Hate group quietly working to shut the LGBTQ community out of every aspect of public life

How do we know that the Alliance Defending Freedom is a hate group? Simply take a look at some of the cases it has defended in front of the courts.

Zack Ford of ThinkProgress did and this is what he found:

When the SPLC designated ADF an anti-LGBTQ hate group, it published a thoroughly researched document outlining the many reasons it had earned that designation, notably including its support for criminalizing homosexuality in the U.S. and abroad. Last month, Media Matters released an even more comprehensive report cataloging ADF’s history of extreme, demonizing rhetoric directed towards the LGBTQ community. But ADF’s work also speaks for itself. 

ThinkProgress surveyed approximately 30 of the group’s current and most recent court cases and found a desire to shut LGBTQ people out of almost every aspect of public life.

In cases involving employment discrimination, the so-called right to discriminate specifically against the LGBTQ community, and attacks on transgender students in high schools, ADF has taken the lead in arguing for the point of view which would reduce the rights of the LGBTQ community and expose trans youth to danger. Particularly in the case of trans youth, ADF heavily pushes the false idea that they are a danger to other students:

 . . . when the Obama Justice Department sued North Carolina for enforcing its discriminatory HB2 law, ADF countersued on behalf an anonymous coalition of parents and students called “North Carolinians for Privacy.” They argued that the courts should rule against the federal government because “the female University Students are deeply concerned that allowing biological male students into their private facilities increases the likelihood that they will be assaulted or otherwise victimized.” 

This fear-mongering — that trans kids are inherently a threat to their peers — has been at the core of their other cases: 

Doe v. Boyertown Area School District, where ADF represented a group of parents and students challenging a Pennsylvania school’s transgender-inclusive policy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled against ADF this summer. 

Maday v. Township High School District 211 and Students and Parents for Privacy v. United States Department of Education, a pair of cases in which ADF represented a group of parents challenging an Illinois school’s policy respecting transgender students. A federal judge denied ADF a preliminary injunction in December and the case is ongoing. 

Board of Education of the Highland Local School District v. United States Department of Education, in which ADF represented an Ohio school that refused to accommodate a transgender student. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit agreed with a federal judge to protect the transgender student, the case was later dismissed after mediation. 

Privacy Matters v. United States Department of Education, in which ADF represented parents who objected to a transgender student at their Minnesota school. Curiously, ADF dropped the case after the Trump administration rescinded the guidance protecting transgender students, even though the school’s policies didn’t change. 

These cases do not account for the work ADF does spreading anti-trans propaganda in local church communities, peddling an anti-trans model policy to schools, drafting state legislation similar to HB2 to impose such policies writ large, and sending schools legal threats for having inclusive policies or disciplining anti-trans teachers.

Ford also said that even in cases in which ADF doesn't take the lead, it finds a way to interject:

Even when ADF isn’t the lead counsel on a case related to LGBTQ issues, it often finds a way to shoehorn in by representing groups who file amicus briefs (“friend of the court” briefs) in these cases. This gives ADF another opportunity to advocate against LGBTQ legal equality, and they even list these cases on their website as if they’re actually a party to them.

You can read Ford's entire article here. It is imperative that the LGBTQ community educate ourselves and others on the Alliance Defending Freedom or it will succeed in its goal of shutting us out.

'California Senate passes the bill declaring conversion ('ex-gay') therapy to be a 'fraudulent practice'' & other Fri midday news briefs.

California moves closer to declaring 'ex-gay' therapy to be a fraud.

California Senate passes bill declaring conversion therapy a “fraudulent practice” - It goes back to the State Assembly for a concurrence vote and then boom, it's a law. 

‘Conversion therapy’ fraud bill passed by California Senate - More about this bill.

A California jail is paying a big price for mistreating LGBTQ inmates - Inmates have rights, too.

Catholic High School Threatens to Fire Lesbian Teacher, Asks Her to Dissolve Marriage to Wife - Talk about being mean . . . 

Austria Denies Asylum To Afghan Man For Failing To Act Or Dress Sufficiently Gay - Whhhaaaatttt?!  I didn't know there was a handbook to that sort of thing.

Latest court victory brings us closer to discovering who was actually behind Trump's trans ban

Latest ruling against Trump's trans ban could ensnare the anti-LGBT right.

