Courts in Indiana and Ohio award victories to trans kids in cases involving anti-bullying policies and bathroom usage.

When it comes to our trans kids, the courts have thankfully shown sanity in recent cases in Ohio and Indiana. 

From The Advocate:

A lawsuit from a conservative group challenging an Ohio school district’s anti-bullying policies that protect transgender students was thrown out of a federal court yesterday, saying it was unlikely to succeed on a key constitutional claim. 

 The Virginia-based, conservative education activist group Parents Defending Education (PDE) had filed the lawsuit claiming the anti-bullying policies of the Olentangy Local School District just north of Columbus are overly broad and violate a student’s protected First Amendment free speech rights when it forbids misgendering trans youth, according to local NBC affiliate WCMH. The policies also extend to student, teacher, and parent interactions in person and on social media when outside of school.

 “Transgender youth are far too often subject to harassment and bullying in public schools,” U.S. District Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley wrote in the ruling, saying PDE had failed to prove its claims. “They are threatened or physically injured in schools at a rate four times higher than other students. They are harassed verbally at extraordinarily higher rates. More than one in five attempt suicide.” 

 “Today’s decision affirms our commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment where all feel welcome and supported,” the district said in a statement. “We will continue to do so and are looking forward to another great school year.” 

 From LGBTQNation: 

 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled in favor of three transgender students who were forbidden by their schools from using bathrooms matching their gender identities. The circuit court upheld a lower court’s preliminary injunction that said the schools have to let trans students use facilities associated with their genders.

 “Students who are denied access to the appropriate facilities are caused both serious emotional and physical harm as they are denied recognition of who they are,” said ACLU of Indiana lawyer Kenneth Falk. “They will often avoid using the restroom altogether while in school. Schools should be a safe place for kids and the refusal to allow a student to use the correct facilities can be extremely damaging.”

 The case involves three trans boys in Martinsville, Indiana and Terre Haute, Indiana, who need access to the boys’ room at their middle and high schools.

. . .The school’s transgender bathroom policy took numerous factors into consideration and the school’s administration said that trans students needed unspecified surgical changes before they could use the correct bathroom. Gender-affirming surgery is banned for trans people under the age of 18 in Indiana.

 The court took into account the fact that Title IX bans discrimination on the basis of sex in schools that receive federal money, which is most of them. Citing the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton Co. that found that job discrimination against LGBTQ+ people necessarily takes sex into account and is therefore prohibited under Title VII, the appeals court ruled that the trans boys are likely to succeed in their case and that preventing them from using the correct bathroom while the case works its way through the court system could cause irreparable harm.

 

'School district may ban biography of Pete Buttigieg to comply with anti-LGBTQ+ book ban law' & other Wed midday news briefs

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

School district may ban biography of Pete Buttigieg to comply with anti-LGBTQ+ book ban law​ - Wow!

Ron DeSantis Invites Kamala Harris to Discuss Slavery Standards with Homophobe Who Wrote Them - Keep digging that hole, DeSantis. 

Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis tries & fails to rewrite history by claiming he’s never “demeaned” gay people - Dig! Dig! Dig! 

Global AIDS program targeted in abortion battle gets new home in State Department bureau - Republicans actually went after this program even though it was initiated by Bush. 

Ghanaian PhD student loses scholarship in the US after attack on LGBTQ community - FA and FO.

Co-conspirator in Trump's indictment formerly led once prominent anti-LGBTQ group

 

John Eastman

Just in case you've recently been in a cave with your fingers in your ears, former president Donald Trump was just indicted again, this time for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

This makes the third group of criminal charges for Trump.

From Raw Story:

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted in connection to special counsel Jack Smith's investigation of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and plots to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. CNN was first to report the indictment and said a source confirmed Trump had been told. 

 The former president has been charged with four offenses: conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts of witness tampering, and conspiracy against rights. The indictment also specifies six unnamed co-conspirators whom, according to CNN's Kaitlan Collins, include four attorneys, a DOJ official, and a political consultant. 

