''Christian' group Family Research Council cheer House vote to overturn Obamacare' & other Friday midday news briefs

FRC president Tony Perkins and his group cheer the House vote to repeal Obamacare.

Republicans Back Pact to Gut Obamacare - Presenting a first on this blog's news briefs - a link to a religious right article with no refutation or snarky comments. Why? Because the supposed moral Family Research Council's congratulatory bull over the GOP House repealing of the ACA (Obamacare) needs to be read unadulterated and in its untainted form. Millions could lose healthcare, certain things which shouldn't be pre-existing conditions are now such, and people are scared to death. But the supposed Christian group the Family Research Council is acting like Trump pushed a cure for cancer. A Christian group? No. A single-minded hate group hiding behind Christ? Yes.  

Meet the evangelicals who still love Trump - Who cares about millions losing healthcare, etc. It's all about power to these folks. Why be a moral conscience when you can rule over it all? 

 Dave Daubenmire Accuses Religious Right Leaders Of Engaging In ‘Idolatry And Hero-Worship’ Of President Trump - I DESPISE Dave Daubenmire. He is a disgusting, homophobic, conspiracy theory-spinning skin tag on the butt of humanity. But in this case . . .

 
Seven Facts about Gender - This still needs to be pointed out.  

Gay men, straight women hit by ‘stealthing’ - This NEEDS to be talked about. I can't think of any justification for this behavior. It is a serious betrayal of trust.  

NPR Continues To Uncritically Host Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group Alliance Defending Freedom - It's sad when you realize that possibly only a sex scandal will get news organizations to do the right thing when it comes to these groups.

Some members of the anti-lgbtq right not happy with Trump's executive order

Ryan Anderson not happy with today's executive order

Don't be fooled by the supposed show of support from anti-lgbtq and evangelical right groups regarding Trump's executive order. Some aren't happy that they didn't get the "BIG PRIZE" they wanted. And these folks aren't shy about voicing their disappointment.

From Yahoo News:

An executive order by President Trump meant to reward religious conservatives for their support of him in last year’s election fell short of what many had hoped for and drew widespread criticism on Thursday. 

“The executive order on the whole looks to accomplish very little of substance, against the backdrop of a lot of show,” said John Inazu, a professor of law and religion at Washington University in St. Louis and author of “Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference.” 

 Ryan T. Anderson, a Heritage Foundation scholar who is a leading advocate for religious conservatives, wrote that Trump’s order “does not address the major threats to religious liberty in the United States today.”

Apparently, Anderson seems to be miffed because the executive order totally dodged allowing people to discriminate on the grounds of  "personal religious beliefs"

 . . . what Trump issued today is rather weak. All it includes is general language about the importance of religious liberty, saying the executive branch “will honor and enforce” existing laws and instructing the Department of Justice to “issue guidance” on existing law; directives to the Department of the Treasury to be lenient in the enforcement of the Johnson Amendment; and directives to the secretaries of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) to “consider issuing amended regulations” to “address conscience-based objections” to the HHS contraception mandate. But the federal government should be honoring and enforcing our religious liberty laws anyway, legislation is required to actually address the Johnson Amendment—which isn’t the prime priority on religious liberty—and the Supreme Court has already unanimously instructed the federal government to resolve the case of Little Sisters of the Poor and other HHS mandate cases. By contrast, the February draft—a version of which was originally planned for today according to media reports—made good on many of the president’s promises to protect religious liberty from government penalties. That draft protected the religious liberty rights of all Americans in very tailored ways that addressed the problems of today.

Anderson failed to acknowledge that the February draft of Trump's executive order was so rigid in allowing discrimination on religious grounds that it caused a huge backlash.

According to Think Progress, other members of the right weren't happy with the executive order:

The Federalist’s David Harsanyi was also unimpressed, pining like Anderson for the “comprehensive relief” that would have been provided by the drafted order that previously leaked. “Trump’s executive order does little, and what little it does can be easily overturned,” he said. And over at the National Review, David French called the executive order “worse than useless.”

Think Progress also pointed out that LGBTQ groups aren't taking anything lightly and will be prepared should this issue come up again. As well we all should be because it will come up again.

Today was merely one round in a long fight.

'Trump's signed EO may have backed away from anti-lgbtq provisions' & other Thur midday news briefs

Trump

Trump Backs Off from Anti-LGBT Provisions in ‘Religious Freedom’ Executive Order: REPORTS - Rumors are flying about that Trump did back away from the anti-lgbtq provisions of his still dreadful "religious liberty" executive order. I've seen different takes on the situation and none are consistent. The EO seems to be focused on pulling back restrictions on churches to engage in political activity. This is NOT a good idea and may just backfire. Details still pending. 

LIVE VIDEO: Trump Signs Religious Liberty Executive Order Reportedly Without Feared Anti-LGBT Provisions - More info.  

What's in Trump's religious liberty order? - What's exactly in the executive order. 

 Here’s the anti-LGBTQ record this Trump appointee is trying to scrub from the internet - Oh no you don't!  

How Repealing Obamacare Will Hit the LGBT Community Extra-Hard - Meanwhile, the GOP is voting to repeal Obamacare. This post from January outlines why it could be detrimental to the lgbtq community. 

Schumer latest to oppose Mark Green over nominee’s anti-LGBT views - Meanwhile, homophobia of a certain person chosen by Trump to be Army Secretary may come back to bite him in the butt. Good.

If 'religious liberty' can justify anti-lgbtq discrimination, then why not racial discrimination?

Trump possibly signing the executive order giving a license to discriminate, which actually targets the lgbtq community is ugly enough, but we may not be considering the entire scope.

History tells us of unintended consequences.

