'Victory - Over 40 anti-LGBTQ 'policy riders' removed from federal budget bill' & other Thur/Fri news briefs

Massive Defeat For Anti-Trans And Anti-LGBTQ+ Riders In Spending Bill As Dems Hold Firm​ - Fellow GLAAD award nominee Erin Reed is a one-woman wrecking crew when it comes to dismantling transphobia and basic bigotry. Support her work. 

 One policy rider proposed for the Food and Drug Administration would have defunded any hospital that “distributes, sells, or otherwise uses drugs that disrupt the onset of puberty or sexual development for those under 18,” a measure targeting not only transgender youth but also those experiencing precocious puberty. Another rider sought to bar any government funding toward “surgical procedures or hormone therapy for the purposes of gender-affirming care” in the Department of Health and Human Services. 

This move would have significantly impacted private and subsidized insurance in the Healthcare Marketplace. It also aimed to bar the enforcement of President Biden’s executive order titled “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity,” which broadened anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals. Additional riders included bans on funding for any organization that “promotes transgenderism,” Title IX protections for transgender youth, bans on legal challenges against states over anti-LGBTQ+ laws, book bans, DEI bans, and more. In total, over 40 riders were proposed and negotiated in the spending bills. None of these were found in the final bill. 

 Ultimately, the final spending bill released contained only a single anti-LGBTQ+ rider: a ban on pride flags being raised or displayed above foreign embassies. The policy, while certainly qualifying as anti-LGBTQ+ and a regression to Trump-era policies, notably does not bar personal displays of Pride flags by embassy workers. In the past, some embassies have gotten around such bans by not “flying a flag over the embassy” but rather, painting portions of the embassy in rainbow colors or draping flags on the side of buildings. 

White House Agrees To Ban Pride Flags At US Embassies In Spending Bill Deal - Unfortunately, this rider didn't slip by. I sincerely hope members of the community don't flip out over this. Compared to what could have been, this is very minor.

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donates over $30 million to LGBTQ+ non-profits​ - Great news. Goodness knows we need this. 

Alabama forces universities to implement trans bathroom ban while outlawing DEI - This right here is a hot mess. 

Florida tried to erase LGBTQ teachers. These educators refuse to go quietly - Keep fighting. 

Biden administration ties record for number of confirmed LGBTQ judges in federal courts - Voting matters.

Video - Four years ago, Donald Trump botched the COVID pandemic response. His campaign wants America to forget what he did.

Four years ago, Donald Trump botched the COVID pandemic response and refused to take responsibility for the carnage he was causing. Now his campaign is trying to gaslight America to forget all of it. Thank you Chris Hayes and MSNBC for the above reminder.

SCOTUS turns down appeal of parents who lost custody of trans teen

I am not a fan of the current Supreme Court because of how it seems to put religious beliefs on an undeserved pedestal.  However, in this particular case, SCOTUS made the right decision. In rejecting this appeal, the Court is saying, at least for now, that the religious beliefs of the parents don't supersede the health and well-being of their child.

 From USA Today:

The Supreme Court declined to decide Monday whether an Indiana couple who believe children should be raised based on their sex at birth should have lost custody of their teenager, a transgender girl. The court, without comment, rejected an appeal from the teen’s parents, who had warned that cases similar to theirs are likely to reoccur “due to developing conflicts between parents and their children concerning gender identity.” 

 “With increasing frequency, governments run roughshod over parents’ religious beliefs on gender identity, including removing children from parents, favoring certain beliefs in divorce custody disputes, and preventing adoptions,” lawyers for Mary and Jeremy Cox of Anderson, Indiana, told the court in their appeal. “These cases are sure to proliferate.” 

 The state said the parents, who are self-described devout Christians, lost custody not because of their views but because of the medical necessity of addressing the teen’s severe eating disorder. A provision of Indiana law that is similar to statutes in nearly every state allows government intervention in “a variety of situations in which even well-intentioned parent find themselves unable to prevent serious harm,” the state told the court. 

 Indiana also argued that the custody dispute is no longer relevant because the teen, who was 16 when removed from the home, is now an adult. 

 The LGBTQ news site Them also added several other details about the case:

 The case stretches back to 2019, when Mary and Jeremy Cox of Anderson, Indiana said their child — then 14 years old — came out to them as a trans girl. As PBS affiliate WFYI reported, the Coxes, both self-described devout Christians, refused to accept their child’s identity, a sustained conflict that lawyers for the Department of Child Services (DCS) say eventually led to the child developing a severe eating disorder and both parents losing custody in 2021. 

 The Indiana Court of Appeals in 2022 upheld the DCS decision to remove the child from her parents’ care, finding that her eating disorder was directly linked to emotional distress and lack of support at home. Mary Cox’s comments to her child included the statement that “[child’s preferred name] is the bitch that killed my son,” according to the ruling. 

The court determined that the custody order was necessary to protect the child’s physical and emotional health, and while the Coxes are free to express their religious beliefs, “they do not have the right to exercise them in a manner that causes physical or emotional harm to [their] Child.”