 The probe looked at a broad array of alleged schemes by the former president and his allies, including efforts to seat fake electors in a number of closely-divided battleground states that were carried by President Joe Biden, and a pressure campaign against then-Vice President Mike Pence to declare electors from those states invalid. 

 As of now, the unindicted co-conspirators have been named and includes one who should be of interest to the LGBTQ community - John Eastman.

According to The Washington Post:

“Co-conspirator 2” was an attorney “who devised and attempted to implement a strategy to leverage the Vice President’s ceremonial role overseeing the certification proceeding to obstruct the certification of the presidential election," according to the indictment. Eastman, a conservative attorney who once clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, crafted a legal strategy that involved creating slates of pro-Trump electors in states that Joe Biden won. He falsely asserted, without evidence, that Trump lost Georgia in part because 66,000 underage people and 2,500 convicted felons had voted in the state that year.

Eastman has remained defiant, even as he faces potential disbarment for his role in aiding Trump. In June, Eastman defended himself before the State Bar of California on 11 charges stemming from allegations that he was the architect of the legal road map Trump followed to try to obstruct the electoral vote count in certain states. The State Bar also accused Eastman of making false and misleading statements regarding alleged election fraud, referencing claims he made at a rally at the Ellipse outside the White House that preceded the deadly riot. If Eastman is found culpable for the allegations, he could lose his license to practice law in California. 

 Before his involvement in the attempt to illegally overturn the 2020 election, Eastman played a prominent role in anti-LGBTQ activism. In fact he was president of the infamous group the National Organization for Marriage or NOM.

According to The Advocate:

Before Eastman, a former law professor, tried to throw the 2020 presidential election to Donald Trump, he was a major activist against LGBTQ+ rights. In 2011, he became chairman of the board of the National Organization for Marriage, a group with the primary mission of opposing marriage equality, although it has taken up some other conservative causes too. NOM's website still lists him as chairman and the well-known anti-LGBTQ+ activist Brian Brown as president.

 

. . . Among Eastman's other greatest hits, compiled by GLAAD and others, he has said marriage should be limited to male-female couples because it's for procreation; voiced support for Uganda's efforts to criminalize homosexuality, potentially imposing the death penalty; questioned Kamala Harris's eligibility to be vice president, even though she was born in the U.S., because her parents were not citizens at the time of her birth; said homosexuality is barbaric and will undermine marriage and all of civil society; and opposed gay-straight alliances and LGBTQ-inclusive lessons in schools.

Who knows what will happen to Eastman. Maybe he can claim that Jesus told him to help Trump cheat.

'Brooklyn dancer fatally stabbed for voguing at gas station' & other Tue midday news briefs

Brooklyn Dancer Fatally Stabbed for Voguing at Gas Station - I hate posting stuff like this but in this case, I will. The silence of the general Black community is sad here. 

TERFs are trying to boycott Etsy for banning transphobic products ​ - They will fail as all losers do.

Appeals court lets Kentucky enforce ban on transgender care for minors - Not surprising. The same appeals court made the same decision in Tennessee. 

Gays Against Groomers protested on the same side as Neo-Nazis - Whoops (if you say so . . .)

'31 Icons for LGBT History Month' a valuable asset to combat a year of attempted negativity

 

Each year, the Equality Forum names 31 LGBT icons for LGBT History Month in October. This year's list features such noted people as Chasten Buttigieg, Brittany Griner, Eddie Izzard and Leslie Jordan. They should remind us about how truly diverse and powerful we are as a people. And this year's list is important in light of all of the negativity we've been bombarded with. These icons attest to the resiliency of our community in the face of all of the hate. And how we always come out as winners.

To the transphobic bigot who came after my mother before the first anniversary of her passing . . .

UPDATE - Mr. "Protect the Kids" blocked me. Or maybe Facebook took care of it. I DID report him.

Friday, July 28 will be the first anniversary of my beloved mother's passing. As you can guess, I am not in a positive condition emotionally or spiritually.

