'How will Scalia's death impact the future of lgbt equality?' & other Tue. midday news briefs

 Scalia

How The Supreme Court Shake-Up Will Impact The Future Of LGBT Rights - Serious talk, folks. Take it to heart because hardly anyone has talked about this as of yet.  

Manny Pacquiao: Boxer sorry for 'gay people are worse than animals' remark - You mean he is sorry he got caught. Listen, I don't care what some boxer says about my people. I DO care that said boxer is running for public office in his respective country, which in this case is the Philippines. We have enough of crazy homophobes in the US Congress. I hate that they extend to other innocent countries.

Heads Of The Catholic And Russian Orthodox Churches Use Historic Meeting To Bash Gays - Well at least we brought them together (snark!)  

Trump Voters in South Carolina Want to Ban Both Muslims and Gays From Entering the Country - I can't begin to tell you how it felt having this be the first thing I read this morning. 

 South Dakota on Slippery Slope With Bill Targeting Transgender People - Here we go again.

 Independent Investigation Debunks The Anti-LGBT "Bathroom Predator" Myth - Some lgbt advocates have complained that we have yet to be able to counter the anti-transgender "bathroom bill" myth. How about a seriously aggressive push of the truth and BEFORE we are knee deep in the latest fight over a state bill. Just a suggestion.

Anti-gay group scared at idea of Obama picking new SCOTUS justice

The American Family Association is spooked to death at the prospect of President Obama naming a new Supreme Court Justice after the passing of Scalia. The anti-gay group sent out the following mass email:

This past weekend America lost a giant on the United States Supreme Court. The Honorable Justice Antonin Gregory Scalia died of natural causes this past Saturday. Justice Scalia served as the conscience of the Supreme Court, holding the line for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution and reflected on the bench the values that we hold dear on the home front.

Together with his family, our nation mourns the loss of this judicial hero.

Justice Scalia was a towering intellectual figure who believed, as you and I do, that the Constitution should be understood and applied as the Founders intended it.

We cannot allow President Obama to replace him with a judicial activist. Activist judges have mangled the Constitution almost beyond recognition, and we cannot allow Justice Scalia to be replaced by a justice who will continue to shred the Constitution rather than protect it and uphold it.

While the Constitution gives the president the right to nominate Supreme Court justices, it also gives the Senate the right to reject them. The Constitution does not even require an unacceptable nominee be given a vote on the floor.

President Obama might also resort to a recess appointment to fill the seat temporarily. This must not be allowed to happen. When the Senate goes into recess for 10 days or more, this door is opened to the president.

TAKE ACTION
Contact your senators today, and urge them to block the president's attempt to pack the Court with another justice who will legislate from the bench.

And not even asking for money? AFA must be slipping.

'Franklin Graham thinks Christians should take over mayorships to stop lgbt equality' & other Friday midday news briefs

Franklin Graham thinks he speaks for all Christians

Franklin Graham: Christians Must Take Over Every Mayorship In The Country To Stop 'Evil' LGBT Rights - Graham has crossed the line to religious fanaticism a long time ago with his support of anti-gay persecution in Russia and homophobic lies, so this is part for the course. Not all Christians believe as he does. But mark my words - Graham is operating not from the word of God, but purely from ego. And one day, his egotism is going to take a huge chunk out of his behind. It happened with Eddie Long, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, etc., etc. Graham will merely be the latest.

SiriusXM shuts down its gay channel - Booooo! Not a good idea!  

Anti-LGBT Bullying Has Long-Term Mental Health Consequences, Study Finds - Not surprising. Nor will it be surprising that anti-gay spokespeople will probably cite this study as proof of the false idea of homosexuality being a "dangerous behavior" WITHOUT mentioning that it's their pronounced bigotry which is the problem and not sexual orientation. They've done it so many times before.  

Judge Clears Kim Davis, Approves Kentucky Marriage Licenses With Her Name Removed - And so it ends with a whimper and not a bang. I haven't heard any religious right groups talking about this at all.

Anti-Gay Texas Attorney General Faces Disbarment - Mentioning this because I want to end today's news briefs on a happy note. Pluck that turkey!!

SPLC report exposes the 'religious liberty' fraud and anti-gay groups behind it

For those of us looking to find information to expose and combat the trend of  "religious liberty" bills coming from the religious right and supporters in the wake of legal marriage equality, the Southern Poverty Law Center has come out with a kick ass report on the groups behind these bills (all of which should unfortunately be familiar to us lgbts) and their history of homophobia:

In recent years, the LGBT rights movement has witnessed a sea change in American attitudes toward the gay community and, along with it, a series of dramatic policy and legal victories — most notably marriage equality — that would have seemed unthinkable just a decade ago.

Yet, while the majority of Americans support LGBT rights, these gains have produced a strong backlash.The hardline religious-right groups that have long relied on the use of demonizing falsehoods to justify discrimination against LGBT people have not simply folded their tents and walked away.