Amidst all of the nonsense of the latest Trump Administration scandal, a ruling took place this week which probably means further doom for Trump's nonsensical ban of transgender troops. What makes this ruling extra special is that it has the potential to wreak havoc on the anti-LGBTQ right.

From NBC News:

A federal judge in Maryland has denied an effort by President Donald J. Trump's administration to shield information it used to implement a ban on transgender people in the military. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the administration on behalf of a dozen transgender people who are currently serving or want to serve in the armed forces. U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite ruled Tuesday that the documents are relevant to the administration's intent. He says whether the ban was for military purposes or for purely political and discriminatory purposes "is at the very heart of this litigation." The ACLU contends the ban violates the constitutional guarantees of equal protection and substantive due process by singling out transgender individuals for unequal and discriminatory treatment. 

The lawsuit is one of several challenging a ban that Trump announced on Twitter on July 26, 2017, citing “consultation with my Generals and military experts” and the “tremendous medical costs and disruption” of transgender service members.

'LGBTQ parents running for public office in high number, long live Aretha Franklin,' & other Thur midday news briefs

Editor's note - two things will be accomplished by today's news briefs. First, the usual postings. And also a tribute to one of the greats as she transitioned to her eternal reward - Aretha Franklin.

More than 2 Dozen LGBTQ Parents Running for Office in 2018 - One aspect of LGBTQ primary victories which should be noted. LGBTQ parents were also the big victors. From a good friend of mine and fellow GLAAD Media Award recipient Mombian is the list. When they decide laws regarding our families, these folks want to be on the front lines to give us a voice. THAT is one aspect of how we win and secure the future for ourselves, our families, and especially our children.

Researchers Find Transgender Veterans Are as Healthy as Their Cisgender Peers - Yep. And a recent ruling brings us closer to a goal of mine. Hopefully if all goes well, I will post it this afternoon.

The bizarre way Texas conservatives are fighting against marriage equality - That's why we need more of us in the Texas legislature and other legislatures across the country. 

Global backlash against gay conversion therapy gathers pace - BOOM! 

 And today, the world is saddened over the passing of the legendary Miss Aretha Franklin. True story - the first album I could remember listening to was her 1976 album Sparkle. Specifically as a gay black man, Aretha always touched my heart with her enduring talent, loving nature, and attention to style. It was truly "all about the music" to her, which was why she endured all of these years. All of the tributes, every one of them much deserved, will come in the next days. Allow me to give my own little one.

REST IN POWER: Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin dies at 76 

Aretha Franklin, The Undisputed ‘Queen Of Soul,’ Dead At 76

31 Photos To Commemorate Aretha Franklin’s Life And Music

Will the Nov midterms also see a 'rainbow wave' of elected officials?

The LGBTQ community can make huge steps forward in the upcoming midterm elections.

Some people are predicting a "blue wave" in the November midterms, i.e. the idea that the Democratic party will benefit greatly from Trump's many missteps and get control of the House of Representatives and maybe the Senate.

I say folks should concentrate on making this happen instead of predicting. There is so much at stake. And now it's looking like the LGBTQ community could be a huge part of that.

According to the Democratic National Committee, there are more LGBTQ candidates running for office in November than ever before and all under the Democratic banner. There will be:

11 LGBTQ people for statewide office This includes 4 for governor (CO, OR, TX and VT), each of whom represents a different segment of the LGBTQ community.

13 LGBTQ people for federal office in both houses of Congress

All in all, LGBTQ folks are running for office in 23 states as diverse as:

'LGBTQ candidates win big in primaries, four will be running in gubernatorial races' & other Wed midday news briefs

Will Christine Hallquist be the first transgender American to become a governor?

LGBTQ candidates are on the ballot nationwide for governor in 2018 - The LGBTQ community were the big winners in last night primary races:

 The LGBT Democratic candidates who have won their primaries for governor include: 

 Lupe Valdez, a lesbian woman running in Texas. 
 Jared Polis, a gay man running in Colorado.
 Kate Brown, a bisexual woman who's the incumbent governor of Oregon. 
 Christine Hallquist, a transgender woman running in Vermont.

Including:

Progressive Christine Hallquist becomes 1st transgender gubernatorial nominee for major party

First Openly LGBTQ U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin to Face Anti-LGBTQ Challenger Leah Vukmir in U.S. Senate Race - It's going to be a nasty shootout in Wisconsin because the GOP is thirsty for this seat. 