Wikipedia describes unintended consequences as outcomes that are not the ones foreseen and intended by a purposeful action. In other words, Trump's possible 'religious liberty' executive order may initially target the lgbtq community, but I defy anyone to refute the video below (thanks to Wayne Besen and Truth Wins Out). Also tell how any other ethnic, racial, or religious group - even Christians - would be safe from discrimination should Trump sign that executive order.

Related post: Trump, anti-lgbtq right will repeat history with 'license to discriminate' executive order

LGBTQ and progressive groups & activists prepare to 'unleash the beast' on Trump's anti-lgbtq EO

The possible future as of tomorrow. Will Trump endorse discrimination?

Editor' note - It is dumb enough that Trump is even contemplating signing an anti-lgbtq 'religious liberty' executive order. It is beyond the dimensions of stupidity that he announces his plan over a day in advance. It doesn't matter how many phony victims the religious right may trot out at the signing to justify that mess because us folks who are opposing it are extremely angry and all we need is time organize. Thank you for that, you jerks.

LGBT groups prepare for fight over Trump ‘religious freedom’ EO - General plans, including a rally which will no doubt be copied in various other places. 

Civil Rights Groups Are Ready To Sue Trump If He Signs A Broad Religious Freedom Order - And that's just one way this battle will be on. 

 Can LGBTQ Parents Sue The White House Over The Religious Freedom Order? Civil Rights Groups Are Planning To Take Action - Another angle but with the same degree of ferocity.

Hundreds of faith leaders already oppose Trump’s planned ‘religious liberty’ order - Over 1,300 already. And I know there will be more.

 Trump, anti-lgbtq right will repeat history with 'license to discriminate' executive order - My post from last night. You really didn't think I wouldn't miss out on the hell raising, did you?  

Gay Man Sues Funeral Home That Refused His 86-Year-Old Husband’s Body - You see this #@!% right here? Expect more of it if Trump signs that EO.

Trump, anti-lgbtq right will repeat history with 'license to discriminate' executive order

Those who do not learn from history

Are doomed to repeat it:

Rumor control has it that Trump will be signing an anti-lgbtq executive order on Thursday.

Anti-lgbtq evangelicals and religious right groups are no doubt pinching themselves in delight. They have been pushing the idea of "religious liberty," i.e. the right to refuse services based on "personal religious beliefs", because they claim that Christian business owners have been deliberately targeted by the lgbtq community.

That's the latest load of junk from that crowd who have said in the past that allowing gays to adopt would corrupt children, marriage equality was a plot to destroy the church, and that giving any shred of dignity or equality to the transgender community would enable predators.

It's always a moral panic with these folks; the constant need to nauseate or scare instead of presenting facts. We all know what happens almost every time they've had to defend their positions with facts via the courts.

They lose badly and then lick their wounds while whining about "activist judges."

But thanks to Trump, they have another avenue. It's bad enough that he is planning to sign that monstrosity but planning to do it on Thursday, on the National Day of Prayer, is another slap in the face to the lgbtq community. It furthers the narrative that "religious liberty" is an effort to protect people of faith from the lgbtq community.

That's simply hateful. Why would the faith community need protection from us when we are a part of the faith community? I'm a gay man and a person of faith. And I also know how to pray. Goodness knows I've prayed many a time to be magically transformed into a heterosexual. That is until God let me know that He blessed me with my gay sexual orientation.

I got off lucky because I never had to pray that bullies at school wouldn't beat me up for being gay. But I'm sure that a lot of my lgbtq brothers and sisters did. So thank you Donald Trump in advance for  mocking our pain and prayers.

Folks may be disturbed at the montage of pictures above. I posted them to make a point because when it's all said and done, it doesn't matter what excuse you use, be it religious or pseudo-scientific.

It doesn't matter what moral panic you create to justify it, whether it be "protecting the sanctity of the Southern white female," "upholding customs and tradition, "preserving your heritage," or even "religious liberty."

Encouraging any type of discrimination is wrong. It's hateful. It's hurtful. It's never justified.

And it is always, always wrong.

Related post: Civil Rights Groups Are Ready To Sue Trump If He Signs A Broad Religious Freedom Order

'Franklin Graham not happy with possible nationwide ban of fraudulent 'ex-gay' therapy & other Tue midday news briefs

Historically, lgbtqs were never a danger to civilizations. Fanatical demagogues like Franklin Graham were.

Famous Evangelical Pastor Dangerously Attempts To Rebrand Conversion Therapy - With his defense of Russia persecuting its lgbtq citizens in 2014 and now with this absolutely ridiculous defense of "ex-gay" therapy which has been proven to be dangerous to the lgbtq community and especially our kids, Franklin Graham puts to rest the bull @!%# narrative that gays are persecuting people of faith like him. Read your history, Franklin. Some of the most dangerous people were those who made OTHERS suffer in defense of THEIR interpretation of Scripture. This fanatical demagogue has ceased to be a religious leader a long time ago and should stop being treated as such. 

Parents of gay, bi men in Chechnya told: Kill your children or we will - Has Graham even spoken about Chechnya? 

Proposed Obamacare repeal deal could drastically cut access to transgender healthcare - Yet another reason to oppose that awful repeal. 

Rep. Hoyer urges Trump to recall Mark Green nomination - Damn right! He shouldn't have been nominated in the first place.  

Military professors oppose Trump’s Army secretary nominee - This is getting good. Folks are organizing to oppose this man.  

Equality Act Reintroduced in Congress with Unprecedented Corporate Support - Keep your fingers crossed and if we get disappointed this time, that doesn't mean we stop pushing.

Two hundred TX faith leaders decry anti-transgender bill, supports lgbtq equality

One unfortunate side effect of this so-called culture battle is how the anti-lgbtq evangelical and religious right have co-opted the concept of religion and Christianity.