Rather, they have used their large megaphone to create a dangerous new narrative that portrays Christians who object to homosexuality on biblical grounds as victims of religious persecution. This idea is particularly compelling to millions of evangelicals who see themselves and their values as being under siege in a rapidly changing society.

Across the country, these opponents of LGBT equality are working to persuade state legislatures to pass laws known as Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRAs) — statutes that ostensibly allow individuals to deny goods and services to LGBT people on the basis of their religious beliefs.

 . . . . The new RFRAs are being championed by extreme religious-right groups that — as these profiles reveal — want to reverse the recent progress toward equal protection under the law for the LGBT community. If they had their way, the country would return to the era when gay people remained in the closet and the government claimed the right to say what could go on between consenting adults in their bedrooms.

These groups are clever — and cynical.

They know that, as Americans have grown more accepting of LGBT people, they can no longer rely on discredited stereotypes to stymie the march toward full equality. So they have wrapped their bigotry in the cloak of religious freedom.

The public should not be fooled.

Get the full report (and you can even download for later reading) here.

'IN Gov. Mike Pence can't answer simple question on lgbt equality' & other Thur. afternoon news briefs

Oh good grief, Gov. Mike Pence. How difficult is it to say either yes or no. It's one of those questions. 

In other news:

 Transphobic Bathroom Bill Dies in Washington State - Nice to see common sense prevailing. Unfortunately, you just know it's not over yet.  

West Virginia Lawmakers Pass Problematic ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill 72-26 - However, sanity didn't prevail everywhere.

 Georgia House passes ‘Pastor Protection Act’ - And it totally skipped Georgia. This is a needless bill. No pastor can ever be forced to perform a same-sex wedding.  

Gay teacher’s sex video stolen, posted to school site - And what happened to this teacher was wrong on all accounts.

Mrs. Ted Cruz's spooky vision of America

Heidi Cruz is as spooky as her husband, Ted.

While she doesn't mention the lgbt community, it doesn't take a palm reader to tell that GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz's wife, Heidi, doesn't necessarily have room for us being treated fairly in her husband's vision of America as evidenced by this religious tangent she went off on during an appearance on a South Carolina radio show.  Count how many times she mentions "Christian." We get it already!

From Right Wing Watch:

Sen. Ted Cruz’s wife Heidi, who has been campaigning for her husband full-time over the past several months, explained the role of faith in the Texas Republican’s presidential campaign yesterday, telling a South Carolina radio host that Cruz is running to “show this country the face of the God that we serve.”

Transcript:

 When I thought about doing it for our country, it became very clear to me that our family must be in this race. And it also became clear to me that we are at a cultural crossroads in our country and if we can be in this race to show this country the face of the God that we serve — this Christian God that we serve is the foundation of our country, our country was built on Judeo-Christian values, we are a nation of freedom of religion, but the God of Christianity is the God of freedom, of individual liberty, of choice and of consequence. And I think that’s something that this country really needs to be reminded of, is that Christians are loving people, are nonjudgmental people, but there is right and wrong, we have a country of law and order, there are consequences to actions and we must all live peaceably in our own faiths under the Constitution. And Ted is uniquely able to deliver on that combination of the law and religion.

Open letter to GLAAD voices anger over elimination of award

After five years of honoring bloggers, GLAAD has decided to do away with the 'Outstanding Blog' category, forcing LGBT grassroots and independent media to compete with larger media sources. Many of us noted bloggers and activists (and more are forthcoming) have signed a letter detailing why we feel this is an egregious error.

This situation is about more than just an award or recognition. This is a terrible example of a larger organization deciding not to acknowledge grassroots activists and journalists who have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure fairness and equality for the lgbt community. And it sends an awful message to future activists and journalists.

An Open Letter to GLAAD Regarding the 2016 Media Awards

We, the undersigned, respectfully but strongly disagree with your decision to remove the category of ‘Outstanding Blog’ from the GLAAD Awards and with your rationalization behind this decision. 

LGBT blogs and independent media play a crucial role in relaying information, providing new and diverse voices, and bringing attention to LGBT issues that have been overlooked and omitted by the mainstream media. Bloggers are the last truly independent voices of lived LGBT experience, and those who undertake this task typically do so without pay or recognition. They don’t grace the cover of magazines. They don’t get book deals. They don’t win Oscars. What they accomplish through their sacrifice of time and energy is the proper dissemination of information which serves to make our community stronger and better educated. 

The ‘Outstanding Blog’ award bestowed by GLAAD was one of the few ways LGBT bloggers has been given their due. The idea that these voices will now have to compete with larger and more powerful news entities such as The New York Times, MSNBC and Buzzfeed is unfair and, frankly, humiliating. The elimination of the ‘Outstanding Blog’ category implies that unless one is a celebrity or affiliated with a publication with a high profile and finances to match, you are held without regard in the LGBT media landscape, or at least as GLAAD sees it. 