 Fox & Friends host refers to Christine Hallquist, history-making gubernatorial candidate, as "that transgender" - A view from the other side . . . 

 which is why I'm going to have like the stereotypical bitchy queen here. All of this "history being made" is nice but it's better that we celebrate after it's all over. We still have a long way to go before the actual mid-term elections and fighting the mess Trump is making in our community in general. In other words, it means more to be in the winner's circle or closer to our goals then celebrating because we are only halfway there. 

In other news:

Masterpiece Cakeshop owner sues after refusing to make a birthday cake for a trans woman - Look who is in the courts again. And HE is the one suing. Although I doubt he will be successful this time.

Wave of support for transgender 12-year-old who parents threatened to castrate - The fact that some people felt the need to threaten a 12-year-old child in the first place is a damn shame.

Pat Robertson claims 'Drag Queen Story Hour' is going to bring God's 'judgment' on America

Drag Queen Story  Hour is an event which has been taking place  across America for a long time now. It's when drag queens read stories to young children in order to encourage inclusiveness and tolerance.

And while religious right groups have been attacking repeatedly it, they really have no ground to stand on because Drag Queen Story Hour is very popular with children and their parents, who of course have to give their permission for their children to attend. And sometimes these parents also attend and enjoy themselves.

Still, that doesn't keep religious right and anti-LGBTQ personalities like 'The 700 Club' host Pat Robertson from raging about it. Geez, Pat Roberson is so decrepit here that you can practically see the dust coming out of his mouth. It's like watching a religious right version of 'The Mummy.'

Yes, what I said was cruel and I almost didn't want to post this.  But then I remember when I was young and trying to come out, how watching 'The 700 Club' and Pat Robertson attack LGBTQs made me feel so awful.  I don't consider this a revenge post, but a simple reminder about whose time it is right now.

Lastly on that same note, it seems to me that if God was going to "judge" America, I think He would be looking at things other than drag queen reading books to children and their parents. Such as a certain Orange Menace populating the White House who steals children from their parents and puts them in cages and generally wrecking the integrity of this country.


Hat tip - Right Wing Watch

'Trump Administration weaponizes religion to allow federal contractors to discriminate against the LGBTQ community' & other Tue midday news briefs

It's becoming apparent that Trump probably rubbed  his butt with this flag after the picture was taken. That's what he has done to the LGBTQ community in general since taking office.

New Trump administration directive lets federal contractors discriminate against LGBT people – for Jesus - The Trump Administration weaponizes religion to discriminate against the LGBTQ community again. So now on the basis of "religious liberty" the Trump Administration is allowing federal contractors to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. If anything, this makes the argument against the Log Cabin Republicans & other LGBTQ Trump supporters. They supported Trump but aren't pushing back against the myriad ways he is dogging our community. A political group with ACTUAL political power would do that instead of acting like it is in an abusive relationship making excuses for their partner and attacking those who try to make them see the truth. The truth in this case being Trump don't give a damn about us.

Labor Department becomes latest Trump agency to take interest in ‘religious freedom’ - More on this insanity and it brings up a point. "Religious liberty," or the weaponization of religion as a tool for anti-LGBTQ discrimination is making its way through U.S. agencies like a virus. I smell the noxious odor of Mike Pence in this. 

Trump Admin Upholds Religious Freedom for Federal Contractors - And from the other side of the coin - the wrong side - how this issue is playing in the anti-LGBTQ evangelical right community.

'Not scared': Russian teen charged under 'gay propaganda' law says he'll keep protesting - In Russia with his life clearly in danger. This young man is bravery personified.

Liberty Counsel Claims Victory In Scott Lively’s Embarrassing Defeat - "Bitches gotta fundraise."

Jeff Sessions' support of anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom condemned in blistering video

I have to give props to the Human Rights Campaign for this video which blasts Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his support of anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom. It's a wonderful way to keep attention focused on this issue, with us controlling the narrative.

 For more information as to why the Alliance Defending Freedom is a hate group, read these links:

ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM

The extremism of anti-LGBTQ powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom

The many ways Alliance Defending Freedom is fighting against transgender student equality

Masterpiece Cakeshop was just the beginning. ADF is pushing several other license-to-discriminate cases through the courts.