This mindset of the lgbtq community versus Christians and people of faith is a huge lie, particularly because of the fact that many lgbtqs are people of faith. And don't even start listing Biblical verses which supposedly speaks against homosexuality. I generally don't like to debate such things because I believe the final judgement belongs to God.

But that doesn't mean I don't get angry with people pushing the narrative that all Christians and people of faith in general believe one way about the lgbtq community. According to an excerpt below from a recent article in the San Antonio Express News there are many Christians and other people of faith who lgbtq equality:

Some 200 ministers, rabbis and other religious leaders wrote to select House members Thursday asking them to support policies that treat lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans on an equal basis with other people. The letter went to lawmakers including members of the House State Affairs Committee, which is considering legislation that would restrict the restrooms transgender people can use. The religious leaders didn’t confine their message to the bathroom bill, although they cited it among other legislation.
 “Our faith compels us to oppose anti-transgender legislation (‘bathroom bills), 

discriminatory laws masquerading as “religious freedom,” or any other attempts to treat Texas’ LGBT community as second-class citizens,” said the letter from Texas Believes, which according to its website is a project of the Texas Freedom Network and Equality Texas. The Texas Freedom Network describes itself as a watchdog of far-right issues and a defender of individual liberties. Equality Texas works for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans, “We will continue to speak out against all attempts to use religion to demonize, discriminate against or bring harm to our LGBT sisters and brothers. And we encourage you, as leaders in our state, to support policies that treat all Texans equally under the law, including the LGBT community,” said the letter. 

 Besides State Affairs members, the letter went to House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who opposes a bathroom bill approved by the Senate; Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, the author of a House version of the bathroom bill; and several members of the Calendars Committee, which schedules legislation for House debate.

It is up to all of us to not allow the anti-lgbtq evangelical and religious right to nab the concepts of Christianity and religion in general. They don't have nor do they deserve sole ownership.

'KY judge refuses to hear same-sex adoption cases' & other Mon. midday news briefs

There will be NO undermining of same-sex families

Kentucky judge refuses to ever hear same-sex adoption cases - This religious liberty crap is getting out of hand. Personal feelings are bull in the face of the facts which show children not being negatively affected by same-sex households. I dare the religious right to defend this. No. I WANT them to defend this. PLEASE! My blogger finger is just itching. 

Why Donald Trump’s Second 100 Days Will Be Even Worse For LGBTQ Equality - Potentially worse. As he continues to lose support, he will definitely be going to the group who loves him no matter what - the evangelical and religious right. He may push their mess with more stridency. Then WE push back big time.  

These Gay Republicans Mocked Transgender Women At A Forum In New York City - THEN they got nasty about it on twitter, leading me to read, check, and school a bunch of them. But that's a possible other blog post. This is just sad.  

Weinstein Company wins battle for PG-13 rating for ‘3 Generations’ - A quiet but wonderful victory. '3 Generations' is coming-of-age movie about the transgender community.

Jerry Falwell Jr - Trump 'a dream president' for evangelicals

Jerry Falwell Jr.

The self-degradation of the evangelical and religious right over Donald Trump continues:

Evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr., an early backer of Donald Trump, enthusiastically praised the president’s first 100 days of office. “I think evangelicals have found their dream president,” Falwell said on Saturday during “Justice With Judge Jeanine” on Fox News. Falwell cited “reuniting Israel with America” and appointing “people of faith” throughout the administration as the reasons evangelicals in general remain highly supportive of Trump. Falwell also trashed moderate Republicans, who he said “make my blood boil.”

It's relatively sad to know that with the religious right, you can get away with almost any type of behavior - from bad policies to bragging about sexual harassment to consistently lying - as long as you "make them feel wanted" and embrace their positions.

In other words, don't count on the religious and evangelical right to be a moral voice against Trump's excesses. They are too busy gurgling mouthwash and applying lip balm after every meeting with him.

Anti-lgbt activist melts down during word salad about gays, domination, sodomy, and children

I promise that this will probably be the wildest thing you have seen today.

Behind every coordinated anti-lgbt group and personality is a mindset like the woman on this video.



I think it goes without saying that everything this woman said is false. A lie. A delusion. A product of bad weed.

 But here is a little background courtesy of Right Wing Watch:

Earlier this month, the Texas chapter of the anti-LGBTQ hate group MassResistance hosted a “pro-family conference” featuring a variety of anti-LGBTQ activists like Peter LaBarbera of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality, Brian Camenker of MassResistance, and Robert Oscar Lopez, who runs the Texas chapter of Camenker’s group. 

Sharon Arkme, who claimed that she was a victim of anti-Christian persecution when she was denied certification in a master’s program she had enrolled in at Texas State University “because I would not agree with their LGBT agenda,” told attendees that LGBTQ advocates are warring against “Christ and Christians” and “brainwashing our children.” 

 “I did not realize the full agenda of the radical left,” Armke told the audience. “They are in a war with Christ and Christians, whether we realize it or not. They are not content with society and Christians treating them with outreach, courtesy and respect that should be given to any other human being just because they are human. They want us to approve their behavior. They will not stop until they dominate.” 

 “They intend, and they are very successful so far, in brainwashing our children to believe that sodomy is right and good,” she continued. “We are trying to show parents what is happening to our children and, excuse me if I say this, we should be screaming bloody murder in the streets. We should be screaming bloody murder in the street. This is not right! … Those teachers that do this, that teach sodomy to little children, many people call them child abusers and I agree.” 

 “I learned the hard way the true agenda of the radical left, it’s domination of our children and our culture,” Armke fumed, eventually growing so upset that she couldn’t even finish her remarks, simply declaring “may God have mercy on us” as she walked off the stage.

I couldn't find anymore information on this Armke except for on the Mass Resistance webpage which claimed her stance kept her from becoming a principal.