It is sadly ironic that GLAAD, an organization which prides itself on lifting up positive LGBT portrayals, has rendered grassroots LGBT voices invisible and unworthy of recognition. While an initial statement from GLAAD explained that bloggers are still welcome to compete with national outlets in other journalism categories, a simple fact speaks for itself: among the 2016 award nominees, there is not a single blog (or community-based LGBT outlet, for that matter) to be found anywhere on the list. The crucial voice of first-person LGBT voices has simply disappeared from the GLAAD Awards. This is a troubling message to send to the general public, to up-and-coming LGBT writers, and to the LGBT community itself. 

In the spirit of a community in which every voice is an asset in our march to full equality, we ask that the ‘Outstanding Blog’ category be fully reinstated immediately. Please conduct a nomination process at once so that this critical error might be rectified before your 2016 awards dinner.  Also, announcing the winner of this category from the stage, unlike in year’s past, would also be a nice touch.

Sincerely,

Diane Anderson-Minshall

CEO of Retrograde Communications & Editor in Chief of Plus Magazine

Hivplusmag.com

Bil Browning

Founder of The Bilerico Project

Bilerico.com 

2011, 2012 GLAAD Award Nominee

JD Davids

Managing Editor, TheBody.com

Zack Ford

LGBT Editor, ThinkProgress.org

Michael Hamar

Michael in Norfolk - Coming Out in Mid-Life

Michael-In-Norfolk.blogspot.com

Rebecca Juro

Columnist, South Florida Gay News

Mark S. King

MyFabulousDisease.com

2015 GLAAD Award Nominee

Will Kohler

Back2Stonewall.com

Alvin McEwen

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com

2014, 2015 GLAAD Award Nominee

Noah Michelson

HuffPost Queer Voices

Huffingtonpost.com/queer-voices

Michael Rogers

Netroots Connect

lgbtnetrootsconnect.org

Dana Rudolph

Mombian.com

2012 GLAAD Media Award Winner

Michelangelo Signorile

Sirius XM PROGRESS

Signorile.com

Pam Spaulding

Pam’s House Blend

PamSpaulding.net

Joe Sudbay

Longtime Blogger

Berlin Sylvestre

Editor, OUT FRONT Magazine

Brynn Tannehill

Independent Writer

Daniel Villarreal

Editor in Chief, Unicorn Booty

UnicornBooty.com

Ashton P. Woods

Strength in Numbers

ashtonpwoods.strengthinnumbershouston.com

Sarah Toce

Founder/Publisher, The Seattle Lesbian

theseattlelesbian.com

Dana Beyer

Weekly Columnist

Huffpost Queer Voices
 

Jim Burroway

Box Turtle Bulletin

2015 GLAAD Nominee for Outstanding Blog

2012 GLAAD Nominee for Outstanding Digital Journalism Article

2012 National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Winner for Excellence in Online Journalism

Sue Kerr MSW
Founding Editor
Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
 www.pghlesbian.com
@pghlesbian24

Andre Duque

Blogger, Blabbeando

Blabbeando.blogspot.com

2011 GLAAD Award Nominee

Franklin Graham's bigotry should not be sugarcoated

Franklin Graham is what's wrong with Christianity

As you may or may not know, Franklin Graham is traveling around the country supposedly calling people to Christ. And the phony news site, One News Now, is giving him all sorts of wonderful press:

Evangelist Franklin Graham is on a bus this year going to all 50 state capitals to preach on the capitol steps. Dr. Ken Barun with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association describes the Decision America Tour.

"It is a campaign for God,” he says. “Franklin has said that right from the beginning. All these people will be out doing campaigns for different candidates, but in this case it's a campaign for God."

 . . . He explains that Graham isn't endorsing any candidates on this tour. "He has said many times he's lost confidence in both parties and there's no candidate who's going to change our country,” Barun explains. “It's going to be God." 

 In it's glowing tribute lovefest, One News Now conveniently omits the ugly comments and positions Graham has taken, including his verbal attacks and generalizations about the Muslim community, including calls to keep Muslim immigrants from out of the country.  And the sad thing is to justify his position, he cited a misleading study from a rabid Islamophobic group. 

And then there is his homophobia. Graham is the classic case of a homophobe who will use his opinion that homosexuality is a sin to justify any and every vicious comment he makes or position he takes about lgbts.

The main thing which sums up Graham's awful beliefs about lgbts is his 2014 verbal support of Russia's anti-gay laws, which serves to persecute lgbts in that country:

 "Putin is right … he has taken a stand to protect his nation’s children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda,” 

According to Mark Joseph Stern of The Slate, this is what Graham is supporting:

The issue of violence against gays in Russia is, of course, nothing new. Before the passage of the new federal measure, several regional governments passed identical laws, stripping gay citizens of legal rights and human dignity. More than one-half of Russian gays reported psychological abuse, while 16 percent experienced physical assault, and 7 percent were raped. Yet 77 percent also reported complete distrust of the police, leaving most anti-gay crimes unreported.

Putin’s law has only darkened this already bleak picture. By putting the government’s stamp of approval on rampant Russian homophobia, Putin effectively declared open season on gay people. As the Harvard study notes, violence against gays in Russia isn’t considered violence at all; rather, it’s thought of as a way for young males to prove their own heterosexuality—while simultaneously cleansing society of an aberrant, pedophilic community.