My mother knew I was gay and she knew vaguely of my activism (my blogging, etc). We never really talked about it, but she gave me a lot of support, as all good mothers would give to their kids. One of my most cherished moments was being with her in the car when I received news that I had won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Blog in 2017.

But other than that, she was never really involved in the things I've done for the LGBTQ community.  I never felt the need to "pull her in," so to speak. So, you will forgive me for posting the following (click on the image to make it larger):

Apparently, this poor soul right here on Facebook (Picture below.) seems to think that since I support gender-affirming care for trans kids, I support "mutilation" and that makes me a pedophile. Subsequently to him, that makes my beloved mother . . . well you can read it for yourself.

He also threatened to shoot me.

Mr "Protect the Kids" also called me a racial slur (THE RACIAL SLUR) but he deleted that message. I guess he figured he had standards. But he did post the following on his Facebook page:

As strange as it seems, I am not angry in the least. Nothing he said about my mother hurts me. His ramblings can't ever diminish what a wonderful woman she was and how much I miss her. And to be honest, if he did physically come after me and she was present at the time, she would have whipped his ass. And that's no exaggeration on my part - my mother once used a chair very adeptly to defend my older brother against a physical attack.

But I recognize the opportunity this moron gives me to make a point about all of this hatred directed towards the LGBTQ (particularly the trans community) as of late.

I don't know this man.  I never met this man. He chose to engage with me because apparently, he read something I posted about trans kids which got him so upset that he felt the need come for me and my family. It wasn't enough for him to call me names or threaten to kill me. He actually took the time to mine through my material in a sad attempt to anger me. And he thought calling my late mother ugly names would garner an ugly reaction from me. Trash is what trash does.

That's hate my friend. It's evil, ugly, and so destructive that it's sad. And what's worse, he claims to be doing it for the sake of protecting kids.

But plainly speaking, he's the end result of all of that shit you hear from people like Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Chole Cole and groups like Moms for Liberty, Libs of TikTok and Gays Against Groomers. He owns the fertile mind of ignorance they exploit with their lies and horror stories about child mutilation, pedophilia, and grooming. He's the type of gullible fool they exploit for hits, social media status, and money.  And he is the type of monster they empower to bombard us (especially trans people) with the venom like you just read above on a daily basis.

What's genuinely sad is that there are more like him out there. Lots more. So when you hear people like me talk about people like him or the groups which feed into his mentality, it's not an overreaction on our part. It probably doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

Hitler-quoting hate group Moms for Liberty says 'health care has no place in public schools'

Alleged "parents' rights" group Moms for Liberty just showed its true colors yet again with the recent tweet:

Mental health care is health care Mr. President.

That’s why it has NO place in public schools. #ParentalRights https://t.co/a1uF6NV7Ec

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) July 25, 2023

 

And the group doubled down on the statement:

Yes. Health care has no place in public schools.

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) July 26, 2023

 

Moms for Liberty is a rapidly growing conservative group claiming to be for the rights of parents. In actuality, it is an astroturfed group created to undermine inclusive school curriculums and the rights and safety of LGBTQ students. The SPLC has designated Moms for Liberty as a hate group because of its ugly tactics and its desired goals:

Moms for Liberty and its nationwide chapters combat what they consider the “woke indoctrination” of children by advocating for book bans in school libraries and endorsing candidates for public office that align with the group's views. They also use their multiple social media platforms to target teachers and school officials, advocate for the abolition of the Department of Education, advance a conspiracy propaganda, and spread hateful imagery and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.

 . . .Moms for Liberty is an anti-student inclusion group that presents itself as a modern parents’ rights organization that seeks to “unify, educate, and empower parents to defend and protect their parental rights at every level of government.” The group’s website appears to align with this mission, featuring general information about the organization and its chapters, resources for parents, and links to press skewed in the group’s favor. The social media accounts and real-world activity of the national organization and its chapters reflect views and actions that are antigovernment and conspiracy propagandist, anti-LGBTQ and anti-gender identity, and anti-inclusive curriculum.