'Actress fired from 'Color Purple' stage show because of anti-LGBTQ comments loses lawsuit' & other Mon/Tues news briefs

Editor's note - As you have noticed, I haven't been as steady on the posts as I have been in the past. I've been going through some trying situations, but I still want to keep you up-to-date, educated, and entertained. And most of all, empowered by what I post here. Please bear with me as I continue to do what I have been doing these past 17.5 years and above all thank you for continuing to stand by me.

Seyi Omooba

Christian actress spent 5 years in court defending her right to make anti-LGBTQ+ comments. She just lost. - You cannot attack the sexual orientation of the character you are hired to portray and expect to keep your job. It does cause problems to your employers. Also, how do you expect anyone to believe that you were unaware that Celie from 'The Color Purple' was a lesbian:

 After hearing testimony in 2021 that Omooba had previously told her agents that she refused to play gay roles and had not bothered to read the script for the musical version of The Color Purple before accepting the role, an employment tribunal dismissed the actor’s religious discrimination claim, The Telegraph reported. The tribunal agreed with Curve Theatre that Omooba had not been fired for her Christian beliefs, but rather because her anti-LGBTQ+ statements would have likely led to “catastrophic” backlash for the theater if she had appeared in the queer role. 

California parents oust school board members who enacted anti-LGBTQ+ policy - Bye Felicias. Voting matters.

Idaho considers a ban on using public funds or facilities for transgender care - There is absolutely no point to this madness. Why push this ban? 

Death of Nex Benedict spurs calls for action, help for LGBTQ teens and their peers - Terrible situation but hopefully some good will come out of it. 

Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis can’t stop racking up humiliating losses in Florida- It's been a good month. 

On Fox News, Caitlyn Jenner defends trans athlete ban - GURL, u r a HOT mess.

'Ron DeSantis is feuding with Chaya Raichik and Libs of TikTok' & other Wed/Thur news briefs

In a recreation of one of those anaconda vs alligator moments on a nature show, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis (top picture) is feuding with Chaya Raichik and Libs of TikTok (bottom picture).

Editor's note - There is so many things going on that it would be best for me to cover as much as I can via news briefs.

DeSantis starts spat with Libs of TikTok - In a recreation of one of those anaconda vs alligator moments on a nature show, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis is feuding with Chaya Raichik and Libs of Tik Tok. Apparently, he got a taste of the medicine he supported her doling out to LGBTQ people. The spat is about immigration and crime, but it's still one of those "let's eat popcorn while enjoying the show" for our community. 

Glenn Youngkin signs bill that codifies marriage equality in Va. law - Pinch me on this one. Democrats control both the House and the Senate in Virginia so maybe Youngkin is trying to get along. If that's the case, it is yet more proof how voting matters.

 LGBTQ+ identification reaches new high of 7.6 percent among U.S. adults: Gallup - Closet doors are opening everywhere.

Lady Gaga shares powerful statement defending Dylan Mulvaney from anti-trans vitriol: “This is hatred” - Thank you, Lady Gaga.

New Survey Shows Broad Support for LGBTQ Rights Nationally, Despite Overall Declines in the Past Year - We're still hanging in there.

Victory in Florida: Lawsuit settlement guts harmful components of 'Don't Say Gay' law

Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill, a centerpiece of Ron DeSantis's so-called 'war on woke,' was gutted due to a settlement announced Monday evening. However, DeSantis is trying to deceive people by proclaiming victory.

From MSNBC: 

 Students and teachers will be able to speak freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms, provided it’s not part of instruction, under a settlement reached Monday between Florida education officials and civil rights attorneys who had challenged a state law which critics dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.” 

 The settlement clarifies what is allowed in Florida classrooms following passage two years ago of the law prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. Opponents said the law had created confusion about whether teachers could identify themselves as LGBTQ or if they even could have rainbow stickers in classrooms. Other states used the Florida law as a template to pass prohibitions on classroom instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and North Carolina are among the states with versions of the law. 

 Under the terms of the settlement, the Florida Board of Education will send instructions to every school district saying the Florida law doesn’t prohibit discussing LGBTQ people, nor prevent anti-bullying rules on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or disallow Gay-Straight Alliance groups. The settlement also spells out that the law is neutral — meaning what applies to LGBTQ people also applies to heterosexual people — and that it doesn’t apply to library books not being used in the classroom. 

 DeSantis quickly declared the settlement as a victory for his law, but don't be deceived. 

According to The Tampa Bay Times:

DeSantis and others who backed the legislation insisted repeatedly that they had no intention of stopping discussions about LGBTQ+ issues in schools. Their goal, they said, was to eliminate what they called gender ideology. They did not provide clear definitions, though, nor did they offer detailed guidelines explaining what is and is not allowed in classrooms. 

