to eat somewhere else,” Jak said. It’s a question his mother Kate Guimbellot said she’s never been able to answer. And it’s a question at the heart of a years-long debate throughout Johnson County and the Kansas City area, as the LGBTQ community pleads for cities to adopt ordinances protecting them against discrimination.

'Majority of young people think trans people should use whichever bathroom they choose' & other Tue midday news briefs

An overwhelming majority of young people think trans people should use whichever bathroom they want - And by wide majority, too.

The Trump administration started by going after LGBT families. Now it’s some military families. - It always starts with us. 

The Boston Straight Pride Parade Actually Happened And People Were Not Happy - But on the positive side, it sucked. 

LGBT forum for 2020 hopefuls gets boost from GLAAD, Cory Booker - Stay tuned.

Fourteen times the religious right have been caught lying about science to denigrate the LGBTQ community

On Thursday, this blog reported about a study which said there is no one  single 'gay gene,' "but that a complex mix of genetics and environment affects whether a person has same-sex sexual partners."

At the time, I  said that the religious right (or as I like to call them - the anti-LGBTQ industry) will cherry-pick and distort the study to make  negative accusations about our community. And it turns out that I was right:

From LGBTQNation:

The right wing, especially the religious right, have struggled with the science around sexual orientation, especially genetics. Faced with the argument that people are born gay, the right has argued that the science was questionable, and in any case, it didn’t matter. 

“Studies have suggested a genetic link to alcoholism, to violence, and even to adultery,” Pastor Robert Jeffress, one of President Trump’s biggest boosters, has said. “But are we willing to excuse those behaviors on the basis of ‘my genes made me do it’? I don’t think so." 

But in light of a massive new study finding that the genetics behind orientation are complex and not defined by a single gene, the right is turning cartwheels. The study found that many genes play a role in determining someone’s orientation, as did social and environmental factors. Moreover, the study authors made a point of saying that being gay is “natural.” 

What the religious right heard was that genetics are a minor consideration, at best, and that they were right all along.

Aside from spinning horror stories  and anecdotes about gays wanting to "recruit" children or "imprison" Christians, groups such as the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and other affiliated organizations and individuals have relied on either distorted or cherry-picked science over the decades to make the case that supposedly homosexuality is an "unhealthy lifestyle."

While the junk science generally comes from discredited groups groups, such as the American College of Pediatricians or Christian Medical and Dental Associations,  or discredited researchers and physicians (Paul McHugh or Paul Cameron), cherry-picked science comes from legitimate research. Inappropriately anointed "policy analysts" such as Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, take out portions of studies and skewer them to denigrate the LGBTQ community, regardless of the fact that in its original context the portions didn't speak negatively about the community.

This generally gets these religious right and "morality" groups in trouble because legitimate researchers and Ph.Ds (usually the authors of the studies in question) publicly complain that their work has been misused. The irony is when this happens, the groups either quietly cease citing the research or ignores the complaints while continuing to distort the work.

On at least 14 occasions, religious right groups and personalities have been called out for distorting science to denigrate the LGBTQ community.

Study says there is no one 'gay gene,' but thousands of genetic variants linked to homosexuality

Before the anti-LGBTQ industry has the opportunity to twist this study, we should get abreast of all the facts.

From Reuters:

A large scientific study into the biological basis of sexual behaviour has confirmed there is no single “gay gene” but that a complex mix of genetics and environment affects whether a person has same-sex sexual partners. 

The research, which analysed data on DNA and sexual experiences from almost half a million people, found there are thousands of genetic variants linked to same-sex sexual behaviour, most with very small effects. 

Five of the genetic markers were “significantly” associated with same-sex behaviour, the researchers said, but even these are far from being predictive of a person’s sexual preferences. 

“We scanned the entire human genome and found a handful - five to be precise - of locations that are clearly associated with whether a person reports in engaging in same-sex sexual behaviour,” said Andrea Ganna, a biologist at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Finland who co-led the research. 

He said these have “a very small effect” and, combined, explain “considerably less than 1% of the variance in the self-reported same-sex sexual behaviour.” 

This means that non-genetic factors - such as environment, upbringing, personality, nurture - are far more significant in influencing a person’s choice of sexual partner, just as with most other personality, behavioural and physical human traits, the researchers said.

The study is significant because it helps to prove that homosexuality is not simply a "behavior" you can switch on and off like a light bulb. But if I know fake experts like the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg (and I've tracked them enough over years to have some knowledge of their tactics), their talking point will comprise of cherry-picking the study like so:

The study says there is no gay gene, ergo homosexuality is a "learned behavior" which can be "treated."

Of course this is not what the study said, but folks like Sprigg generally don't care.  It's not like this would be the first time Sprigg has cherry-picked science to denigrate us.  So now that you know about the possible deception of this study beforehand, you are prepared for when it comes.

'Former NFL player: There are gay, bisexual players on every team' & other Thur midday news briefs

Former NFL Player: There Are Gay, Bisexual Players On Every Pro Football Team - Yep. So true.

Franklin Graham goes berserk over Taylor Swift and the Equality Act: ‘Pushing LGBTQ agenda down the throats of the American people’ - The hypocrite speaks. 

'These parents’ brilliant plan to protect their kids from fascist protestors should spread nationwide - This was awesome. 

How LGBTQ Wedding Planners Make Big Gay Wedding Dreams Come True- This is so sweet. I love this.