So to surmise, Franklin Graham supports distorted generalizations about the Muslim community and countries which persecute lgbts through violence  And regardless of  that, he thinks he is worthy enough to lead people to embrace the religion of Jesus Christ, "the Prince of Peace," without any introspection of the ugly irony he is committing.

I don't know what's worse. Graham's gall or the fact that this country seems to desensitized or taken in that no one is crying foul.

'South Dakota House of Reps pass ugly anti-gay bill' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Louie Gohmert is a nut. End of story

South Dakota House of Representatives Passes Extreme Bill Authorizing Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination - If this bill becomes law, South Dakota is gonna learn the way Indiana did.

 An American Couple Has Been Sentenced To 20 Years In A Kuwaiti Prison. Is It Because They’re Gay? - This is awful! 

Tennessee Teens Fighting To Save Gay Straight Alliance From Being Shut Down Just A Month After Founding It - Stay strong, kids. You will win.

 United Nations issues LGBT stamps - Not baaaad!

 Louie Gohmert Says SCOTUS Declared Itself God In Legalizing Gay Marriage - From the land of Ted Cruz . . .

The sad, sad history of 'straight pride' parades

What you are seeing in the above picture is "history," so to speak. According to Unicorn Booty:

In 2015, Anthony Rebello promised to celebrate heterosexuality by holding a massive straight pride parade in Seattle. He invited thousands of people via Facebook, writing: “In the name of equality & equal rights, I have created this event to celebrate our right to be heterosexual, and to encourage younger heterosexuals that they should be proud of their heterosexuality.”

 . . . The parade was held on July 25, 2015. Rebello clutched a bunch of black and white balloons and a “STRAiGhT Pride” sign made of a ragged chunk of cardboard. Proudly clad in the traditional heterosexual male garb of ill-fitting pants, a rumpled T-shirt and an unflattering hat, Rebello marched on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, alone, and we mean alone—literally no one else joined the parade.

Believe it or not, there have actually been six cases of heterosexuals attempting to initiate "straight" pride parades and flopping miserably. Unicorn Booty has catalogued them all in A Short, Stupid History of Straight Pride Parades.

'Some complain Superbowl halftime show 'promoted' homosexuality' & other Mon. midday news briefs

A Lot Of People Are Angry Thinking The Super Bowl Halftime Show Was 'Promoting Homosexuality' - Seriously, are you kidding me? Youtube has scores of videos featuring football players getting depantsed during plays (and they don't wear underwear), but its the rainbow during the Superbowl halftime show which gets people upset? Not even the basically see-through football pants, but the rainbow during the halftime show. 

 Maine’s Governor Takes A Nasty Swipe At Transgender Kids - Back off, LePage. You've got enough troubles as it is. 

 How Marco Rubio Crusades Against Gays and Women While Still Being Labeled 'Moderate' - Because he lies then plays the victim.

Rubio Faith Staffer Eric Teetsel: Marco Just As Extreme As Ted Cruz - Far be it from me to pile on . . . but I just plain don't like Marco Rubio.  

For gay Republican in N.H., Carly Fiorina ‘sealed the deal’ - Before asking this man "have you lost your ever loving mind," read the article. Carly isn't playing straight (oooh, bad pun) with voters. 

 A Principal Is Getting Praised After Standing Up For Trans Kids - We need more folks like this principal.

How Homophobia Sounds to Normal People

In tribute to all of the so-and so's who claimed that last night's Superbowl halftime show "promoted" homosexuality, I present this old, but very pertinent video called "How Homophobia Sounds to Normal People"

'SC high school transgender student suspended for using bathroom' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Transgender student suspended for using bathroom at SC high school - This ridiculous incident typifies the ignorance and willful fear people have about the transgender community. This young man did everything he was supposed to, but still got suspended. Warning - there are a lot of ignorant folks making comments below the article. 

Robert George does "Poor Us" about as proficiently as anyone - Robert George is not that widely known by our community, but he should be. He attempts to be the "author of our pain" with his many exploits, including co-founding NOM and getting funds for that fraudulent Regnerus study. 

Watch: In Total Flip-Flop, Trump Tells Reporter He Will Advance LGBT Rights. Reporter Is A Lesbian.- That wasn't a simple flip flop. That was a full body gymnastic move worthy of Olga Korbut.  

We Know All We Need To Know To End The HIV Epidemic. Here’s Why It Continues. - Because it's not over.

VIDEO - Being gay and in the military

Buzzfeed has come out with a fascinating video which I think many of us should watch. Sometimes we forget the lgbts who are in the military protecting our freedoms and what they have to deal with, before and after Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It's a wonderful view and as well as a good recollection of lgbt history:

Flower company ad celebrates the diversity of love, including same-gender love

This commercial is from Telafora, a Los Angeles flower delivery company and it celebrates the diversity of love, including that between gay couples. I would make snarky comments about how it will anger members of the religious right, but to hell with them. Who cares what they think when it comes to matters of love:

'National anti-gay groups attacking transgender students' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Truth meme needs to be spread.