Some claimed that not providing clear definitions or guidelines was a deliberate intent of the law. While it didn't offer clear instructions, but the penalties for breaking it were made very clear. This caused a lot of fear and confusion:

The critics claimed the result was a chilling effect that led teachers to stop talking about children’s families, remove books relating to LGBTQ+ characters and themes from their shelves, and to pull back support for LGBTQ+ students. As part of their defense, lawyers for the state pushed back against the allegations that the law lacked clarity. The settlement, announced by lawyers for the plaintiffs, took those arguments and made them real.

 Equality Florida issued a statement which celebrated the settlement:

This agreement successfully dismantles the most harmful impacts of the law, ensuring it cannot be wielded as a tool of discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, educators, and families. The settlement secures several critical protections and clarifications, including:

 Free Expression Restored: Students and teachers can now speak and write freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in classroom participation and assignments. 

 Anti-Bullying Protections Strengthened: The settlement reinforces safeguards against bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

 Gay-Straight Alliances Protected: GSAs are officially protected, providing students with essential support and advocacy spaces. 

Classroom References Clarified: The law cannot prohibit references to LGBTQ+ individuals, relationships, families, or topics in any educational or extracurricular context. 

Non-Discrimination Assured: Targeting LGBTQ+ persons, couples, families, or issues under the guise of this law is explicitly forbidden. 

Extracurricular Activities Protected: Participation in and support of LGBTQ+ student clubs and cultural presentations remain unaffected.

 Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s Executive Director, ​also added: 

 “This settlement not only reaffirms the rights of LGBTQ+ students and educators to live and speak openly but also marks a significant step towards rectifying the damage inflicted by the ‘Don't Say Gay or Trans’ law. It's a testament to what we can achieve when we stand united against discrimination and for the dignity of all LGBTQ+ people in Florida. 

 This victory is more than a legal triumph; it's a beacon of hope and a reminder of the power of collective action. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to a Florida where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live authentically and without fear. 

 We extend our heartfelt thanks to our legal team at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the brave parents and educators who served as plaintiffs, and all who have supported this cause. Your courage and unity have been instrumental in securing a more inclusive and just Florida.”

No longer a presidential contender, Fl Gov Ron DeSantis now faces state backlash with his 'war on woke'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

A while back, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis was very sure that his "war on woke" would forge a pathway for him to the White House.  It didn't happen. And now with his presidential aspirations gone, DeSantis is facing lawmakers and voters back home tired of his "culture wars."

From Politico

Florida Republicans may be drifting ever so slightly away from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The GOP-controlled Legislature — no longer tethered to the demands of a governor aiming for the presidency — on Friday ended its annual session in a relatively low-key fashion as lawmakers wrapped up their work and quickly headed home. 

 This year marked the first instances of lawmakers giving mild pushback against the governor, who was widely considered one of the state’s most powerful governors before he dropped out of the presidential race in January. Republican legislators rejected some of his appointees and rebuffed his push to bring gambling to a Miami Beach resort hotel owned by a top DeSantis donor.

 Instead of a session dominated by conservative hot-button issues designed to boost DeSantis’ campaign, legislators wrestled with top priorities of its Republican legislative leaders — including a contentious crackdown on social media for minors and securing hundreds of millions of dollars toward health care initiatives.

 From The Washington Post 

 The bill banning rainbow flags from public buildings in Florida sounded like a sure bet. State Rep. David Borrero (R), the legislation’s sponsor, argued that it was needed to prevent schoolchildren from being “subliminally indoctrinated.” That rationale echoed other measures championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as part of his “war on woke.” But instead of sailing through the Republican-dominated legislature, the DeSantis-backed bill died a quick legislative death, making it only as far as one subcommittee. 

 It wasn’t the only culture war proposal from conservative lawmakers to end up in the bill graveyard during the session that ended Friday. One rejected bill would have banned the removal of Confederate monuments. Another would have required transgender people to use their sex assigned at birth on driver's licenses — something the state Department of Motor Vehicles is already mandating. A third proposed forbidding local and state government officials from using transgender people’s pronouns.

  . . . Florida has firmly cemented itself in recent years as ground zero for the nation’s culture wars. The Sunshine State is the birthplace of conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty, the original law restricting LGBTQ+ discussion in classrooms, one of the strictest abortion laws in the country and legislation that has led to the banning of more books than in any other state in America. But the pushback is growing. 

 Parents and others have organized and protested schoolbook bans. Abortion rights advocates gathered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot in Florida in November. A bill that would have established “fetal personhood” stalled before it could reach a full vote. Judges are also canceling some of DeSantis’s marquee laws, including the “Stop Woke Act.” A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled Monday that the law “exceeds the bounds” of the Constitution’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression.

 Even the governor recently admitted the state might have gone too far in trying to remove certain books from school shelves, suggesting laws on book challenges should be “tweaked” to prevent “bad actors” from having too much influence. 

Elise Stefanik, Republicans, and Donald Trump wants us to forget how he botched the COVID pandemic response

So now the GOP is trying to rebrand Donald Trump as a successful president. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has built a Congressional career in outright lying for Trump, tried to pass off a new lie. Unfortunately for her and Trump, a lot of folks remember just much how of a disaster Trump was in the Oval Office and continues to be as he tries to get back in. 

