'Pence ridiculed after asking voters to let Trump have four more years to add judges' & other Tue midday news briefs

Mike Pence

‘Homophobic albino robot’ Mike Pence buried in scorn for begging voters to let Trump have four more years to add judges - The more scorn, the better.

27 Powerful Pictures From The History Of LGBTQ Protests - Empowering. 

Reddit Cracks Down on Hate Speech by Deleting TERF, Pro-Trump Forums - Good. Bye bye, jerks. 

LGBTQ nonprofits are working harder than ever. This Pride Month, here’s how you can help - If we don't help, then who will.

Latest Trump appointee turns out to be his latest homophobic disaster

Merritt Corrigan, Donald Trump's latest appointee, sent out homophobic tweets.

At this rate, it would be news if any of Trump's picks turned out to be at the very least somewhat adequate instead of disasters, homophobic or otherwise.

From CNN:

A Trump administration appointee at the United States' agency responsible for foreign aid has a history of inflammatory rhetoric aimed at refugees, the LGBTQ community and women. The comments come from Merritt Corrigan, the recently appointed deputy White House liaison at the US Agency for International Development, in tweets in 2019 and 2020. 

CNN's KFile reviewed 400 previously unreported tweets from Corrigan's feed, which were captured by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Corrigan previously worked at Hungary's Embassy in the US where she repeatedly tweeted support for far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, calling him "the shining champion of Western civilization," according to ProPublica, which reported on several of Corrigan's tweets on June 5.

Girlfriend is racist, anti-woman, Islamophobic, and very, very homophobic:

In October 2019, she shared a Breitbart article which reported that anti-transgender ads bolster Republican turnout in elections, and said, "We have to speak out now about the transsexual agenda before it becomes normalized." 

Later, in the same month, she linked the acceptance for LGBTQ teens was related to an increase in teen suicides and also mocked former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, for pretending to be in a "real marriage." 

Corrigan was particularly critical of conservatives who embraced LGBTQ people, writing in October 2019, "The morally bankrupt GOP must be held accountable for its total capitulation to, and tacit endorsement of, the gay agenda." In another instance she mocked conservative tolerance of gay people writing, "The conservative case for just throwing in the towel and embracing globohomo."

Raw Story also pointed out:

“Our homo-empire couldn’t tolerate even one commercial enterprise not in full submission to the tyrannical LGBT agenda,” Corrigan also wrote on Twitter before she was hired by the Hungarian embassy in Washington.

According to ProPublica:

Asked about Corrigan’s writing, acting USAID spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala said the agency has a “zero-tolerance policy of any form of discrimination or harassment based on gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or any other possible distinguishing characteristic that can define any of us.” 

“All employees are held to the highest of standards and are expected to treat one another with dignity and respect. Period,” she said. “This includes political appointees, civil servants, foreign service officers and contractors.”

Of course we all know that this is Trump-speak for "if we ignore it, it will blow over and then be forgotten for the latest incident of our boss showing his orange ass."

'25 LGBTQ tv characters who were played by LGBTQ actors' & other Mon midday news briefs

Tituss Burgess

25 LGBTQ TV characters who were played by LGBTQ actors - It's not enough to see us being portrayed the right way. We need to know that the portrayals has a touch of truth in them.

Celebrate Pride Month by honoring these Black LGBTQ trailblazers - Just a few of a very large number.

Why homophobia Glenn Burke faced with A's must always be remembered - Such as Glenn Burke. 

My Son Is Only 3. Here’s Why I’ve Already Started Teaching Him About Pride.- Thank you because it's all about love and all about family.

Fox News eats crow for all of the horror stories it told about marriage equality

Five years ago on June 25, the Supreme Court made marriage equality legal. In the 10 years leading up to that time, Fox News personalities spun all sorts of horror stories about what would happen if we got the right to legally marry. Media Matters just happens to have a compilation of their claims on video that you can watch with smug enjoyment. I certainly will.

'Town rebels against homophobia after Pride flag gets ripped down' & other Fri midday news briefs

After a man ripped down a small town’s Pride flag, the residents took to the streets - A wonderful story.

Laverne Cox on Black transgender lives: 'We cannot leave anyone behind' - Amen to that.

34 Cartoon Characters That Sparked Sexual Awakenings In LGBTQ Folks - Dino Boy in the Lost Valley. Look it up.

Law school’s new leader once a law breaker for gay rights - Oh? This is an interesting story.

Coronavirus Camp Classic 7 - 'Mommie Dearest' or 'Faye Dunaway's Chainsaw Massacre'

It's said that Faye Dunaway possibly wrecked two careers when she decided to portray Joan Crawford in 'Mommie Dearest.'