Alliance Defending Freedom is working to keep LGBTQ people from adopting children

'Landscaper denies service to gay couple, then trolls them online' & other Mon midday news briefs

Landscaper denies service to ‘perverse’ gay couple and trolls them on Yelp - What a landscaper did to a gay couple is mess which cannot and shouldn't be hidden or obscured by claims of personally held religious beliefs. But it can be an aspect of the future if anti-LGBTQ groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom has anything to say about it. 

Scott Lively Loses Appeal To Reword Judge’s Ruling That Calls Him Abhorrent, Pathetic, And A Crackpot Bigot - No matter how bad things may seem, I will always be comforted by the fact that a nasty, homophobic bigot can't change the facts about him being a nasty, homophobic bigot.

These adults are plotting a hate crime against a transgender 12-year-old - This right here is a nasty shame.

Straight British Comic Jack Whitehall is Playing Disney’s First Openly Gay Character and People are Pissed - A fascinating debate which didn't start with this and certainly won't end with it. I'm highly undecided about this sort of thing, except for when it comes to the transgender community. I can see where the transgender community is coming from about anger over not getting trans actors to portray trans characters.

Ruby Rose Leaves Twitter After ‘Batwoman’ Critics Say She’s Not Gay Enough - But I'm generally undecided because of mess like this.

Human Rights Campaign demanding answers regarding 'religious liberty' task force' & other Fri midday news briefs

HRC wants answers from DOJ and Jeff Sessions about the 'religious liberty' task force.

HRC's Chad Griffin: We're Going After Sessions's Christian Task Force - The Human Rights Campaign has officially submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all records associated with Jeff Sessions' "religious liberty" task force. Okay, I know some LGBTQs have a negative view of the Human Rights Campaign, but I think in this case, we need all of our ducks in a row.  We can have disagreements, strong disagreements in fact, with each other while at the same time putting forth as much unity as we can. Me personally? I'm not interested at this very point in rehashing problems. We have an out-of-control Attorney General conspiring with anti-LGBTQ hate groups to possibly weaponize the Department of Justice against those fighting said anti-LGBTQ hate groups. I think they deserve more of our ire right now.

Right-wing media pastor and GOP-backed congressional nominee favorably remembered when “homosexuality was once criminalized” - Exhibit A to the first news brief post. This guy is running for a United States House seat. 

Exclusive: Florida Wants To Help Bullied Kids — Unless They’re Gay - To the surprise of no one.

Some transgender drivers are being kicked off Uber’s app - What kind of nonsense is this?

Caitlyn Jenner Says Trump Has ‘Not Been Doing A Very Good Job’ - Really? Uh no shit, girlfriend.

Jeff Sessions insists Alliance Defending Freedom not a hate group in spite of extensive proof which says otherwise

Attorney General Jeff Sessions (top) insist that the Alliance Defending Freedom (logo at the bottom) is not a hate group in spite of extensive proof which says otherwise.

Wednesday night, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he does not believe that the Alliance Defending Freedom is a hate group even though it has been proven that, among other things, the group has falsely conflated homosexuality with pedophilia and worked to imprison gays in foreign countries simply for being gay.

Sessions said these comments during a speech at the ADF's Summit for Religious Liberty. He also blasted the Southern Poverty Law Center, the organization giving ADF the designation:

"I wanted to come back here tonight partially because I wanted to say this: You are not a hate group," Sessions told attendees (video below) at the ADF's Summit on Religious Liberty, as Towleroad reports. 

 "When I spoke to ADF last year, I learned that the Southern Poverty Law Center had classified ADF as a ‘hate group.’ Many in the media simply parroted that as a fact," Sessions charged. "They have used this designation as a weapon and they have wielded it against conservative organizations that refuse to accept their orthodoxy and choose instead to speak for their conscience and their beliefs. They use it to bully and intimidate groups that fight for religious freedom, these constitutional rights of the American people."

Via  his speech, Sessions performed the modus operandi of ADF and other religious right groups which SPLC have called out, i.e. playing the victim and using the "religious liberty" card in hopes of diverting attention from what caused them to be labeled as hate groups in the first place.

In the case of the Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization has a long history of demonizing the LGBTQ  community, working to undermine LGBTQ equality, and using the force of the law against the LGBTQ community. In his speech, Sessions claimed that SPLC has no proof to back up its claim that ADF is a hate group.

He lied.

SPLC has extensively documented research from the time of the Alliance Defending Freedom's founding to the present, making sure to point the numerous times the group attacked the LGBTQ community.