Sounds like we dodged a nuclear missile with THAT one.

'Bill pushing for a nationwide ban on 'ex-gay' therapy' & other Fri. midday news briefs

‘LGBTQ people were born perfect’: A new bill would ban conversion therapy nationwide - Probably has no chance of passing, but the vision of figurative exploding right-wing heads is so darn lovely. 

Fox Contributor: Gay Men In Bars Should Expect To Be Assaulted And Women Shouldn’t Breastfeed In Church - I'm not sure about the breastfeeding thing but saying gay men should expect to be assaulted if they make people "feel uncomfortable" is disgustingly intriguing. Does that mean I can slap this Fox contributor because the thought of him reproducing makes ME feel uncomfortable?

 Study confirms some men use anti-gay and sexist jokes to shore up their masculinity - Fascinating how this news brief is related to the one before it. 

 19 senators urge Trump’s HHS to restore LGBT questions to elder surveys - Damn right!

Harvard Transgender Rights Pamphlet Prompts Conservative Backlash Online - While not complaining about snowflakes, transphobic folk are acting like snowflakes.

'Christian' right's kiss ass tribute to Donald Trump explained

The religious right's vision of Trump.

Donald Trump is a disaster as president, which we all knew he would be. His poll numbers are "historically low" his present and former subordinates - particularly Michael Flynn - are in a constantly growing scandal about Russia's influence on last year's election, and he is a generally uncoordinated laughing stock here and abroad.

Of course one wouldn't know this if one read the glowing tributes he is given by several religious right groups such as the Family Research Council and the American Family Association:

Trump Deals in Taxes Hold'em

Trump cabinet fellowships thru prayer, Bible study

 And let's not forget Franklin Graham's advice to that Trump not reveal his tax returns.

So why are these folks, who are so quick to talk about values and morality, are as easily quick to give Trump a pass on both? An article in Politico reveals what should be obvious:

The one group Trump has paid outsized attention to—and consistently delivered for—is the social conservative movement. He reinstated and even toughened the Mexico City Policy, which eliminates U.S. funding for international nongovernmental organizations that perform abortions. He rescinded President Barack Obama’s protections for transgender students to use preferred bathrooms in public schools. He signed legislation that routs federal money away from Planned Parenthood. He cut off funding to the U.N. Population Fund, which critics say has long supported coercive abortions in China and other countries. He stockpiled his administration with pro-life evangelical Christians in critical roles, including Tom Price as secretary of Health and Human Services, Betsy DeVos as education secretary and Mike Pence as vice president. And, most significantly, his Supreme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, a conservative originalist in the mold of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, won confirmation. 

. . . “How ironic it is,” says Ralph Reed, president of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, “that Donald Trump, of all people in the Republican Party, would become a champion for social conservatives.” 

 . . .After eight years in which conservatives—and particularly evangelical Christians—believed themselves to be under siege from secular forces in the federal government, the judiciary and popular culture, Trump’s presidency feels like a renaissance. Not only do they have a seat at the table again, as they did during the famously evangelical-friendly George W. Bush years; many of these activists say Trump has already surpassed the 43rd president as an ally and advocate. 

“The Bush administration didn’t come close to being this friendly to social conservatives,” says Penny Nance, president of Concerned Women for America. (“Who knew?" she adds, laughing. “I can’t say I would have ever guessed that a billionaire playboy from Manhattan would wind up being the closest ally of Christian conservatives.”) ( Family Research Council president Tony) Perkins, for his part, tells me: “I’ve been at the White House for meetings more in the first four months of the Trump administration than I was during the entire Bush presidency.”

I should be disturbed by this, but to tell the truth, I'm not. Sometimes, it's a good thing for your opposition to get all that they want because they tend to reveal themselves to be exactly what you have said they are.

It's one thing to label a pig as a glutton. But dumping a pile of food in front it and pointing as the pig sloppily chows down sends a better message. In that same regard, Trump giving the religious right so much power isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just watch how quickly these groups and their personalities abandon their masks of propriety and show themselves to be what the lgbtq community has always said they were - gluttonous fanatics trying to maneuver the country to their direction.

We see this now in how much  religious right leaders are fawning  and lauding over Trump while he sinks lower and lower. With every revelation that Trump is a devil, here they come with another pair of plastic wings and slightly bent halo to take the glare off of the new debasement. And another spritz of goody-goody God spray to cover up the smell of Trump's sulfuric depravity and incompetence.

It was never about preserving values with these groups. It was always about control by any means necessary - a smartly cynical value but one unbecoming of those calling themselves Christians.

As much as I despise Trump, the one thing he is doing right is figuratively giving the religious right enough rope to hang themselves. And with the speed of the direction they are going, they won't wait for the chair to be kicked from under them.

They themselves will jump off.

'GOP Congressman tearfully begs God's forgiveness for abortion, marriage equality. Omits his party's attempt to gut healthcare' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Rep. Randy Weber Tearfully Begs God To Forgive America For The Sins Of Legal Abortion And Marriage Equality - So, at a religious right prayer event, a Republican Congressman weeps while begging God's forgiveness for allowing women to make healthcare decisions about their own bodies AND for marriage equality. Of course he didn't mention how his party is attempting to take healthcare away from millions of Americans. And of course this particular Congressman is virulently anti-lgbtq and has called Obama a "socialist dictator." Forgive my blasphemy, but I envision Jesus in Heaven telling God, "I don't care what the Bible said. I'm not coming back to these people. They scare even ME!" All jokes aside. Seriously. This bizarre juxtaposition is the epitome of what's wrong with the religious right.

 LGBT rights leaders flunk Trump on first 100 days - Well duuuuuh.