National Conservative Groups Descend On South Dakota To Help Advance Anti-LGBT Bills - Because apparently treating lgbts as second class citizens and preventing transgender children from safely using the bathroom are our new American values. 

Log Cabin leader: GOP aren’t as anti-gay as Dems say - Apparently this guy is taking some goooooood medication. 

 What the religious right is scared to tell you about gay marriage referendums . . . - A shout out for my new undertaking of using internet memes to refute religious right lies. 

 Black Trans Lives Matter, Too - Yes they do.

 Rick Santorum Leaves GOP Race But His Bigoted Legacy Will Remain - One homophobic nut leaves the GOP presidential race, but there are so many others left.

What the religious right is scared to tell you about gay marriage referendums . . .

Today, I am beginning something new and necessary on my blog. Thanks to the efforts of many folks (myself included), it seems that anti-gay groups are relying less on junk and cherry-picked science and more on basic and anecdotal lies to smear the lgbt community and our right to equality. From time to time, I am going to feature some factual memes which are designed to combat their spin with the truth and get the conversation going. I would love some feedback.

And feel free to steal and place it anywhere:

'Survivors of the 1980s AIDS crisis tell their stories' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Survivors of 1980s AIDS crisis reveal what happened to them - We have a responsibility to see that these folks are NEVER forgotten and a duty to make sure that such a ugly crisis never happens again.

Charlotte tries to ease tensions over LGBT protections - One wonderful way to ease tensions, establish a dialogue and refute all of the religious right myths, especially about the transgender community.  

Indiana gay rights bill is dead: 'We took a beating from all sides' - And deservedly so. NO ONE on either side wanted this bill.  

Ted Cruz Scares Me the Most - Join the club. It's growing immensely.  

Erick Erickson's New Book Warns The "Leftist-Homosexual Mafia Will Shut You Down" - Just a preview of another right-wing book full of lies and anecdotal (and false stories) about gays "persecuting" Christians. They are still working that "gays will force pastors to officiate gay weddings" lie. This is a battle of rhetoric so don't be blase or nonchalant. An unchallenged lie is easier to be taken as truth than a challenged lie.

Franklin Graham & anti-gay hate group rallying to 'save' America

Get a load of THIS mess:

In the nine and a half years I have covered the religious right, they have had more "We have to save America because it's in deep crisis" rallies than I've cared to count.

To paraphrase Rod Serling, according to these folks,  America has been on death's door so many times, we've worn out the welcome mat.

In this particular case, these set of rallies involve Franklin Graham and the anti-gay hate group American Family Association:

AFA is proud to partner with Franklin Graham in encouraging you and your family to attend the Decision America Tour rally in your state. Franklin is traveling to all 50 states in 2016 to hold prayer rallies, to preach the Gospel, and to challenge believers to take a stand and take action. He’ll be urging Christians to vote, to live out their faith in every part of their lives, and to pray for our nation just as Nehemiah cried out to God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore hope to His people.

Well isn't that special. Of course my opinion is that any self-respecting Christian wouldn't pray with Franklin Graham. Aside from his teaming with the AFA, Graham himself has been not been necessarily Christian in his rhetoric. Such as:

his consistent approval of laws in Russia which serve to persecute and otherwise victimize the country's lgbts,

his ugly and prejudiced attacks on the entire Muslim community, including a call to ban Muslim immigration ,

or that time when he said gays should be kept away from churches and children,

or when he said God would smite Obama for the marriage equality ruling.

Unfortunately to many of his supporters, none of these things matter because nothing says "I love Jesus" like rallying with a Islamophobic, homophobic pastor reaping off of his father's good name.

 I can just see Graham now. He will be in the middle of a massive throng of gullible believers, arms held up, hands stretched out and eyes closed tight so he can eek out some tears while he soaks up all of the attention like that villain in Poltergeist II when he wouldn't let his followers leave his doomsday cult.

Seems to me that if America is in trouble, it's only because this country has allowed folks like Graham to not only get away with their con, but also anoint them as credible religious leaders to boot.

If anyone planning to attend any of Graham's rallies had sense, they would douse him with holy water and then head for the hills.

'Cruz, Rubio's appeals to blatant homophobia' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Ted Cruz

 Homophobia pushes Ted Cruz to the win in Iowa caucuses - Naaaaw! 

 Ted Cruz's Religious Right Support Carries Him To Iowa Victory - More information on the above point.  

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Have Pledged to Pass This Vile Anti-Gay Law in First 100 Days of Presidency: WATCH - No slouch in the homophobia department, check out the law that Iowa Republican Caucus third placer (and eventually winner Ted Cruz) has vowed to pass within 100 days of either winning the presidency. It ain't pretty. It would allow business and individuals to discriminate against gays under the guise of "religious liberty." 

A simple question someone should ask Marco Rubio about his bigotry - My post from last year reminding folks that Rubio would actively take rights away from same-sex couples and their children while having the temerity to make himself seem like a victim if people called him a bigot for doing it.  