Hypocrisy and deliberate paranoia defined - Franklin Graham when marriage equality was legalized

As nauseating as the following the video is, there is so much to unpack from this Fox News interview which Todd Starnes conducts with Franklin Graham. It took place three years ago  when marriage equality was legalized.

Three interesting points to make:

1. No pastors have been attacked, put in jail, or forced to perform gay weddings. Of course we knew that wasn't going to happen.

2. The idea of gays targeting so-called Christian businesses was definitely a narrative created by folks like Graham way before all of this ado about "religious liberty." It was, and still remains a way to cover up their sour grapes over the fact that they lost the marriage equality fight.. On the whole, however, that fearmongering about marriage equality bringing in anti-Christian persecution was bull. Of course Starnes and Graham most likely knew that at the time.

3. It's amazing how Franklin Graham went from "America has a moral crisis" back then to the now excuses of Donald Trump isn't "president perfect" and his extramarital affairs are "no one's business." 

Apparently a little power brings out the hypocrisy in some people.

'SPLC refutes Jeff Sessions and his 'religious liberty' task force' & other Wed midday news briefs

Richard Cohen of  SPLC

SPLC refutes Sessions’ comments about hate group designations - When Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced his "religious liberty" task force, he made veiled comments attacking the Southern Poverty Law Center for designating several religious right groups as anti-LGBTQ hate group. Earlier week, SPLC president Richard Cohen responded with a two page letter to Sessions which basically says (and pardon the vernacular) "ain't nobody scared of you or your ratchet task force."

You can read the letter here. 

From the archives - 16 reasons why the Family Research Council is a hate group - And because I'm an evil little queen who has been itching for a fight about this issue LONG BEFORE the Southern Poverty Law Center began naming certain religious right organizations as hate groups, here is a post I published in 2011. 

Christine Hallquist May Become America’s First Openly Transgender Governor - Oh! This would be sweet! 

A Republican Lawmaker Seeking Reelection Once Compared Gay People To "Rapists" And Other Criminals - Lovely . . . 

16-year-old is first minor prosecuted by Russian 'anti-gay propaganda' laws - Remember when Franklin Graham said he supported these laws because it would keep gays from "recruiting" children?

Religious leaders calls out hypocrisy of Jeff Sessions' 'religious liberty' task force

How did I miss this?

 Last weekend, religious leaders, Rev. Dr. William Barber and religious speaker, writer, and pastor Jonathan Wilson-Hartgove, appeared on AM Joy and blasted Attorney General Jeff Sessions's recently announced 'religious liberty' task force.  Barber, specifically wasn't having it, so to speak. He labeled the idea as hypocrisy in view of Trump's immigration policy. He also said that the task force was only for what he called "Trumpvangelicals."

Also appearing was Robert Jones, CEO with Public Religion Research Institute with some polling data on what people feel about the idea of "religious liberty" as defined by conservative evangelicals, i.e. the right to refuse service to LGBTQs.  Barber was very pointed about how he felt about that concept. He said it was the same rationale that segregationists used against African-Americans.

Hat tip - The New Civil Rights Movement

'Fight over potential SCOTUS justice Kavanaugh heats up LGBTQ equality struggle' & other Tue midday news briefs

Potential SCOTUS justice Brett Kavanaugh

Another US court rules against Donald Trump banning trans people in the military - I NEVER get tired of hearing this.

An LGBT Rights Group Is Arguing Brett Kavanaugh Is A “Direct Threat” To LGBT People - PREACH! 

Anti-gay activists are lobbying Democrats to back Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh - Meanwhile . . .

Transgender Actors Roundtable: Laverne Cox, Chaz Bono and More on Hollywood Discrimination - And they speak the truth back and forth.

Meet the lesbian Native American woman running for Congress in Kansas - And she is a professional MMA fighter, too. Ooooo I hope she wins. 

  Trans LoveLoud Concertgoers Say LGBTQ Festival Lacked Inclusive Bathrooms - Come on, folks. This is highly slack of some in our community.

Buzzfeed: Jeff Sessions, Justice Department keeping secrets about 'religious liberty' task force

Big props to Buzzfeed and journalist Dominic Holden (an acquaintance of mine) for keeping this issue in the public eye. With all of the chaos going on regarding Trump and Russia, the LGBTQ community should still keep our eyes open regarding the Justice Department's "religious liberty" task force.