Houston Transgender Woman Files Lawsuit After Landlord Barricades Apartment Door!- I hope she wins, too.

 Troll This Politician And He Just Might Call Your Grandma — Literally - Oh snap! This is good!

How the Family Research Council brand transgender children as dangerous

One of the most powerful weapons in the arsenal of the anti-lgbtq right is language. It's relatively easy to refute their lies when compared to demonstrating how religious right groups and personalities exploit semantics in their attempts to control the narrative of debates about the lgbtq community.

The following from the anti-lgbtq hate group Family Research Council advertising an anti-transgender event is a perfect example. Watch how the organization brands transgender children as dangerous outsiders and their parents as nonexistent without even directly saying those words:

There are so many dog whistles in this announcement, one wonders if the Family Research Council has a side business as a kennel.

Everything in this vile announcement practically paints transgender children as outsiders. So transgender children don't exist? They are an ideology instead of students? They are a lobby instead of children whose lives are hindered by fear and ignorance?

And what about the parents of transgender children? Apparently according to the Family Research Council, they don't exist either. The parents who will be supposedly "fighting back" are parents of so-called normal children. And let's not forget the taxpayers.  Parents of transgender children don't exist, so how on Earth can they be taxpayers?

The fact that the Family Research Council has invited no medical professionals to this meeting goes without saying. That fact is merely rancid icing on top of this stale cake of transphobia designed to scare people  rather than educate them about transgender children.

Demonizing children is a nasty game, but the Family Research Council seems to have no problem playng it.

'Trump's first 100 days have been ugly for LGBTQ community' & other Wed midday news briefs

Donald Trump holds (an apparently fireproof, lightning proof) Bible.

Trump’s Record on LGBT Rights: Death by 1000 Cuts in the First 100 Days - From Lambda Legal comes an astute assertion about Trump's first 100 days. While he has claimed about being pro-lgbtq, people in his administration have quietly been either making or prodding him to make very anti-lgbtq appointment picks and policies.  

100 Days Of Trump: Delivering For The Extreme Religious Right - More info on this and other monstrosities of Trump's 100 days courtesy of People for the American Way. 

Trump Army Secretary Pick: ‘Liberal Left’ Is Making Me Seem Like An LGBTQ ‘Hater’ - Uh no, you dipstick. Your anti-lgbtq and very transphobic statements and actions make you seem like a hater.  

The Alabama Legislature Voted To Let Adoption Agencies Turn Away LGBT Parents - Because of Jesus?  

Gay man sues New York museum for anti-HIV discrimination - The stigma of HIV is unfortunately as prevalent today as it was so many years ago.

Anti-lgbtq right targeting lesbian high school teacher

This is flying under the radar (except for in religious right circles) but it is possibility that we will be hearing more about it:

From The Tampa Bay Times:

An Orlando-based religious liberties group has filed a complaint against a Hillsborough County high school teacher, accusing her of denying student rights to religious expression while promoting an LGBT agenda. 

In a letter to Hillsborough schools superintendent Jeff Eakins, the Liberty Counsel alleges that Riverview High math teacher Lora Jane Riedas barred at least three students from wearing Christian crosses on necklaces in her classroom, claiming they are "gang symbols." The organization also claims Riedas takes part in LGBT political activism in the classroom. "Ms. Riedas clearly seeks opportunities to engage in GLSEN-directed classroom activism, which has called on teachers to use its "Educator Guide" to promote GLSEN's views about homosexuality and gender confusion on "Day of Silence," and to do so this Friday, April 21, 2017," Liberty Counsel president Mat Staver wrote in his letter.

The school district is investigating the case and the principal has said she has not received any complaints from any parent or student.

Needless to say though, the anti-lgbt group American Family Association's phony new source, One News Now published a one-sided article about the situation, practically allowing  Staver of the Liberty Counsel to spin all sorts of charges against Riedas:

"What we have here are two lesbians that are promoting and indoctrinating the LGBT agenda in the classroom to their students," Staver tells OneNewsNow. "Punishing those that don't agree and targeting Christians because they won't accept her radical lesbianism."

And just in case you are not clear as to where One News Now's sympathies lie, the publication is also running a poll on the controversy:

So basically, the Liberty Counsel and One News Now is attempting to spin this situation into one in which an "intolerant radical lesbian teacher made Christian children remove their crosses while in her classroom."

That rendition tends to play better should Fox News's resident religious right liar - Todd Starnes, decides to push the story further, or the Liberty Counsel needs to exploit the incident for fnndraising, or GOP Congressional leaders need another "reason" in their quest to get Trump's signature on an anti-lgbtq "religious liberty" executive order.

But there are some who smell a rat in the entire situation. In the words of People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch:

This story . . seems a lot like the phony tales of supposed anti-Christian persecution that Religious Right groups are always ginning up.

I couldn't agree more as the following, also courtesy of Right Wing Watch and Think Progress, prove:

How Many Myths Of Anti-Christian ‘Persecution’ Can Kelly Shackelford Cite In One Speech? At Least Three

No, This Air Force Sergeant Was Not Fired For Opposing Marriage Equality

'GOP pushing Trump for 'license to discriminate' against lgbtq community' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Say hello to the future if some Congressional leaders can persuade Trump.

Republicans in Congress push for religious liberty executive order - If the religious right were smart, they wouldn't be pushing so hard for it. It's beginning to look like to me that the wish for "religious liberty" as they want it is a classic case of "be careful what you wish for because you might just get it." Once the repercussions come for secular businesses having license to discriminate against lgbtqs, there will be some VERY unhappy folks. And Trump is no fool, at least for now. The protests against his immigration nonsense would pale compared to the hell this sort of thing would unleash. Cause you know when it comes to expressions of outrage, the lgbtq community don't play.