What's more tiresome than a gay man talking about legendary motion picture Mommie Dearest? Probably nothing, but in my zeal to keep you all entertained during this coronavirus pandemic by spotlighting various campy movies, how could I not? In between my posts exposing  the anti-LGBTQ industry, I like to think that I'm lightening the mood of my people and our allies. It all can't be about the fight. Sometimes a little levity is needed.

Anyway, Mommie Dearest is based on the 1978 book by the same name, which is considered the grandfather of celebrity tell-all biographies published by a star's relative revealing that said star is actually a monster in contrast to their public image. This one was about famous actress Joan Crawford, as told by her adopted daughter, Christina. According to Christina, Joan subjected her and her brother to extreme physical and mental abuse. When it was published, Mommie Dearest created a firestorm with various celebrities and friends of the late Joan Crawford assembling in opposite camps to either vouch for or deny Christina's various shocking stories.

Then the 1981 movie came out and Mommie Dearest vaulted into epic status. The  motion picture took a different tone from the book in that it became mostly a biography of Joan Crawford (minus juicier moments like her feud with Bette Davis) with her and Christina's relationship serving as the centerpiece. The book itself was explosive enough. The movie became a camp classic because of the actress who portrayed Crawford - Faye Dunaway.

Looking back, it's almost difficult to believe that Dunaway had such a successful career. She always acted as if she was eating scenery like it was her last meal. But whatever she had, it made her into an Oscar-winning star. Until Mommie Dearest.  The trailer says it all:

Dunaway wasn't just acting in Mommie Dearest. She seemed to be channeling the atomic bomb with the cast and crew being Hiroshima. I wouldn't be surprised if we found out that after the director said 'cut,' she took bites out of the furniture and punched holes in the set walls. I have to wonder why didn't anyone on the set tell Dunaway to dial it down. Or at least slip her a Valium or some type of sedative before each scene.

'Majorities support policies banning discrimination against LGBTQ people's health care access' & other Thur midday news briefs

Majorities Support Policies Banning Discrimination Against LGBTQ Individuals' Health Care Access - No surprise there, thank goodness.

Watch Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper's sons meet for the first time - Okay, yes. This is cute.

Trans Latino Man Named 2020's Social Worker of the Year - Cool! 

There Are Dozens Of Different LGBTQ+ Flags, But What Do They Mean? - This is a wonderful article. People get so hung up on the flags. Just celebrate the diversity of people in our community. We don't have to unite behind just one flag.

Russian ad against gay adoption goes way beyond the pale

From The Moscow Times:

 Pro-Kremlin media groups have released a political ad that bashes gay marriage and paints same-sex adoption in a negative light. The video urges Russians to vote in a referendum on constitutional amendments which is scheduled for July 1. The amendments include provisions for defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, as well as allowing presidents to run for office regardless of the number of previous terms they served. This would allow Putin to run for two more consecutive six-year terms, making him 83 at the time he would step down from office.

So many ethnic and religious groups have to fight hurtful stereotypes. For African-Americans, it's the claim that we are all criminals. Jewish people have battled the "global takeover" nonsense. Muslims are constantly accused of being violent fanatics.

And LGBTQ people are supposedly "recruiting" children. It's an old ugly lie, which as the above video demonstrates, is universally used to stigmatize and encourage hate against us.

Related post - Ghastly, Homophobic Ad Is Latest In Russian Campaign Against Gays

'Amazon stops donating to hate group that said gays 'recruit' children' & other Wed midday news briefs

Amazon stops donating to hate group that said gays try to “recruit” children - Guess which one? Expect Tony Perkins to throw a fit very soon.

Supreme Court's LGBTQ ruling could have 'broad implications,' legal experts say - This keeps getting better and better. 

At Jerusalem's Request, U.S. Embassy Briefly Takes Down Its LGBTQ Pride Banner - Oh stop it already. 

AG Becerra adds Idaho to restricted state travel list after anti-trans laws - California attorney general takes a stand for trans community.

Batsh!t insane upcoming movie claims Trump losing reelection will pave the way for the Anti-Christ

I WISH this were a joke. But seeing the parties involved, it's not.  I found this bit of madness via People for the American Way's Right-Wing Watch.

 From the conservative publication, The Washington Times:

 Evangelical and social conservative supporters of President Trump are producing a film warning of a “one world government” based on socialism, the rise of the anti-Christ and other end-times calamities if Mr. Trump is not reelected in November. “Trump 2024: The World After Trump” features interviews with a diverse group of Christian and conservative commentators, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the Rev. Franklin Graham, syndicated columnist Star Parker and Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, among others. On Monday, the Christian movie company Resurrection Pictures released a trailer for the film and announced a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to distribute the movie to as many as 1,500 theaters in “key markets” nationwide. 