Transgender Police Officer Banned From Workplace Restroom - This is seriously some nonsense!  

Gay Republicans Care More About Democrats Losing Than LGBT Equality - And they wonder why they get hardly any respect in the lgbt community.

'Ted Cruz doesn't care about gay people'

So Ted Cruz won the Iowa Caucus. What does this mean?

Definitely too much analysis by the Beltway media. As far as I'm concerned, it's an appropriate time to remind folks that a Ted Cruz Administration in the White House would be a nightmare for the lgbt community:

Jacksonville, FL anti-gay activists aiming low to defeat non-discrimination ordinance

The handiwork of an anti-gay activist smearing a Jacksonville Councilman

While everyone's eyes are on the Iowa Caucus, there is an interesting situation developing in Jacksonville,  FL.

According to Media Matters:

Jacksonville is set to be the next major battleground for LGBT equality as the city council considers extending non-discrimination protections to include LGBT people. Here's what the media should know about the groups and activists leading the fight against LGBT equality in Jacksonville. As the largest US city that has never enacted protections for LGBT people, Jacksonville is considering updating its Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) to include non-discrimination protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation in areas like housing, employment, and public accommodations. Anti-LGBT activists leading the fight against expanding Jacksonville's HRO falsely claim that adding LGBT protections would allow sexual predators to enter women's restrooms, a bogus talking point that was used to defeat similar protections in Houston in 2015.

Media Matters point out the three entities who are heavily involved in defeating the non-discrimination ordinance.  The organization also gives information which the media should point out. The groups are:

 The Liberty Counsel:

Right-wing Christian legal group based in Orlando, FL

Designated an anti-LGBT "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center

Represented notorious Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis

Has a history of misleading media outlets

Florida Family Policy Council:

Florida chapter of national anti-gay group Focus on the Family

Headed by anti-gay activist John Stemberger 

Urges gay people to seek help in leaving the "gay lifestyle"

And last, but certainly not least, this guy:

"Pastor" Kenneth Adkins channeling anti-transgender stereotypes

This is Pastor Kenneth Adkins. Amongst other things, he is responsible for the awful graphic above smearing a councilman. He supposedly leads a group of black pastors against the non-discrimination ordinance:

Adkins has said that the definition of the expanded HRO is "Giving Civil Rights to men who engage in Anal Sex with each other," called City Council Member Tommy Hazouri the "anti-Christ" for supporting the HRO, and photoshopped Hazouri's face onto pornographic images.

He has also:

Took photos of himself dressed up as a woman to oppose the Jacksonville HRO

Garnered local media attention with his vocal antics against the expanded HRO

Stroll over to Media Matters for the full story on these folks. If we lose this one, we really need to assess our priorities as an equality movement. There has been a lot of talk lately over a certain nasty event which happened a recent lgbt conference.  All I am going to say about that is  if we don't get our stuff together and stop with the bickering and bullshit academic "queer studies" lingo, we are going to lose to people like THIS guy above.

Often.

'LGBT rights on the menu for Trump, Cruz in Iowa caucus' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Phil Robertson judges gays again

Phil Robertson: 'Rid The Earth Of' Gay Marriage Supporters - At a Ted Cruz rally, of course. And then he misquotes Thomas Jefferson. Not that it matters because no matter how many times you refute it, the so-called evangelical gullible will believe him out of spite. Much like they do with anti-lgbt propaganda. 

Trump toys with reversal on marriage equality: I’d appoint judges who would overturn it - Because apparently that is NOW prerequisite of being on the Supreme Court. Eh. I still don't believe him.

Gays for Trump: How the Log Cabin Republicans Were Deluded By a Demagogue - This is why the Log Cabin Republicans get no respect. It's not that they are Republicans that I have a problem with. It's that they are doing practically NOTHING to change their party from within. 

President Obama Opens Up About His Hope For LGBT Acceptance - Be honest. You are going to miss Obama when he leaves office. 

This Transgender Girl Scout Stood Up To A Bully By Selling Thousands Of Cookies - Good for her!!!!

REPOST - The Erasure of 'Gay' From Black History and the Black Community Must Stop

Editor's note - In celebration of Black History Month, from time to time I will be reposting columns I have posted on my thoughts about being black and gay:

From October 6, 2014

As a gay African-American, I've heard the argument about how "you can't compare the gay civil rights movement to the African-American civil rights movement" more times than I care to count.

The constant so-called moral outrage of some African-American heterosexuals when the topic is mentioned has gotten me to the point where my mind automatically tunes out the monotonous drones of how supposed sinful homosexuals are "high jacking" the civil rights movement or how gays "can't compare their sin with black skin."

As such, I almost missed the epiphany which occurred two weeks ago.

I was vaguely scanning comments on a conservative site by an anonymous African-American female as she went on and on about how gays were never subjected to slavery, segregation or declared three fifths a person. While the logical side of my mind was gathering up the customary argument of how wrong it was for disadvantaged people of any stripe to play the "Oppression Olympics," the emotional side of my mind struck immediately.