'In the name of Jesus' the religious right have become Trump apologists & bootlickers - My post from last night which shows how low the supposed Christian right will stoop to kiss up to Trump so that he can give them what they want. See the post above.

Study: Trans and Cisgender Kids Aren’t That Different - Not a surprise. Children who are given love and support generally turn out okay.

Gay Men Sound Off On Misconceptions About ‘Femme’ And ‘Masc’ Stereotypes - This is some fascinating stuff. We do need to talk about images in our community.

This Is What Happened To Gay People In The Military Before The Ban Was Lifted - One complaint I have about my lgbtq community is how we should do more to remember our history . . .

'In the name of Jesus' the religious right have become Trump apologists & bootlickers

It's not a secret that various religious groups and figures are eager for Trump to push their issues (i.e. anti-lgbtq religious liberty, conservative SCOTUS justices), but it's getting embarrassing to watch how some of these supposed purveyors of values stoop to justify Trump's failures and unethical missteps.

First, there is Franklin Graham, who out the following Facebook message encouraging Trump to not reveal his taxes:

Should President Donald J. Trump release his tax returns? A lot of liberals keep demanding it. The President hasn’t asked for my advice, but I would say—No way! Even if these were published, the average American—or the average politician, including Senator Chuck Schumer, for that matter—wouldn’t be able to understand them. President Trump is a billionaire with multiple businesses in multiple states, using our very complicated and corrupt tax code that Congress is responsible for writing—that should be scrapped. It would just be another huge distraction, and a media frenzy, which is exactly what his enemies want. We don’t need distractions. We need to let President Trump focus on what America elected him to do. We need to get on with the business of solving the problems facing our nation—Forget the tax returns! We need a simple tax code that all Americans can understand

In spite of Graham's claims of the contrary, it's more than just "liberals" who want  Trump to release his taxes. According to an April 10 edition of  Money magazine:

A  new Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll found 53% of voters say Trump should be forced to release his tax returns, and 51% say Trump’s taxes are either very or somewhat important to them. Additionally, 45% say Trump’s taxes are relevant to his job in the White House.

In addition, according to poll conducted by Global Strategy Group, 64 percent of Republicans also want Trump to release his taxes.

'An exhaustive list of all Trump's pro-LGBTQ wins' & other Mon midday news briefs

What has Trump accomplished for the LGBTQ community during his first 100 days?

First 100 days: An exhaustive list of all of Trump’s pro-LGBTQ ‘wins’- Regardless of how one feels about Trump, this list is 100 percent accurate . . . 

Media Matters' Erin Fitzgerald: Anti-LGBTQ Hate Groups Are Using The "Media As A Battleground" To Promote "Cloaked Discrimination" - Unfortunately, the media has been very derelict in this area. 

 I want you to know what it feels like to be a trans person in Trump’s America - Sad but needed commentary.  

Trump Transition Aide: Obama’s ‘Aggressive LGBT Agenda Will Be Unhinged’ Under Trump - Who else but Ken Blackwell from the anti-lgbt hate group The Family Research Council. 

 This Transgender Army Veteran Won’t be Silenced Under Trump - We have NOT forgotten about Trump's homophobic, transphobic pick for Army secretary.

LGBT organizations 'declaring war' on religious right lies, homophobic junk science

Late last week, the Human Rights Campaign announced a new project calling out the transphobic lies of infamous former Johns Hopkins professor Paul McHugh. McHugh has been a long-time opponent of the transgender community. His anti-transgender claims have been criticized for lack of veracity, but the religious right and their supporters still cite him.

According to HRC:

 . . .the HRC Foundation launched McHugh Exposed, a website that pulls back the curtain on the anti-LGBTQ myths and junk science being peddled by Dr. Paul McHugh, the go-to ‘expert’ for anti-equality extremists. The resource includes a detailed timeline of how McHugh’s hateful and damaging essays have been used to target and attack LGBTQ people and a new video featuring renowned LGBTQ health expert, Dr. Tonia Poteat. It can be found at www.McHughExposed.org. McHugh’s false, non-scientific assertions have been used by anti-equality activists in state legislatures and courtrooms to defend discrimination against LGBTQ people. 

 . . . “Paul McHugh’s writings continue to dangerously undermine the safety, security and wellbeing of LGBTQ people, and particularly transgender youth, across the country,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC Vice President for Research, Training, and Programs. “McHugh’s junk science is still being referenced in legislative and legal battles despite the fact that Paul McHugh has no academic expertise in either gender or sexual orientation, and actively avoids publishing any of his anti-LGBTQ pieces in peer-reviewed journals. Policy makers, informed citizens and parents deserve to know that this is junk science and personal opinion - not at all in the mainstream of current medical and academic research and not endorsed by Johns Hopkins regardless of how McHugh uses his title to suggest credibility or expertise.”

HRC also launched a wonderful video (seen above) which throws "shade" at religious right groups and their phony "policy experts," i.e. the spokespeople they employ to go on news programs and in front of state and federal legislative bodies to spread their homophobic talking points.

This overall project by HRC is the latest endeavor by progressive and lgbt organizations to expose conservative and religious right groups who push lies and junk science against the lgbt community behind the facade of "religious liberty."

'FL prayer breakfast to host anti-lgbt group leader' & other Fri midday news briefs

Trash like this put out by Focus on the Family and its founder James Dobson is why the group has a homophobic reputation.

Fort Lauderdale Prayer Breakfast Angers LGBT Activists - This article came out last week, but the breakfast will be next Friday. The huge problem is that the featured speaker will be Jim Daly of Focus on the Family. Focus on the Family doesn't have a reputation for being obnoxiously anti-lgbt like other religious right groups, but it's still spreads homophobic lies (as seen in the pictures above) via its supposed resources and the words of its founder, James Dobson.