The nearly 2½-minute trailer highlights topics such as “Globalism,” “Border Wall,” “Abortion” and “Israel,” with sound bites from notables such as Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; Paula White, the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative adviser; Brigitte Gabriel, founder of ACT for America; and televangelists and megachurch pastors. But the trailer showcases snippets of the filmmakers’ interviews with two titans of the evangelical world: Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Graham, the Christian evangelist and missionary, who says of Mr. Trump, “So he cusses when he gets mad. He says things that are brutally honest.”

This is the same Donald Trump

Who has lied over 10,000 times since in office.

Botched the response to the coronavirus pandemic, causing over 2 million Americans to be infected and over 120,00 dead - with no end in sight.

Who is NOW bragging that he demanded testing for the pandemic to be slowed down - a HUGE mistake.

Who had unarmed protesters tear-gassed just so he could pose for a bad photo op in front of a church.

Who is even now relying on white supremacist ploys to push his re-election.

I refuse to share the link to the Kickstarter page of this bullshit, but on said page are the following endorsements below. It's the same bunch of shysters and fundamentalist fanatics who have attached their leech-like tentacles to Trump because he has given them power, access, or fundraising potential. But there should be limits to blind praise and boot-licking, at least for the purpose of self-respect. Lying is one thing, but  the video above is single most brazenly delusional bullshit I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot from these characters.

What the hell is wrong with these people?

'LGBTQ groups sue to block Trump administration's scrapping of transgender healthcare protections' & other Tue midday news briefs

LGBTQ groups sue to block Trump administration from scrapping transgender health care protections - Oh it's on.

Gay Trump supporter complains that Black people are trying to “colonize” Pride Month - Chadwick Moore is pathetic. 

Even with ruling, workplace still unequal for LGBTQ workers - Yep, the fight continues. 

This Gay Black Latino Is Challenging a Homophobe for Congress - A New York situation very few are paying attention to but could spell problems for us.

Shut up, Franklin Graham. Your latest defense of Trump is downright embarrassing

Leave it to Franklin Graham make Donald Trump look like the victim because of the fallout of his tremendous flop of a rally in Tulsa, OK on Saturday. And making bitchy attacks on Joe Biden, while doing it.

Of course Graham, having traded Jesus for Trump as his savior, will say anything to buttress his new leader. But his defense of Trump's newest debacle is downright embarrassing.

 Let's break it down:

Biden has no rallies because of social distancing. He has chosen to follow the advice of health officials because of the pandemic. A pandemic, by the way, which continues to get worse in this country thanks to Trump's piss poor leadership. 

Trump did not have this rally because he wanted to "get out with the people." He wanted praise and adulation. He had not had a rally since March because of the pandemic. And by the way,  eight members of his staff tested positive for the coronavirus. Six were announced to have tested positive on the day of the rally. 

What issues are important to you, Mr. Graham? Putting people who burn the flag in jail for a year? Trump's ability to walk down a ramp or drink a glass of water? Or how about bragging that he told officials to slow down coronavirus testing, which is the absolute worse thing to do during this pandemic. Those "issues" were what he talked about. This rally was the same whining, griping, rambling and abject bullshit we have come to expect from Trump, but you go ahead and pass it off as poetry simply because he is putting conservative judges on the bench. By all means, please continue to jab your head up his backside.

'10 powerful LGBTQ tv shows to watch during Pride Month' & other Mon midday news briefs

Steven Universe - an LGBTQ tv show worth watching.

10 Powerful LGBTQ+ TV Shows To Watch To Celebrate Pride Month - As we social distance, we can educate ourselves (although I do NOT agree with number four. I HATE that show with a PASSION.)

Hundreds of rainbow flags are flying in a small town thanks to a 13-year-old - Wonderful!

Powerful mental health tips for LGBTQ individuals and their allies -Take this to heart. 

What does it mean to be Black and queer in America today? - A war on two fronts where the ultimate prize is self-esteem, high achievement, and endless doors opening up to even more endless possibilities.

National network of 'ex-gay' ministries bites the dust

Last week was an awesome one for the LGBTQ community. Aside from a monumental SCOTUS ruling in our favor, a network of "conversion therapy' or  'ex-gay' ministries - considered one of the largest - is disbanding.

From NBC:

Hope for Wholeness, a prominent ex-gay ministry that boasts one of the most expansive networks of conversion therapy offerings in the United States, is disbanding. 