"This is the most ignorant crap I've ever heard," I thought. "Just where in the hell does she think gay black people were during slavery and segregation? On a spaceship orbiting the Earth? "

I was instantly struck by oddity of what I had thought. Not that my outrage wasn't coming from a place of truth, mind you, but how the simple fact never entered my mind that yes, gay people were subjected to slavery, segregation and racism because of our skin. Just as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people of color exist now, we existed back then. Then it suddenly struck me again that I've never recalled any acknowledgement of this fact during the myriad of discussions, I've read, listened to or seen regarding comparisons between the gay and civil rights movements.

And why is that?

There have been numerous debates, articles, columns, movies and documentaries about how the legacy of racism has had a negative effect on so many aspects of African-American community, from our families to the way we interact with each other. It stands to reason that the legacy of racism didn't leave LGBT people of color unscathed. But information about what LGBT people of color did during those awful times in our history or what effect it has had on us is practically nonexistent.

It is a subject hardly ever mentioned. No one talks about it in the black community and that includes leaders, intellectuals, journalists, authors or any other person with some type of platform.

And this leaves me feeling as if the events of black history, which are supposed to be a part of my heritage, are nothing more than hand-me-downs donated to me out of charity because there are very few, if any, events which are specific to me as an LGBT person of color.

What the lgbt community can expect from a Ted Cruz presidential administration . . .

I've said this repeatedly and I am going to keep on saying it until it is drummed into collective psyche of lgbt community.

Donald Trump may be getting all of the attention, but Ted Cruz has been getting much of the religious right support. Either way, the lgbt community would be highly ignorant to either sit the 2016 election out or get distracted by tangents of Hillary vs. Bernie or some side argument of "snowflakes" and the "academic lingo" which serves to DO NOTHING but strangle and divide us.

I like to be simple and direct, so let me put it this way. If there ever is a Ted Cruz Administration, the following inferences by the picture below is what the lgbt community can expect. And even if we see ourselves as winning regardless, we need to ask ourselves do we even want to begin this battle:

What the #lgbt community can expect from a #TedCruz presidential administration - https://t.co/ekhANAN85Q pic.twitter.com/iqct0lkXFz

— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) January 30, 2016

Editor's note - to answer your question, that link in this tweet is to my booklet on anti-gay propaganda. Perhaps if our community focused attention on that issue for a change, we could rip away the stranglehold perception that the anti-gay evangelical right represents all Christians.

'Witch hunt against Iowa lgbt youth group continues' & other Fri. midday news brief

Jussie Smollett

Anti-Gay Iowa Lawmaker Says He's Sick Of Reading About How Anti-Gay He Is - The smallest violin in the universe plays for him, but it's what happens when you engage in a witch hunt against an lgbt youth group - a witch hunt, I might add, which was began by one of those anti-lgbt leaders that activists in our community ignore in their pursuit of "queer studies." Yes, I am being snarky. While we fight amongst ourselves, our kids are like sheep in the wilderness and the wolves are assembling.

Bradlee Dean: Gay People Have Never Once Been Victims Of Hate - I rarely feature this 80s Gunner Axel Rose wannabe reject but his unbelievable statement gives us a window in the mind of anti-lgbt activism.  

Religious groups want Nebraska's gay marriage ban kept on the books - And I want Rob Kardashian to be one of my many love slaves. That doesn't mean it's going to happen.

  'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett On Being A Gay Man With 'An Extremely Open Heart' - More lgbts of color in the public eye!!!!

 This Young Trans Filmmaker At Sundance Wants To Revolutionize Trans Storytelling - This sounds very interesting. I'm all for it.

Rubio promises to 'uphold the Constitution' (except for when he tries to take rights away from gay families)

After viewing THIS commercial, there is no other way to put it: Sen. Marco Rubio is an opportunistic, pandering, despicable phony. He attempts to come across as so religious as if he wants you to imagine heavenly choirs singing and a halo appearing above his head. Then he claims to "uphold the Constitution" while implying that President Obama has not done so.

Isn't that lovely?

Apparently, in Rubio's world, "upholding the Constitution" means scheming to take away hard earned constitutional  rights from same-sex couples and their families while complaining about being seen as a "bigot" for doing it.

The audacity alone is simply nauseating.

'Who was the anti-gay VA legislator caught on cruising on gay site?' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Who Is He? Antigay Republican Lawmaker Caught Cruising Grindr - An anti-gay state lawmaker in Virginia was caught "chasing" on a gay online cruising site. We don't know who he is because the news site which broke the story won't reveal his name. What would you do? It's a difficult call but it is a news story so no malice intended but I would put the chyle on blast. 

The Latest Anti-Gay Oklahoma Bills Are Almost Too Crazy to Believe - Just how insane are those 26 anti-lgbt bills filed in Oklahoma? I hope you are holding on to something. 

 An open letter to the GLAAD Media Awards - It goes without saying that the elimination of the 'Outstanding Blog' category was a blow to us bloggers. It shouldn't have happened. 