Those of us who stand against Moms for Liberty call them "Klanned Karenhood." And the name is definitely appropriate.  

While claiming to stand for "parental rights," the group has:

 Helped state legislators pass hateful anti-LGBTQ laws across the country,

Partnered with violent far right extremist groups such as The Proud Boys,

Been linked to several incidents of threats and harassment on school officials across the country, including:

The chairperson of the Monroe County, Pennsylvania, chapter was arrested on a “summary charge of harassment” after allegedly repeatedly harassing an individual with messages. 

The head of communications of the Lonoke County, Arkansas, chapter threatened gun violence against librarians. In audio obtained by Media Matters, the chapter’s head of communications and media, Melissa “Missy” Bosch, threatened librarians in the district, saying, “I’m telling you, if I was -- any mental issues, they would all be plowed down with a freaking gun by now.”

And then there was the "Hitler-quoting incident in June. According to VICE:

In the first ever edition of the Hamilton County, Indiana, Moms for Liberty newsletter, published on Wednesday, the group’s co-founders Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice blasted the Southern Poverty Law Center’s recent decision to label the group a far-right extremist organization.

 That statement might have carried more weight if the top of the very same newsletter wasn’t adorned with a quote from Adolf Hitler. The quote used in the newsletter was taken from a speech Hitler gave during a 1935 rally: “He alone, who OWNS the youth, GAINS the future.” It appeared just under the masthead for the “Parent Brigade” newsletter published on the group’s Facebook page on Wednesday night. It was first reported by the Indianapolis Star.

At the time, VICE called the Hitler quoting incident:

 . . . the latest evidence that Moms for Liberty’s pretense of being a wholesome, grassroots movement focused on protecting students is slipping.

Last month, CNN said Moms for Liberty was rapidly gaining influence in the Republican party by pointing out how GOP presidential candidates such as Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley all attended its summit in Philadelphia in attempts to garner support.

One can only hope that these candidates will be asked about Moms for Liberty's opinion concerning health care in public schools. If there is any place healthcare should be, it would be in the public schools.

Any group actually concerned about the welfare of kids would know this.

'Another lie from anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court wedding case has been exposed' & other Wed midday news briefs

'This was a lie': Another fact in the anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court wedding website case was false - So many lies in God's name.

Parents protest school district’s no opt-out policy for LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum​ - See this is moronic. And before some folks willfully distort the issues, we are not talking about sex education. We are talking about curriculum which simply acknowledges the existence of LGBTQ+ people. THAT is simply not right and it's a deliberate distortion of the parents' rights argument. If you don't want your kids to acknowledge the existence of certain people, then you home school them. You don't get to erase the existence of groups of people. 

Gay Chechen Singer Killed on Order of Strongman Ramzan Kadyrov: Report - He was angry that he shook hands with a gay guy so he had him tortured and murdered. 

Booksellers sue over Texas law requiring them to rate books for appropriateness - And I hope that they win.

Congressional Republicans to hold transphobic, distortion-filled hearing on gender-affirming care (with no medical experts testifying)

I do not apologize for the headline. It is truth. Imagine holding hearings pushing the ideas that pedophilia and homosexuality are linked, or that gay men are so promiscuous that they stuff gerbils up their rectums. Those were false ideas once pushed by Republicans and conservatives.  That should give you an indication of the type of lies to expect Thursday when they attack gender-affirming medical care and trans people in their sham hearing.

 From The Advocate: 

 The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Consitution and Limited Government has scheduled a hearing this week ostensibly to discuss gender-affirming medical care. No doctors will testify. 

 Instead, during Thursday morning’s hearing titled “The Dangers and Due Process Violations of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Children,” lawmakers will hear from a former college athlete who took issue with a transgender team member’s participation, an anti-LGBTQ+ advocate from a conservative interest group, a member of the Federalist Society, and a person who had access to gender-affirming care, decided to detransition, and now advocates against the care for youth. 