Especially when it came to the COVID pandemic.

 From Raw Story

 Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told the nation Wednesday that Americans are much worse off now than they were four years ago, spurring Americans to do some quick math and issue a swift rebuttal — that was March 2020. 

Stefanik made this declaration at a press conference for House Republican leaders on the heels of a victorious Super Tuesday for former President Donald Trump. "As Ronald Reagan famously asked us, 'Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" Stefanik asked. "The answer for hard-working Americans across the country is a resounding no. 

 Unfortunately for Stefanik, the article goes on to say, folks on Twitter quickly reminded her that March 2020 was around the time that the country was slowly but surely getting swallowed up by the COVID pandemic - a pandemic made worse by Trump deliberately undermining its severity and then botching the response.

https://t.co/QVsjBHlYMV

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 6, 2024

Four years ago today Donald Trump was explaining that this new virus going around was no big deal because people on Fox News were telling him that a lot of people die from the flu. https://t.co/jfvPDJb3wh https://t.co/oVWH0uSfKo

— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) March 6, 2024

4 years ago today, I was sitting in ICU w/ my mother, who was just diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I was sitting w/ her when Trump announced 15-days to slow the spread, thinking how am I going to navigate her care in that impossible landscape. For your revisionist history…

— Milenka~ (@MilenaAmit) March 6, 2024

We were about to experience the Trump lockdowns and have the economy crash. A lot of grandparents died from something that “was going to disappear like a miracle.” Things are way better today!

— 🦅Mark Hartig🇺🇸 (@markhartig) March 6, 2024

Sure, things were better when Covid raged unfettered, due to Trump's trivializing of it. Because no one was working, vacationing, or driving, gas was cheap! Same as in '08 when the economy cratered under Bush. Want cheap gas? Just crash the economy!

— Paul Scarpelli (@paulscarpelli) March 6, 2024

Meanwhile, Donald Trump tried to claim that he did a "fantastic job" on COVID. The Biden campaign was quick to call out that lie.

Left: Trump spending his Super Tuesday speech claiming he did a “fantastic job” on COVID

Right: Mass graves for COVID victims being constructed when Trump was president pic.twitter.com/LLtrMHooBk

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 6, 2024

But to me, one tweet really stood out. It was a response to the Biden/Harris tweet and it brought the "receipts" in the form Trump's actual words in 2020 showcasing his lies and basic incompetence in dealing with the pandemic.

 

An oldie reminding us just how Trump handled the coronavirus. Lies, and utter incompetence while Americans died. https://t.co/Arz8AYUby7

— Phillip-USA (@phillip_USA_) March 6, 2024

Right-wing media trying to help Moms for Liberty play damage control after '60 Minutes' debacle

 How much of a disaster was that '60 Minutes' interview for Moms for Liberty? It was so bad that the right-wing media is trying to swoop in to help stem the damage. 

From Media Matters

Too often, Moms for Liberty and its co-founders have received coddling rather than questioning from mainstream media outlets. In many interviews, Moms for Liberty representatives mischaracterized the group’s activities without meaningful pushback from reporters. 

Critical details were omitted, including Moms for Liberty’s routine harassment, extremism, and violent threats directed at librarians, teachers, and school officials. It’s likely that Moms for Liberty was expecting standard media coddling, because the moment 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley began asking even softball clarification questions, co-founders Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich visibly fumbled. 

 . . . Pelley wasn’t asking hardball questions, but Justice and Descovich were clearly unprepared for even the slightest bit of pushback. Unsurprisingly, right-wing media are already scrambling to vilify 60 Minutes and conduct damage control for Moms for Liberty. 

 Justice appeared on Steve Bannon’s War Room the day after the interview aired and accused Pelley of dishonestly editing the segment. Justice then spoke with Fox News Digital, claiming that the interview was “heavily edited” and they were “censored” by CBS News.

 Newsmax host Rob Schmitt said 60 Minutes was “advocating for the LGBTQ agenda in schools” and described the segment as “biased.” BlazeTV’s The Steve Deace Show jumped to defend Moms for Liberty’s use of “groomer.” Megyn Kelly — who previously hosted a Moms for Liberty fundraiser — blasted Pelley for the interview, saying he “failed America’s children'” and calling him “disgusting.”

Full '60 Minutes' segment:

Moms For Liberty's latest embarrassment comes from '60 Minutes' interview disaster

 

Moms for Liberty founders Tiffany Justice (left) and Tina Descovich (right). 

It's been an extreme pleasure over the last few months watching hate group Mom for Liberty continuing to slide down the ladder of embarrassment. On Sunday, two of the founders, Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich, were interviewed by Scott Pelley of '60 Minutes' and it was wonderful. 

When faced with probing questions by a serious journalist instead of friendly interviews from propaganda pushing pundits (such as on Fox News) Justice and Descovich malfunctioned quicker than actress Paula Prentiss in that scene from the 1975 movie The Stepford Wives ("How could you do a thing like that. How could you do a thing like that. I was just going to give you coffee. I was just going to give you coffee. I thought we were friend. I thought we were friends . .")