 Bigot Lawmaker Says He Wants Option to Send His Kid to Gay Conversion Therapy as Hawaii Considers Ban: WATCH - How do you feel about lobotomies? They are equally harmful and fraudulent.  

Indiana And South Dakota Kick Off Backlash Against LGBT Rights - Looks like both Indiana AND South Dakota do in fact need to be economically spanked.

Homophobia always comes down to 'gay sex' and children

"Porno" Pete Labarbera and Dave Daubenmire are two of the slimiest, most repulsive anti-lgbt activists in existence. But they also share a degree of candidness which should give our community perspective when it comes to reasons behind homophobia.

No matter how anti-gay groups like the Family Research Council and personalities like Tony Perkins and Franklin Graham attempt to disguise it, no matter how folks like Kim Davis give false appeals to their supposed "deeply held Christian faith," in the end, homophobic bigotry comes down to what LaBarbera and Daubenmire obsess about - gay sex and kids. The quality of our lives and families seem to always be reduced to sweaty precautionary fantasies. The difference between folks like Daubenmire and LaBarbera and "mainstream" anti-gay groups and personalities is how the latter can play the game of inference:

An open letter to the GLAAD Media Awards

I adore the GLAAD Media Awards. For the past two years, I was fortunate to be a nominee for 'Outstanding Blog' and I cannot tell you how proud it made me feel.

I have been blogmaster for Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters for over nine years and my goal is simply to educate the public on anti-gay propaganda and the groups who use this propaganda to exploit ignorance, fear, and religious opposition to lgbt equality. Often times, what I do can be considered to be dull, without "queer flavor," and repetitive. However, I consider it important because we are way behind in educating the public when anti-gay groups like the Family Research Council and leaders such as Tony Perkins and Franklin Graham are looked upon as authentic religious leaders rather than homophobic purveyors of lies they are.

I am an African-American male from the southern state of South Carolina. I have never been to the supposed gay meccas of New York or any other big city save San Francisco (and I had a rotten time). As such, I don't fit the pattern of the conventional well-dressed younger twink or older well-to-do white mostly male lgbt leader or activist one sees on television or reads about in our magazines and online publications. The only thing I have to contribute my full intelligence and skill to the community is my blog.

So being honored by GLAAD as a nominee for 'Outstanding Blog' on two occasions meant a lot to me. It increased my profile and sent the message that anyone in our community with enough heart, skill, discipline, and patience can make a positive impact in pursuit of our equality.

However, this year, GLAAD has chosen to eliminate the 'Outstanding Blog' category, probably permanently. And this sends a negative message to grassroots and non-celebrities like myself. The GLAAD Media Awards should help to elevate new leaders, not push them away because lack of notoriety or fame. It's not just solely about visibility, but also acknowledging and cultivating new spokespeople and leaders. And you can't do that by focusing specifically and only on prominent celebrities and national media. Our acquisition and securing of rights, respect, and dignity relies on not only those who are in the media's eyes, but also those who cultivate and aggregate the news behind the scenes. Many a time, these individuals do not reach the masses on the same level of national publications and celebrities, but they are nonetheless equally important to our community. 

While I've had a enjoyable time imagining myself in certain scenarios after winning the award (i.e. my imitation of actress Gloria Grahame stumbling to the stage after winning her Oscar is a hoot), winning was never really the point. It's the acknowledgement that  I am making a positive difference in the community. Granted, some say one shouldn't expect vocal validation of such things. 

I say such things help. They motivate and they send messages out to not only the nominees and the winners, but also to those wondering how they can put their talent to good use for the community. Some of us don't sing. We don't act. We aren't employed in major newspapers. We don't have "hot bodies." We aren't in the public eye. But we are talented nonetheless. 

The one thing we don't deserve is a cold shoulder.

'Oklahoma files a record 26 anti-gay bills' & other Wed midday news briefs

Oklahoma introduces record 26 anti-gay bills - There is a record 26 anti-gay bills filed in Oklahoma. 26?! What the hell do they think we are doing so ugly that they have to file 26 bills against us? I'm beginning to think that it's not homophobia. It's jealousy. 

UPDATE – BREAKING: Indiana Senate Committee Kills Anti-Gay 'RFRA On Steroids' Bill - Perhaps Indiana doesn't need to be spanked again.  

GLAAD announces Media Awards nominees - Nominations for the 27th annual GLAAD Media Awards are announced. But keep your eyes open for a brewing controversy. GLAAD eliminated the 'Outstanding Blog' category, thereby leaving some of us less famous, more grassroots oriented folks out in the cold (and also keeping yours truly from getting a third consecutive nomination). Some folks are not happy with this shift. Will something come of it? Keep your eyes peeled. We will see. 

 Here's A Prom Night Game-Changer For Queer Teens Everywhere - Wonderful article!

 Trump Embraces Radical Anti-Catholic, Anti-Gay Pastor - Because apparently EVERY GOP candidate has to have at least one anti-gay radical supporting them.