 Republicans invited former University of Pennsylvania swimmer (and Lia Thomas critic) Paula Scanlan, detransitioner Chloe Cole, Director for Family Studies at the far-right anti-LGBTQ+ group Family Research Council Jennifer Bauwens, and Federalist Society member May Mailman, who is also a senior fellow at the conservative Independent Women’s Law Center, to testify. 

 Democrats, already frustrated with Republican efforts to strip funding from all bills benefiting the LGBTQ+ community, called the hearing a sham. "The upcoming House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee hearing is the latest attempt by extremist Republicans to weaponize Congress and inject their culture wars into families’ private health care decisions,” Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, tells The Advocate. “Gender-affirming care is safe, effective, medically necessary, and supported by every major reputable medical association. The science is not up for debate. This hearing is nothing more than a concerted effort to cultivate fear and stigmatize vulnerable communities in order to pursue an extremist agenda and political power."

 . . . “This Congress, extreme MAGA Republicans are using the appropriations process to further their radical agenda and attack the LGBTQI+ community,” said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan of Wisconsin in a press release. “Motivated by bigotry and the desire to appeal to the GOP extremist base, more than 40 anti-equality provisions across the 12 appropriations bills were passed. Last week, they went even further and cut millions of dollars in funding for members’ community projects that would have tackled LGBTQI+ homelessness and housing insecurity. I condemn these discriminatory attacks and remain committed to ensuring none of these awful provisions make it into the final funding bill that becomes law.”

'Conservatives tried to hold LGBTQ+ books hostage. Accidentally raises $45,000 for library' & other Tue midday news briefs

Conservatives threatened to hold LGBTQ+ library books hostage. The plan blew up in their faces. - They ended up raising $45,00 for the library to expand LGBTQ+ programming and materials. Love it!

Arlington Schools Chief Rejects Youngkin’s ‘Discriminatory’ Transgender Student Policies - THIS is going to get interesting. 

OutKick hosts call Outsports, ESPN and others ‘homophobic’ for sharing Kevin Maxen’s coming out story - Isn't Outkick Rupert Murodch bought-and-paid-for trash?

Russian president signs legislation outlawing gender-affirming procedures - A quicker method than bigots are trying in America. But still the goals are the same.

Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign is shaping up to be a #DeSaster

 

This couldn't be happening to a more deserving son-of-a-bit . . .  I mean person.

From The Orlando Sentinel (by way of Yahoo News):

Gov. Ron DeSantis had a difficult weekend on the culture war front, re-doubling his defense of the state’s controversial new Black history standards as a new report revealed a now-infamous anti-LGBTQ ad was actually made within the campaign itself. A pro-DeSantis account also tweeted a video that included alleged imagery of a Nazi symbol. Though reports that it had been retweeted by a DeSantis campaign staffer before it was deleted were unconfirmed, Florida Democrats pounced. DeSantis’ continuing cultural battles come amid reports that his presidential bid is planning a “reboot” following worsening poll numbers and a major shedding of cash.

 . . . “What’s happened is what might be expected, and I did expect,” said Mac Stipanovich, a former Tallahassee Republican consultant who has been a frequent critic of DeSantis. “The campaign is proving to be a clown car. Malevolent clowns, but clowns just the same.” 

 And this is just a small portion of a wonderful article chock full of DeSantis campaign missteps, blatant lies, and pitiful evasions, all of which gives us a front row seat of what happens when an empty suit decides to run for president without any integrity or substance to back up his verbal bravado. The DeSantis campaign is so bad, one has to wonder if it is a victim of deliberate internal sabotage.

DeSantis is also facing negative press in other areas which are not included in the article, such as his threat to sue Bud Light over its partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney and a leaked transcript from a canceled Showtime documentary about his time as a junior Navy officer at the Guantánamo ​prison camp. The transcript alleges that he was present at force feedings and tortures of prisoners.