The two clips below are what I'm talking about

Scott Pelley asks the founders of a conservative group calling for book banning: “What ideology are the children being indoctrinated into? What is your fear?” https://t.co/6dUGXXacjT pic.twitter.com/mE7YiO1gfk

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 4, 2024

"What do you mean by that?” Scott Pelley asks Moms for Liberty founders about claims, posted on the group’s social media, that students are being “groomed” by teachers and librarians. https://t.co/aZk0Imib73 pic.twitter.com/zxiuKnA5gz

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 4, 2024

You can watch the entire segment:

 

Federal judge puts temporary stop on Texas AG Ken Paxton's demand for information on families with transgender kids

Texas AG Ken Paxton

A judge ruled on Friday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive information on Texas families with transgender kids. At least for now.

From The Advocate

A judge has temporarily blocked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s demand for information on PFLAG National’s work on behalf of Texas families with transgender children seeking gender-affirming medical care. Paxton, an intensely anti-LGBTQ+ Republican, issued a demand in early February for the organization to turn over documents, communications, and other information related to its work with these families. 

This would include the names and addresses of trans youth members. PFLAG National is a plaintiff in two lawsuits filed against Texas’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for trans youth — its ban on this care and an order from Gov. Greg Abbott that families allowing their children to undergo it be investigated for child abuse. Responding to the latest demand, PFLAG National filed a new lawsuit against Paxton’s office and sought a temporary restraining order to keep him from obtaining the information. Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel granted the order Friday. 

 According to the HuffPost: 

The ACLU, which is representing FPLAG in court, said it will seek a permanent block on Paxton’s demand “so that PFLAG can continue supporting its Texas members with transgender youth in doing what all loving parents do: supporting and caring for their children.” 

 This isn't the first time Paxton, who by the way has been the subject of intense legal trouble due to other issues, has targeted the trans community and healthcare providers of gender-affirming care. Twice he has made demands for information from transgender healthcare providers in other states. One demand led a lawsuit by a Seattle hospital filed last year. In 2022, a federal judge blocked his office from investigating the families of trans youth in Texas. During that same time, it was pointed out by various experts and researchers that Paxton was relying on inaccurate data and distorted research to justify his investigation.

Delusional Chaya Raichik talks about 'eradicating gender ideology'

 I got this courtesy of Ari Drennen from Media Matters:

Chaya, please. You are delusional. You actually think you're special.

Do you think you are the first person who tried to take any part of the LGBTQ community out? We've faced bigger, prettier, and more intelligent wannabes than you. And we've always remained standing. We know how to fight, to endure, and win. You are simply another future notch in our belt.

You cannot "eradicate" the "gender ideology" because it doesn't exist. Just like the "radical gay agenda" or the "radical homosexual agenda" doesn't exist. No matter how many phrases people like you use to dehumanize and no matter how many lies you tell, you can't wipe us out.

The trans community - the LGBTQ community in general - has existed long before this country and no bowling pinheaded, flavorless wannabe with bad split ends is going to do us in. We aren't going anywhere. And we will be here when someone develops enough holy water to banish a certain piece of unwanted, unloved, unneeded gutter trash to the depths of hell's toilet where she was obviously formed. 

Trump promises to give far right evangelicals 'political power “at a level that you’ve never used it before”' if they support him

 A recent incident involving Donald Trump and evangelical voters reminds me of a story from the Bible regarding Jesus and Satan.

From Right Wing Watch:

Former president Donald Trump delivered a campaign speech at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Tennessee  . . .  promising the right-wing Christian audience that they will wield political power “at a level that you’ve never used it before” if he is returned to the White House in 2024. Trump’s audience and the larger convention were populated by the same religious-right activists who are regularly featured here on Right Wing Watch and who are planning to use a second Trump term to impose their Christian nationalist worldview on the nation. 

And based on Trump’s remarks at the conference, he fully intends to give them more political power than they have ever had before. “Today I come before you as a friend and an ally and a fellow believer to ask for your help and your support and your prayers for this country,” Trump said. “I make you a simple promise: In my first term I fought for Christians harder than any president has ever done before, and I will fight even harder for Christians with four more years in the White House.”

 “We did things the likes of which nobody has ever done for Christians in this country, and I’m very proud of that and honored by it,” he added. “Just think of what with God’s help we already achieved in our historic first term under my leadership and working with you.”

 “For four years, we went through a great period [where] you were able to speak, and we’re going to make that on a permanent basis,” Trump continued. “Because you’re the people we want to hear from: the pastors and the ministers and the rabbis. The people in this room are the people we want to hear from and they have to have a political voice.” 

“You have such power, but you really weren’t allowed to use that power,” Trump told the audience. “You’re now allowed to use it. If I get in [to the White House], you’re going to be using that power at a level that you’ve never used it before."

There is a story in the Bible about Satan tempting Jesus while Jesus was in the wilderness. He told Jesus that he would give him all of the power in the world if Jesus would simply bow down and worship him. Jesus of course strongly turned him down. Too bad those who claim to follow Jesus didn't seem to get the hint.