Our Silence Will Not Protect Us: Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth - Amen!

 WATCH: Clinton Slams Trump on LGBT Rights in US and Persecution of Gay Men in Chechnya - Oh what COULD have been. The lady who SHOULD BE president even as I type this.

 There Are 18,000 Teachers To Carry On The Safe Schools Legacy When Funding Runs Out - Heroes.

These Beautiful Family Photos Prove There Is No One Way To Make A Family - Posts like this are needed. The idea of family does not exclude the lgbtq community.

2017 Day of Silence - Supporting our LGBT children

One of the pleasures of having this blog is the ability to amplify the issues of those in our community who deserve as much visibility as I can give them.

Such as our kids. Friday marks the annual GLSEN's Day of Silence in which high school students across America take a vow of silence to bring attention to how lgbt students are bullied . To me, this year is more poignant because of who-shall-not-be-named being our president and how he turned his back on our transgender kids while the religious right are busy portraying them as predators.

And I am glad to hear that this year's Day of Silence will culminate in an effort to urge state governors to push for full lgbt inclusive policies with an emphasis on protecting transgender youth.

More than ever, our lgbt, especially our transgender youth, need ways to make their faces be seen, their voices be heard, and to know that we have their backs.


Related post - 4 Facts about Day of Silence

'Magic Johnson talks about accepting his gay son, comedian whines that gays want their own bathrooms,' & other Thur midday news briefs

 

Magic Johnson (top photo) accepts his gay son. Lavell Crawford (bottom photo) is an example of the ignorance uttered when lgbt of colors have little to no visibility in the black  community.

Topping today's news briefs is a look at lgbts in the African-American community, positive and negative:

Magic Johnson Opens Up About His Son EJ Coming Out as Gay - A father and mother who accepts their gay son is a wonderful thing.

Comedian Lavell Crawford Says His Father Is Gay, But It's Still 'F**king Weird' and Now 'They Trying to Get Their Own Bathrooms' - Meanwhile, Lavell Crawford is a big bowl of stupid. Look what the Gay Mafia did to Tracey Morgan? Sorry but joking about beating up your gay child doesn't strike folks as funny, gay or otherwise. I'm not even GOING to touch the line about us supposedly wanting our own bathrooms. 

So basically this is what needs to be learned. It's all about who is being heard and seen in the black AND lgbt community, just like other communities. While I think Crawford is an idiot, before anyone starts going on a tangent about the supposed homophobia in the black community, answer this question. How many high profile lgbts of color do you see or hear, if any, in both the black AND gay communities. They are there, but are you paying attention to them? Or better yet, is there ANY focus on them. Yeah, yeah yeah. RuPaul, etc. BUT who else? And is there a diversity in the black lgbt voices and faces you see and hear? Not all of us are entertainers or singers. Some of us are community organizers, intellectuals, etc.  Also, before you ask the dreaded "how can blacks be oppressive when they were oppressed themselves" question, let me ask you a question. Why do you fail to acknowledge the fact that some people are both black and gay? We aren't talking about separate communities. Unfortunately, we are talking about two communities which, either overtly or covertly, will not recognize the fact that lgbts of color exist.  As long as neither community will acknowledge their commonality, i.e. lgbts of color, ignorance like Crawford spewed will be prevalent in the black community because there will be very few to challenge it. An lgbt of color doing this would have more resonance and credibility in the black community. Instead, white lgbts will wring their hands and speak ugly about the black community without realizing such thoughts and words only add to the problem.

Be prepared: Same-sex married couples are healthier than opposite-sex ones - I kinda like this article, but another part of me doesn't like it very much. Couple compatibility and health between gay couples and heterosexual couples shouldn't be seen as a competition. But here we are . . .  

Kremlin denies reports of ‘gay concentration camps’ in Chechnya - Russia in general persecutes the lgbt community. It's not like its going to acknowledge what's happening in Chechnya. 

 Sports Have Been An Anchor For This Transgender Teenager - I love this profile. 

 This is how you win a campaign against transphobia - I would say this is common sense, but you would be surprise how, in some situations, the simplest most accurate thing to do escapes people.

Hate group spokesman's ramble bizarre ramble about gays and witches in DC

So while anti-lgbt hate group the Family Research Council is celebrating Neil Gorsuch becoming a SCOTUS judge, helping to cause all sorts of anti-transgender mayhem in Texas, and basically indulging in its usual attempts to make the lgbtq community second-class citizens under the guise of "religious liberty," one of its spokesman is going on a bizarre fact-free ramble about gays and witches populating DC.

From Right Wing Watch:

Earlier this month, Family Research Council senior fellow Robert Maginnis appeared on SkyWatchTV to discuss “the occult influence on D.C. elites.” Maginnis warned that even the most well-intentioned people who go to Washington, D.C. to work in public service are susceptible to the evil forces that he said dominate the city, citing both witchcraft and homosexuality. “If you look around Washington, you have Dupont Circle, famous for being the center of homosexuality in Washington, you have all sorts of activities down there that are pretty souring,” he said. “You have a lot of witchcraft. You have a lot of hedonism. You have all the issues that—when I think of Sodom and Gomorrah, I often think of Washington, D.C. in the same thought.”

Hey Robert, isn't your organization (Family Research Council) situated in DC and "have a lot of power" in the Trump Administration? Just asking.

'Inane ideas of masculinity are damaging to us all' & other Wed midday news briefs

 Twitter Hashtag Reveals Just How Damaging Expectations Of Masculinity Can Be - Interesting piece which resonated with me. There were and still are certain expectations of me as as male which are a drag. What am I? An uncaring, unfeeling commodity for someone's idea of bliss? Some uber masculine black "stud" reject from a 1970s blaxploitation movie?