'DeSantis campaign WAS behind insane anti-LGBTQ video attacking Trump' & other Mon midday news briefs

Maggie Haberman Source Says Bonkers Anti-LGBTQ Attack On Trump Was Made By DeSantis Camp — And ‘Passed Off’ To a Supporter - I don't like Trump and I don't like DeSantis. But this is DELICIOUS. 

California school district adopts textbook it rejected for covering LGBTQ+ figures after Newsom threat - Handle your business, Governor Newsom. 

Florida Board of Education OK's Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies, Sanitized View of Slavery - In case you haven't heard (and I hope you have because folks have been torching DeSantis's ass all weekend over it.

300 protest YMCA after teen lies about naked trans woman in locker room - Yet another lie denigrating trans female athletes. You can practically set your watch by them.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Arizona law banning trans athletes from competing in female-designated sports

 I know how some folks feel about trans women and girls (strangely the concern hardly ever touches trans men and boys) competing in sports, but here is something to consider. In spite of all of the preconceived notions fueling opposition to trans female athletes, maybe there is simply no concrete evidence that trans females have an unfair advantage over cis female athletes.

From Metro Weekly: 

A federal judge has blocked Arizona from enforcing a law prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in female-designated sports. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Zipps, of the District of Arizona, granted a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing the Save Women’s Sports Act. The law prohibits transgender female athletes from competing in sports matching their gender identity and allows cisgender students to sue for damages if they believe they have lost out on an athletic opportunity after being forced to compete against a transgender athlete.

 The ban on transgender athletes was challenged by a 15-year-old volleyball player, referred to as Megan Roe, and an 11-year-old, referred to as Jane Doe, who wishes to play girls’ soccer, basketball and cross-country. Because neither has yet undergone male puberty, and both are on puberty blockers, they argue they don’t have a physical or physiological advantage and should be allowed to compete on teams matching their gender identity.

 In her order granting the injunction, Zipps found that the law is “overly broad” because it bans transgender female athletes, including those at the elementary school level, from girls’ sports teams, despite the lack of evidence proving that pre-pubertal athletes hold some physiological or unfair competitive advantage over other children based solely on their assigned sex at birth. She also noted that the ban treats transgender boys and transgender girls differently, noting that transgender boys — whom the state and proponents of the ban refer to as “biological girls” — are permitted to play on male-designated teams, despite the alleged physical risks that they would presumably face by competing against “biological male” athletes. 

 Zipps also noted that, under the law, even cisgender female athletes can be investigated and forced to submit to genetic testing to “prove” their biological sex.

''Right-wing already angry at 'Barbie' movie. Claims it's 'pushing transgender' propaganda.' & other Fri midday news briefs

Right wing blasts "Barbie" for "toxic femininity," "pushing transgender" and communist "propaganda"​ - Laaaaawd! These folks haven't even seen the movie yet.

As conservatives ban LGBTQ+ stories, we asked queer adults to share essential reading for youth - Try as they might, they simply cannot shut down queer voices.

  80% of Transgender Americans Have Considered Suicide: Study - Because of societal prejudice. Hearing all of those awful things said about them and claimed about them has to be a factor. And those of us in the community who turn our back on our trans brothers and sisters have a hand in this, too.

Conservatives are making the Ohio abortion amendment about trans rights - They are featuring ads with misleading claims. Win or lose, we could be seeing this tactic play itself out repeatedly in the future.

Florida's attempt to appeal injunction against anti-drag law backfires in a very delightful way

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis obviously didn't get the message that his law banning drag performances was a bad idea when a judge issued a preliminary injunction against it last month. So, like a hardheaded child, his administration tried to sidestep a "no." 

And got knocked back. 

From The Associated Press: 

 Librarians who feared fines for hosting drag queen story hours and Pride parade organizers who worried about citations for including drag performers can breathe easier now that a judge has ruled that his injunction blocking Florida’s anti-drag law extends to all Florida venues, an attorney who is helping challenge the law said Thursday.

  A pair of orders that U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued in the past month makes clear that drag performances in themselves are not lewd or lascivious behavior, said Gary Israel, one of the attorneys for an Orlando restaurant that filed a lawsuit challenging the new Florida law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as unconstitutional. 