'Is there a law against lying?' Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik tries to justify her 'transgender school shooter' smear

Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik doubles down on a lie she told about a 'transgender school shooter.'

Okay folks, I know I'm probably driving you nuts with the two-day (now three-day) coverage of Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik's interview with Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz, but bear with me, especially about this last revelation. This one is about receipt keeping should Raichik become liable for any type of legal action in the future.

From Media Matters:

Over a month after Chaya Raichik accused an innocent trans woman of carrying out the tragic school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, the Libs of TikTok creator acknowledged in an interview with The Washington Post’s Taylor Lorenz that she knew the claim was false – but said she still would not remove the post. Raichik originally used the post — which originated from 4chan trolls — to misleadingly sketch a pattern of mass shootings carried out by transgender people. 

 “Twitter is free speech,” said Raichik in response to a question about why she doesn’t delete the post, which she said she is “glad” has a community note correcting it. “People lie about me all the time on there, and they don’t get taken down.”

 “The Uvalde shooter wasn’t trans,” agreed Raichik in the interview. “Is there a law against lying? … They’re knowingly lying about me."

"Is there a law against lying?" Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik acknowledges that her post accusing an innocent trans woman of committing the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde Texas was false, but she refuses to remove it. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Zqo90r3nXX

— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) February 26, 2024

And that defensive garble of a statement is the point of it all, i.e. the reason why people like Raichik cannot be ignored. They must be exposed and there is a difference between amplification and exposure. Amplifying is when you repeat their filth without nuance or criticism. Exposing them is when you let them speak, but also demand that they explain their words and justify their actions. You don't let them get away with simply throwing out talking points. You challenge them. That way, you deflate whatever illusion they may have built around themselves.

And over these past several years, Raichik has been the queen of illusions. She, with the help of others, built herself up to be this grand right-wing warrior supposedly exposing LGBTQ people as groomers and pedophiles. She got a lot of fame and notoriety because it. Heck, she still has the fame and notoriety.

But what happened last weekend is the same old story which happens when someone starts believing their own hype. African-American elders call it "smelling yourself. Girlfriend got a bit caught up in her ego and put herself out there for an interview which exposed just how limited she is. And when those who oppose your rights, safety, and health expose themselves the way Raichik did last weekend, you should take full advantage in ripping off their careful created facade so that the world can see them for the nauseating creatures that they are.

Related posts: 

Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik fumbles badly when trying to justify her bullying of the trans community 

Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik having temper tantrum because of embarrassing interview clip

Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik having temper tantrum because of embarrassing interview clip

Chaya Raichik

Apparently, Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik is highly upset about her recent video with Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz.

To recap - on Saturday, a video clip of an interview conducted by Lorenz with Raichik came out and it quickly went viral. The reason for this was that it showed Raichik in a severely harsh light, i.e. revealing her to be a low-intelligence bigoted bully who can't defend her vicious attacks on the LGBTQ community even when give prime opportunity to do so. 

This clip right here:

"Sounds like you do want to tell people what to do in their house": Taylor Lorenz presses Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik to explain her issue with trans adults. pic.twitter.com/XkPP3VRe9l

— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) February 24, 2024

Since the clip came out, Raichik has been raging online about how she is the victim and how Taylor Lorenz supposedly did her dirty:

Just to summarize my interview with Taylor Lorenz:

- she’s not at all concerned about our open border and millions of people invading our country
- she’s pro mutilation and castration of minors
- she wants p*rn in schools
- she wants the media to be allowed to defame me with…

— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) February 25, 2024

 Among other things, Raichik accuses Lorenze of being a "lizard person." What is that?

Anyway, the delicious irony is days before all of this happened, Raichik sent a gloating tweet which supposedly mocked her "haters."

Good afternoon everyone! Even the haters, losers, and liars! 😘 pic.twitter.com/cZ8PsP8OQW

— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) February 22, 2024

To fall from such a lofty height of egotism to a deep pit of self-pity has to be humiliating for Raichik and particularly delicious for those who have been the targets of her venom. It's really not a surprise that yet another right-wing culture warrior and fierce protector of morality turns out to be a nothing-happening fraud with the intellectual depth of a dead cockroach and the emotional maturity of a screaming infant who needs to be changed.

LGBTQ people have seen this happen so many times that we should be used to it.

Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik fumbles badly when trying to justify her bullying of the trans community

Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik during an interview she probably now regrets having.

My God. That's all I could say after watching this clip.

The snippet below is just a small portion of a longer interview Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik has with Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz which you can see here. 

 In light of all of the venom she directs at the trans community, one would think Raichik would have a concise answer when pressed about it. Or at least a well-thought out lie.  But she can't even do that.  All she can do is act a malfunctioning robot. A CHEAPLY made malfunctioning robot.

 It only goes to prove that when bullies are removed from their undeserved lofts of power (in Raichik case, her social media address), they reveal themselves to be vapid, pitiful cowards who can't even justify their actions. Calling Raichik a "lightweight" here is an insult to all lightweights.