The Spartanburg, South Carolina-based organization, founded in 1999 as Truth Ministries, told members in an email Monday and obtained by NBC News that Hope for Wholeness would be closing its operations, citing the group’s difficulties in retaining a director to lead their efforts. 

“It has been a tumultuous several years for us. We lost the founding director, searched for two years for his replacement, hired a new director and then lost that director as well,” the memo, which was signed by the group’s board, states. “After much prayer and discussion, we have made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization. This was not an easy decision. But we do believe it is the right decision.”

Apparently, this decision was made on Monday, the same day of our latest SCOTUS victory. According to Newsweek:

Hope for Wholeness, which is based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was initially formed in 1999 under the name Truth Ministries by founder McKrae Game. Truth Ministries would eventually expand to incorporate several satellite ministries throughout much of the Southeast region, Game told Newsweek. In 2013, Game had changed the organization's name to Hope for Wholeness following the dissolution of Exodus International—formerly known as the world's largest ex-gay ministry.

The Newsweek article pointed out that Game was removed from his position in 2017. Two years later, he officially came out as a gay man and renounced the belief that 'ex-gay' therapy actually works. He said that 'ex-gay' ministries are like cults and that they are not financially thriving enterprises.

The NBC article also pointed out the following facts about 'ex-gay' ministries:

Conversion therapy — made up of various universally discredited and harmful methods of counseling and ministry meant to eradicate or suppress LGBTQ identities — has been banned for minors in 20 states and Washington, D.C. California was the first state to prohibit the practice in 2012, but over half of the bans have only been in effect since 2018. In June 2019, data from UCLA’s Williams Institute estimated that at least 698,000 adults in the U.S. have been subjected to some form of conversion therapy.

Religious right continues tantrum after SCOTUS reminder that America also belongs to LGBTQ people

Sen Josh Hawley - point man for religious right tantrum.

As conservatives, the religious right, and the rest of the anti-LGBTQ industry attempt to regroup after Monday's pleasantly shocking SCOTUS decision, of course they are going back to what they know best - the victimhood card.

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley - an ally of the anti-LGBTQ industry who we should keep a wary eye for future reference - made a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday.  His speech was a rehash of the same nonsense we've come to hear whenever SCOTUS makes a pro-LGBTQ ruling:

" blah blah blah, "unelected judges" , blah, blah, blah, "legislating from the bench," blah, blah, blah, "judges are not supposed to make laws. That's the job of Congress."

Then Hawley said this, which really got a chuckle out of me:

. . .  I would just say it's not time for religious conservatives to shut up. We've done that for too long. No, it's time for religious conservatives to stand up and to speak out,” the senator said. 

"It's time for religious conservatives to bring forward the best of our ideas on every policy affecting this nation. We should be out in the forefront leading on economics, on trade, on race, on class, on every subject that matters for what our Founders called the general welfare, because we have a lot to offer,” he said. 

“It’s time for religious conservatives to take the lead rather than being pushed to the back. It’s time for religious conservatives to stand up and speak out rather than being told to sit down and shut up,” Hawley said.

Are you all as tired of this as I am?

Bear in mind that the religious right are individuals and organizations who are part of a vast ecosystem of conservatives with an obscene amount of money and more influence and access than they deserve, which they use to create alliances with Congressional leaders AND  pay handsome salaries to 'policy analysts" whose job consists of being interviewed by friendly pundits on places like Fox News - which is the most watched news network in the country - or writing nonsensical books hyped up as intellectual or common sense and bought in bulk by other conservatives to run them up best seller lists.

And this is while they are also plugged into mega self-sustaining network of twitter addresses, dark money funded news sources -  such as The Federalist or  Washington Examiner - all working together to overwhelm us with the volume of their cacophony so that they can control the argument by sending out a single narrative.

And what's the narrative? They are being picked on. They are being persecuted. They are victims of an evil encroachment of an American society which apparently solely consists of them and people who worship the way they do. It's so sad that I can almost picture these folks wiping their eyes with $100 bills instead of tissues as they endlessly repeat the same sob stories of persecution.

This idea that religious conservatives have been shut up or pushed to the back is a lie. And anyone in Hawley's position speaking it has to know that it's a lie.

No one wants them to shut up. We just want them to acknowledge that they are not the only people who matter in this country. We want them to realize that their religious beliefs doesn't give them any right to place themselves on a pedestal while leaving the rest of us, particularly LGBTQ people, below them in accepted subjugation.  We want them to remember that America is not their country to be ruled solely by their whims or dictates. And that rights and privileges belong to all Americans and are not items for them to dole out or withhold in accordance to their religious beliefs.