 “The state has a very weak hand in this litigation,” Israel said. 

 In his first order last month, the Orlando judge granted a preliminary injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the law until a trial is held to determine its constitutionality. He also denied a Florida licensing and regulatory agency’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The agency appealed the decision and asked that during the appeal the injunction only be applied to the restaurant that brought the lawsuit.

 Presnell rejected that argument on Wednesday, saying any harm to the state of Florida is minimal if the preliminary injunction remains in place, and that all Floridians are potentially parties since free speech is at stake. He reiterated that the law is likely unconstitutional. “Protecting the right to freedom of speech is the epitome of acting in the public interest,” Presnell wrote. “It is no accident that this freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment.” 

 . . . The new law punished venues for allowing children into “adult live performances.” Though it did not specify drag shows, the sponsor of the legislation said it was aimed at those performances. Venues that violated the law faced fines and the possibility of their liquor licenses being suspended or revoked. Individuals could be charged with a misdemeanor crime.

  . . . The lawsuit challenging the new law was brought by the owner of a Hamburger Mary’s restaurant and bar in Orlando, which regularly hosts drag shows, including family-friendly performances on Sundays that children were invited to attend. The restaurant owner said the law was overbroad, was written vaguely and violated First Amendment rights by chilling speech.

'Anti-trans activist promotes lies & propaganda on Fox News' & other Wed midday news briefs

Anti-trans activist promotes lies & propaganda on Fox News​ - Another one is at the trough, y'all. 

Virginia finalizes guidance on transgender students, including rolling back some accommodations - It ain't good. 

Marjorie Taylor Greene wants anti-LGBTQ+ amendments in a national air travel bill - She is so annoying. 

Colman Domingo Is Gay Civil Rights Icon Bayard Rustin in New Biopic: Photos - I'm looking forward to this movie.

No, Enes Kanter. Acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ people is not the same as teaching boys how to perform oral sex. You nasty.

 

Former NBA player Enes Kanter turns acknowledgement about LGBTQ+ existence into some nonsense about teaching boys about oral sex. Gets dragged all over Twitter for it.

A recent incident involving former NBA player Charles Barkley and NBA former player-turned-activist Enes Kanter illustrates the basic idiocy of anti-LGBTQ prejudice.

From Mediate:

Over the weekend, Barkley took the microphone at a Lake Tahoe, California, bar and said he bought Bud Light for everyone. He then called Bud Light critics “rednecks” and “assholes.” “If you’re gay, bless you,” Barkley said. “If you’re transgender, bless you. And if you have a problem with that, fuck you!”

Please note that Barkley said nothing about sexual intercourse, teaching kids about sexual intercourse, or anything vaguely resembling stuff like that. But apparently Kanter heard something to that effect because he sent out this tweet:

I hear what you’re saying Charles Barkley, and yes, we shouldn’t have any problems with the LGBTQ or Trans community. However the problem starts when they try to come for innocent kids.

Stop pushing this agenda on our youth!
LEAVE KIDS ALONE!!!

We do not need to have literature… pic.twitter.com/MLVXZW5qSP

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) July 18, 2023

His exact statement was the following:

I hear what you’re saying Charles Barkley, and yes, we shouldn’t have any problems with the LGBTQ or Trans community. 

However the problem starts when they try to come for innocent kids. Stop pushing this agenda on our youth! LEAVE KIDS ALONE!!! 

 We do not need to have literature in schools that show boys how to suck di*k

My fellow LGBTQ+ folks, how many times has this happened to you?  You simply mention (usually for a point of clarification) that you are a member of the community and instantly you get accused of trying to talk about your sex life? Or get accused of trying to "shove it down someone's throat." Or told by others that "they don't want to hear about it" (whatever it may be.)

And then when you point out their basic inanity, they either mention or send to you some cherry-picked nonsense (usually from Twitter) which they think proves their point (while usually having nothing to do with the conversation at hand.)