"Sounds like you do want to tell people what to do in their house": Taylor Lorenz presses Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik to explain her issue with trans adults. pic.twitter.com/XkPP3VRe9l

— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) February 24, 2024

Mother Jones: Problematic New York Times articles are being cited in anti-trans bills

The New York Times has been receiving a lot of criticism because of how it has covered the trans community and their issues. In the face of this criticism, the newspaper, various employees, and other journalists have defended the coverage. But a new article via Mother Jones points out that The New York Times articles are not only full of distortions, but they are conveniently being cited in anti-trans legislation across the country.

 

New York Times columnist Pamela Paul argued in a 4,500-word op-ed earlier this month that transgender health care procedures amount to “unproven treatments for children,” despite major medical associations’ support for gender-affirming care and the widespread view that it is lifesaving. The piece, which builds upon Paul’s record of espousing anti-trans views in the pages of the country’s most important paper, was roundly condemned by trans journalists over what they alleged was an argument rife with inaccuracies. 

 Yet for all the criticism it unleashed, or precisely because of that very criticism, conservative groups seized upon Paul’s piece to pursue anti-trans legal maneuvers. In Idaho, the Alliance Defending Freedom, the powerful conservative legal group known for its critical role behind the strategy that overturned Roe v. Wade, specifically cited Paul’s Feb. 4 column as evidence of the “ostracism, pain, and lifelong regret” young people experience after receiving gender-affirming health care. The legal brief, which aimed to overturn a federal judge’s December ruling that blocked the state from enforcing a ban on gender-affirming health care, was ultimately unsuccessful. But it underscored the right’s enthusiasm for including New York Times pieces that have been accused of cherry-picking data and citing problematic sources in their defenses of anti-trans legislation across the country.

 . .  . Paul also appears to follow ADF’s pattern of misrepresenting data. When her piece claims that “30 percent of people on hormone therapy discontinue its use within four years,” Paul declines to include key context to that statistic: The study focused specifically on military families who stopped refilling their hormone replacement therapy prescriptions through Tricare, a health program for active duty service members. In the study, the researchers state “our findings are likely to underestimate continuation rates among transgender patients” because patients may have switched to an alternative insurance plan or private pay. 

Erin Reed, an independent trans journalist, also pointed out that the last two years of the study data coincided with Trump’s ban on transgender service members, another reason why people may have opted to switch providers. Paul presented the statistic as fact, without scientific or historical contextualization. Paul did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but after publication, a Times spokesperson said in an email that “this column was thoroughly reported and fact-checked, and we stand behind its publication.”

And, the article points out, the situation regarding Paul's op-ed is not an isolated incident. 

In pushing their bigoted propaganda, religious right groups either anoint in-house employees as experts on the LGBTQ community or rely on self-created astro-turfed groups with "official" sounding names. They still do this, but I guess it doesn't hurt nonetheless when they have people seemingly situated in legitimate entities helping them do their dirty work.

'Chaya's Circle' details how Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik plays the victim when confronted with her actions

 Libs of TikTok's founder Chaya Raichik claims that she is being unfairly targeted when it is pointed out that bomb threats and other acts of harassment have been directed at hospitals, schools, or people after she falsely smears them as "child groomers." She can complain all she wants, but there is paper trail (seen in the links below) which she needs to answer for

And, as this diagram via The Serfs shows, her attempt to play the victim when confronted is weak and self-serving. And it brings up further questions about her behavior as well as her character. 

Or lack thereof.

Chaya Raichik (Libs of TikTok) follows a similar pattern of directly inciting violence towards LGBTQ+ people and then downplaying or deleting her involvement after someone dies or she appears in the news again pic.twitter.com/S8xnl0n0a7

— The Serfs (@theserfstv) February 21, 2024

And for those who want to cut and paste:

Related posts (or as I like to call them - receipts):

As Owasso student dies after school beating, critics blame negativity from 'Libs of TikTok' - February 21, 2024 

After Libs of TikTok posted, at least 21 bomb threats followed - February 7, 2024 

When Libs of TikTok tweets, threats increasingly follow - November 2, 2023 

Schools Report Bomb Threats Following Libs of Tiktok Anti-LGBTQ Posts - October 4, 2023 

Bomb threat shuts down OHSU clinic after anti-trans information posted online - Aug 5, 2023

Children's hospitals are the latest target of anti-LGBTQ harassment - August 26,2022

'We told you so!' DeSantis called out for backtracking on book banning legislation he initially supported.

Florida governor and former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis

Presidential elections are generally a pain in the ass, but one of the sweetest rewards is when a wannabe candidate's campaign explodes in his face and reveals that he is nothing more than undeserved hype. With that in mind, I give you Florida governor Ron DeSantis. It has been a special delight to watch his campaign implode as it is revealed that his "culture warrior" schtick is nothing more than a sad covering for a man who has zero personality.

 Last week was another indication.

From Talking Points Media:

Back in Florida after a humiliating run against Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis is trying to do some clean up. 