 Why Russia’s Persecution of its LGBT Community Matters - Wonderful piece which speaks directly to why we should all be concerned about the gay purge in Chechnya.  
 

2nd Circuit (again) finds anti-gay discrimination legal under Title VII - We win again. I am seriously loving these under-the-radar but very crucial wins.  

Human rights groups slam NCAA for bringing tournament back to North Carolina - Oh for crying out loud, NCAA!  

Alabama Governor urged to reject bill protecting anti-LGBT adoption agencies - We can only hope . . .

Transgender students in TX speak out against SB6

With the religious right and their supporters attempting to overwhelm the conversation regarding transgender equality with their lies, anecdotes, and horror stories, it is crucial that a voice be given to transgender men, women, and especially transgender youth.

From GLAAD:

Students across Texas are voicing their grave concerns about Senate Bill 6 (SB6), a bill threatening harm to transgender people across the Lone Star State. Join the movement today at glaad.org/texas. SB6, which is similar to the widely-covered HB2 in North Carolina, bans local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances that protect transgender people, or from requiring companies with city contracts from having similar protections. It also restricts restroom and locker room access for transgender people in government buildings, public schools and universities. 

GLAAD met with students on the ground at the University of Texas at Austin to discuss how the anti-transgender animus behind SB6 impacts their well-being as students, LGBTQ community members, or allies to their trans peers. The students also shared ways in which they are rallying support for those most targeted by SB6, like encouraging allies to safely accompany trans students to public facilities.

'Haley condemns Chechnya gay purge. Trump, Pence still silent' & other Tue midday news briefs

Haley

Nikki Haley highest U.S. official to respond to reported gay purge in Chechnya - Thank you, Ms. Haley. However, I would like to hear from others. Trump? Pence? Tillerson? Surely you can take time out of your schedules to condemn genocide.

If y'all need instruction, this is how you condemn the situation in Chechnya:

 Joe Biden condemns gay Chechnya arrests

International outrage over gay Chechnya arrests mounts

In other news:

 The ‘LGBT Trump Fallacy’ Exists Because The Media Created And Promoted It - Preach!! 

"Greenleaf" Makes Space On TV For Queer Black People In Church - Love this! Repeatedly! 

 Victims Of Bullying Don’t Need To Change, Bullies Do - Amen to that.  

Texas wants to allow contractors to issue marriage licenses over the phone - What's with Texas? Seriously?

Does 'religious liberty' include anti-lgbt harassment?

Could religious liberty laws allow clerks to verbally upbraid gays couples seeking marriage licenses?

From The New Civil Rights Movement (NCRM) comes news of a lawsuit which poses questions the lgbtq community should ask about potential "religious liberty" laws. Would these laws also give marriage clerks the right to verbally upbraid gays and lesbians seeking licenses under the guise of  "personally held religious beliefs?"

Amanda Abramovich and Samantha Brookover originally tried to marry in 2014, after their home state of West Virginia legalized same-sex marriage. At the time, the couple, high school sweethearts together now over six years, were denied a license in Gilmer County by a clerk who told them that they each needed an in-county driver's license in order to get a marriage license.

In February of 2016, seven months after the Obergefell decision that made same-sex marriage legal across the U.S., the couple applied for their marriage license a second time. According to a new lawsuit from Americans United, a religious freedom watchdog group, the couple was harassed over their marriage application.

County Deputy Clerk Debbie Allen allegedly harassed them for several minutes, calling their relationship an “abomination” and citing her religion as a reason for her objection to the couple. Another clerk allegedly joined in, calling the abuse Allen’s "religious right." Brookover’s mother called the office of County Clerk Jean Butcher to report the incident, but Butcher allegedly stood behind the actions of the deputy clerks.

"Allen launched into a tirade of harassment and disparagement. She slammed her paperwork down on her desk, screaming that the couple was an 'abomination' to God and that God would 'deal' with them," court documents claim. "Samantha was brought to tears.

According to The NCRM, Abramovich and Brookover  received their license but will be suing with the help of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. No doubt if anti-lgbt organizations get hold of this case, they will attempt to spin it into one of free speech. Granted, I don't think that such an argument is plausible but obeying rule of plausibility has never been the religious right's strong suit.

New York Times exposes, buries 'The LGBT Trump Fallacy'

This tweet was the biggest lip service since the movie 'Deep Throat.'

Just in case there are some "folks" out there who still think that Donald Trump will be an ally for the lgbt community (and unfortunately there are), The New York Times just published a wonderful opinion on the matter which itemizes the ways Trump has done us dirty since taking office. Part of it is as follows:

. . .the nomination of several key officials, who have disparaged the L.G.B.T. community and sought to curtail the rights of its members, has exposed the narrative that Mr. Trump would be a champion of gay and transgender people as a fallacy. “It has been a catastrophe,” said Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality and a leading strategist behind a string of legal and policy victories the community achieved during the Obama administration. “Every twitch we’ve seen from the administration has been anti-L.G.B.T.” 

At the Department of Justice, where former Attorney General Loretta Lynch last year delivered an impassioned speech telling transgender Americans, “We see you; we stand with you,” her successor, Jeff Sessions, wasted no time reversing course. The Justice Department in February withdrew guidance issued to schools on the treatment of transgender students, signaling that it would no longer consider their rights to be protected under a 1972 civil rights law. 

The Department of Health and Human Services, which worked to expand access to health care for gay and transgender Americans, is now being led by Tom Price, who was a vocal opponent of gay rights as a congressman. The agency’s civil rights office, which oversaw regulatory changes that made it easier for transgender people to get insurance coverage for medical care, is now run by Roger Severino, an ultraconservative activist who last year accused the Obama administration of attempting to “coerce everyone, including children, into pledging allegiance to a radical new gender ideology.”