It's a reality that we have learned to live with it. Some folks are just damned determined to reduce our lives to matters of lurid sexual intercourse. Some folks are simply obsessed with picturing us as a constantly plotting cabal out to "groom" kids and spread communism (or whatever "ism" they fear at the moment) while having lots and lots and LOTS of sex at the same time.

If these idiots gave it a serious thought, they would realize just how ignorant they sound. Or at least envy our stamina if they actually believe we can do all of those things without getting exhausted.

Fortunately, others responding to Kanter's tweet proceeded to call out his absolutely bizarre and disgusting connecting of simply acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ folks to teaching kids sex acts (yeah, even I got a shot in):

Whatever, Anita Bryant. That's an ugly beard you've grown since I last saw you in the 1970s.

— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) July 18, 2023

I see you're navigating this culture war in the same way you'd navigate a pick and roll.

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) July 18, 2023

“We do not need to have literature in schools that show boys how to suck di*k”

Just the boys? Why so specific Enes?

— Rashaan (@Rashaan_954) July 18, 2023

pic.twitter.com/oKt8ykwfSU

— Susan (@tlily1024) July 18, 2023

What school you going to where they teaching kids how to give head pic.twitter.com/CA44rPrpK2

— Harold Stricklin (@hdotstrick) July 18, 2023

'Obama slams LGBTQ+ book bans in open letter' & other Tue midday news briefs

Obama Slams LGBTQ+ Book Bans in Open Letter to American Librarians - Still one of the greatest presidents of my lifetime. 

'He was a protector': Friends say Oregon man died while defending LGBTQ friend​ - This is such a sad story. 

Jen Psaki exposes Moms for Liberty’s extremist anti-LGBTQ+ agenda - Good. Hopefully more folks will listen.

Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis’ 2024 campaign continues to implode & these latest blunders prove it - And hopefully it will continue to do so.

Marjorie Taylor Greene rap video is latest Republican Party embarrassment

 

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has made a fool out of her party again. This time with a tone deaf rap video

While I was never a fan of the Republican party, there was a time in which I had some respect for them. But how can you respect a party whose governing philosophy is all about getting rich from lies, grievances, and the largesse of billionaires funding their naked pursuits of power? Maybe Obama becoming president did break the GOP? Maybe Trump's successful 2016 presidential campaign freed their minds from the so-called shackles of pretending to be respectable. Either way, the Republican party seems to be strapped face down on a airplane descending to the lowest depths of hell.

And the rap video below featuring Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene is an example of how nasty the GOP crash will be when it does happen. Greene is like the main character in the fable of The Mischievous Dog in that she is reveling in something which makes her look like a fool. Who is the person rapping in this video? Who cares. Feel free to google him if you want to, but you won't get any answers from me. All he represents is depths of filth the GOP seems to be knee deep in. Obviously, they don't seem to be embarrassed by it, so I will go ahead and be embarrassed for them. Folks may think that losing any sense of shame insulates them from being shamed, but they are generally wrong.

Hey look everyone; the Mayor of MAGAVILLE, it's the official MTG rap video! pic.twitter.com/03FwtWl8w8

— Kenny Akers (@KeneAkers) July 17, 2023

'School board faces backlash for not defending employees against 'groomer' slur' & other Mon midday news briefs

Roanoke County School Board faces backlash​ - A schoolboard which does not stand up for its employees deserves the backlash it receives. 

The Right Is Using the Anti-Abortion Supreme Court Ruling to Attack Trans Care. Will It Work? - We will see . . . 

“Our best days are ahead”: Trans congressional candidate Sarah McBride still believes in America - I love her enthusiasm and positive attitude. Those are two things we must never allow the opposition to take from us. 

Ron DeSantis fires roughly a dozen staffers in a campaign shake-up - Poor baby. Mr. Culture War is having problems.

Nikki Haley Is Losing Her Culture War Campaign - And so is Haley. Good.

All the Celebrities Who Came Out As LGBTQ+ in 2023 (So Far) - So far . . .