 The Florida governor spent the first half of his second term signing legislation into law that would, essentially, help him run for president. His state became the breeding ground for Republicans’ manufactured culture wars as his GOP-dominated state legislature passed anti-“woke,” anti-LBGTQ, anti-“DEI” and pro-“family values” legislation into law left and right. It was widely speculated that DeSantis was using his own state to showcase policy that he hoped would resonate with Trump voters ahead of his announced 2024 bid. 

 We all know how that scheme ended. 

 So, back in Florida, after mortifying himself and dashing his own hopes of being likable on a national stage, DeSantis appears to be doing some damage control on some of the far-right legislation he signed into law. At a press conference in Orlando on Thursday the Republican governor acknowledged that his whole book banning thing had gotten a little out of control. Not because the policy itself is too extreme, of course. He blamed teachers, school administrators and “the news media” for whipping up a frenzy (he called it a “hoax”) and “activists” for trying to score political points by proposing bans on too many books. 

 “Lets’ not let people try to hijack the process,” DeSantis during the news conference Thursday. “With objecting — if you go to a school board meeting objecting. If you have a kid in school, okay. But if you’re somebody who doesn’t have a kid in school and you’re gonna object to 100 books? No, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” he continued, appearing to support a new bill that’s been proposed in the Florida state House that seeks to prevent people who don’t have children enrolled in a school district from filing complaints against a school district’s book material. 

 DeSantis is supporting legislation which would put limits and monetary fees on people challenging books, but his retreat from his original position and attempt to blame others for it isn't going unchallenged:

NEW: DeSantis acts SHOCKED that his vague and punitive censorship laws have resulted in exactly the type of chaos and excessive book banning in Florida public schools that we all predicted would happen.

The GOP knows they went too far. Mr. Never Back Down, is again backing down. pic.twitter.com/2HS51xWDnS

— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) February 15, 2024

"This is literally one of the main things that I and many others complained about all throughout 2021-22 when right-wing activists, led by Moms for Liberty, Libs of TikTok, and others who had no children in the public school systems, were besieging schools and school board meetings, causing absolute chaos. We complained that the wording of this statute would lead to exactly what DeSantis is now complaining about. But back then, he was a culture warrior building his brand to run for president. Not only did he not want to hear it, he encouraged these people. He employed these people." - Ron Filipkowski, MeidasTouch Network 

"In an indirect way, DeSantis recognized his policies have gotten out hand. He touted a bill going through the 2024 legislative session to curb challenges from people who don’t have children at the school where they are lodging their objections. Yet, after signing laws that left local school officials scrambling to figure out what they meant, DeSantis now wants to scapegoat them. He said he’s directed the Florida Department of Education to craft rules to hold educators accountable if they go beyond what state law requires them to do. It is the state that should be held accountable, but don’t expect that from the governor." - Miami Herald Editorial Board

 “Governor DeSantis’ denial that Florida is banning books, and his shifting blame to local school boards and Floridians, is a blatant attempt to avoid responsibility for the significant and ongoing harm caused by statutes that he championed. But there is one thing we can agree on: book banning has gone too far, and limiting challenges is a good first step toward protecting Florida’s libraries.” - Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office

'Anti-LGBTQ filmmakers tried to trick people into appearing in their 'documentary'' & other Wed/Thur news briefs

Robby (left) and Landon Starbuck (right) prove that anti-LGBTQ activists are just like pigs. You can't keep them from the trough.

Right-Wing Filmmakers Allegedly Tricked a Drag Queen Into Being in an Anti-Trans Movie - Robby Starbuck and his wife, Landon, are two highly vulgar pieces of sh!t. They are two pathetic grifters of the lowest order attempting to gain status and prominence by demonizing LGBTQ people. And as this article shows, they aren't even original. 

Emails Reveal How Anti-Trans Doc Tried To Dupe LGBTQ Allies Into Participating - For those interested, this the Rolling Stone article referenced in the news article above in its entirety and no behind a paywall. 

 Related post - Taken out-of-context video fuels ugly lie about drag queens 'grooming' children - To get a complete picture of we are dealing with when it comes to the Starbucks, the following post is from 2022. It was then that Starbuck caused a huge firestorm in Tennessee by presenting a video out of context to falsely claim that a drag queen was encouraging a little girl to fondle him. It was mess like this which led to unsuccessful and very costly attempts to ban drag in the state.

Bottom line - Robby and Landon Starbuck proves there is always some trash lurking about eager to harm LGBTQ people for attention and profit. You simply cannot keep hogs away from the trough when they think food is there.

In other news

One Millions Moms is furious over those Super Bowl ads celebrating Jesus, says they weren’t anti-gay enough - Poor babies.

Kamala Harris marks 20 years since first officiating same-sex marriages and reunites with gay couple she wed - Progress rules! 

LGBTQ elected leaders are ‘the strongest line of defense’ - Once again, voting matters. And LGBTQ people should NEVER be ashamed to vote for their own, especially when it comes to protecting our self-interests. All other groups in this country do it. We should too.