They were reminded of all  this on Monday by SCOTUS, so now they are throwing a tantrum. Let them. And if the message doesn't get through to them this time, then we will continue to do the same dance until it finally does.

No matter how long it takes.

'SCOTUS ruling gives hope to those challenging Trump's military transgender ban' & other Thur midday news briefs

Supreme Court LGBT ruling gives hope to those challenging military transgender ban - I hope it helps. Let's do this "thang."

The coronavirus lockdown has dramatically worsened mental health for LGBTQ people - It ain't exactly a walk in the park. Trust me on that one.

Study: 91 Percent of LGBTQ+ Teens Are Bullied in Trump's America -One of the many solutions needed to make sure that this will no longer be "Trump's America" come November. 

How one gay Egyptian woman stood up to homophobia and paid the ultimate price - The struggle is real, y'all. 

Brutal ad designates Donald Trump as China's 'dog'

 I'm not a fan of Trump so I love to see him dumped on.  Yet this ad is so brutal that I almost feel sorry for him. Almost, but not quite. Its words are all true and he deserves every inch of dragging he is receiving. And it definitely hits Trump where it hurts, i.e. his supposed toughness to China. I wonder if he will respond.

'Honoring the heroes of Monday's SCOTUS decision' & other Wed midday news briefs

Thank you Aimee Stephens. I wish you had been here to receive the fruits of your labor.

The heroes of Monday's SCOTUS victory

The transgender woman whose lawsuit resulted in landmark SCOTUS decision didn't live to see the outcome

Melissa Zarda Fought for Her Gay Brother at the Supreme Court—and Won a Landmark LGBTQ Rights Victory

Plaintiff Gerald Bostock ‘Elated’ After Supreme Court LGBTQ Victory. Now His Case Returns to Georgia.

In other news:

The Supreme Court’s Historic LGBTQ Ruling Is Now a Valuable Legal Weapon Against Bigotry - Oh yeah. It continues.

I Lie To All My Health Care Providers About My Gender Identity - We need to be educated more about situations like this.

Openly Gay Black Bishop Ordained by Missouri Episcopalians - Awesome.

Anti-LGBTQ industry will speed up usage of religious beliefs as a discrimination weapon after SCOTUS loss

I don't think the anti-LGBTQ industry were prepared for their loss at SCOTUS on Monday. When we defeated the sodomy laws, they were already knee deep in constructing the narrative against marriage equality. When we won marriage equality, they had a ready-to-go narrative on how our right to marry would harm "religious liberty."

Monday's decision caught them by surprise. And they continue to sputter. From Family Research Council head Tony Perkins:

The question now is, where do we go from here? Let's start by putting the ruling in context. Will it mean a ferocious fight on religious liberty from here on out? Almost certainly -- but to be fair, any result would have done the same. LGBT activists weren't going to surrender to the justices' opinion and abandon their cause no matter what the court decided. Nor should we. A positive ruling might have kept some of the fiercest questions at bay -- and given faithful Americans some much needed relief -- but let's face it: the waves of extremism never stop. 

What about Gorsuch and President Trump? Can we trust them? While the Harris case has given Gorsuch fans cause for concern, we don't have to guess where this president stands. For three and a half years, his administration has taken every opportunity to protect religious freedom in executive orders, rules, and guidance that reaffirm the politically incorrect truth about sexual orientation and gender -- often at great political cost. Every agency from HHS, Defense, and Education to HUD, Agriculture, and Justice have stuck their necks out to roll back the radicalism of the president who first opened this Pandora's box. 

As for Trump's judicial nominees, voters have to ask themselves: would they rather have some uneasy feelings about one -- or know with certainty that every single pick is a died-in-the-wool liberal activist, like we would under Joe Biden? This is a single, devastating judgment in what has so far been a stellar couple of years for Trump's first Supreme Court pick. It may confirm concerns that some had about Gorsuch, but this should set the stage for the next nominee to be beyond reproach when it comes to the meaning of words and adherence to the constitutionally defined role of the court.

Right-wing media furious over SCOTUS pro-LGBTQ ruling' & other Tue midday news briefs

The Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal to fire folks for being LGBTQ, and right-wing media are furious - Eat it and suffer. 

Politicians Praise Supreme Court’s Decision On LGBTQ Worker Protections - A step. So much more left to do, though.

Trump administration wants to change rules so homeless shelters can turn away trans people - And the fights continue. 

Trump vague on LGBTQ rights ruling: ‘We live with their decision’ - What did y'all expect this jerk to say?