As Holden writes it, details about the task force, such as who will be members, remains unknown:

Despite the fanfare, however, Justice Department officials haven’t provided basic information about Sessions’ new task force or what it will actually do. 

Who will be on it? When will it meet? Is there an agenda for its meeting? Will its proceedings be open to the public? 

The Justice Department didn’t answer those questions from BuzzFeed News. A DOJ point person for the task force, Jeffrey Hall, referred inquiries to a DOJ spokesperson, who cited a transcript of Sessions' speech and a memo, which also didn’t provide answers. Follow-up questions went unanswered.

With good reason, spokespeople from religious groups which do not embrace right-wing evangelical Christianity are beginning to ask questions:

“My biggest concerns is the lack of transparency and clarity,” Johnathan Smith, the legal director of Muslim Advocates, told BuzzFeed News about the panel's unclear mandate, membership, and agenda. 

“There is a concern that certain Christian and evangelical communities are being brought to the forefront, and others, particularly Muslim communities, are discriminated against and harassed,” he added. “When you create a religious task force and you don’t have that detail and transparency, it raises a lot of questions about whether all communities will benefit from this government action.” 

Lacking details, the panel could be brushed off as little more than a gesture — a bone thrown to the evangelical right before the midterm elections. 

But given the politicized rollout, the task force may instead prove a new vehicle to enforce Sessions’ hardline agenda, sheltered from oversight because it’s housed entirely inside the Justice Department.

Two booklets expose & explain the conservative evangelical war on LGBTQ America

The image of depravity some religious right groups want to force on gay America when they attempt to snatch away our right to do anything else but be oversexed caricatures from their imaginations.

In light of the power given to the anti-LGBTQ evangelical right by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump, it is absolutely crucial that our community understand just what we are fighting against. It goes beyond the so-called idea of religious liberty because that concept is merely the latest in a continuum of false narratives.

Today, groups like the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom claim that their work is about "protecting the rights of Christians." A while back, they claimed that they were "protecting marriage." Before then, it was accusing gays of wanting "special rights" and claiming that homosexuality is a "health hazard." And lurking behind all of these claims is the expressed or alluded to belief  that gays are constantly attempting to "recruit children."

Helping foster this awful lie is homophobia expertly exploited by religious beliefs, the reluctance of the media to dig deeper, and the inability of the LGBTQ community to go on the offensive (whether it be an relying too much on the belief of "moving the movable middle" or getting distracted with collegiate and esoteric terms). We have to get more people to see the constant war waged on the LGBTQ community with the ultimate goal being the undermining of our rights and safety and the erasure of our families and right to self-determination.

With that in mind, I am reposting  two online booklets which I feel breaks it all down in a necessarily simple way.

In 2013, I published a free online booklet which took a short, visual look at how organizations such as the Family Rearch Council and the National Organization for Marriage demonize the LGBTQ community via junk science, cherry-picked science, and outright lies.

How They See Us by Alvin A. McEwen on Scribd

(Editor's note - If you are having a problem reading and/or downloading the booklet, here is a copy from adobe acrobat.)

Alliance Defending Freedom attempting to roll back LGBT right under everyone's noses' & other Fri midday news briefs

The hate group successfully rolling back LGBT rights - I DESPISE this headline because while the Alliance Defending Freedom is trying, we will not allow them to succeed. I am not giving up the game as of yet. And none of you had better be, either. The LGBTQ community has faced it all from awful diseases to deliberate lies, to outright shunning. We have outlasted it all. We outlasted Jesse Helms, Anita Bryant, the National Organization for Marriage and worse. WE WILL NOT LOSE. And I don't give a damn about who is on the Supreme Court. 

States hurt children by shunning parents like me - AMEN! I commend gay parents who step up to talk about what's wrong with giving tax dollars to entities which discriminate against gay families in foster care and adoption. 

Online attempts to connect LGBT equality with pedophilia are vicious hoaxes - An old post of mine which needs to be repeated because some people on Twitter are tripping.

A cis woman got banned from a gym for insulting a trans woman. She thinks she’s the victim.

- Girlfriend, the sista was putting on her make up. She was not bothering you. You came up to her and she ignored you. Then you kept causing problems. You got banned and you deserved it.

 Yelp will now allow pro-LGBTQ businesses to highlight they are ‘open to all' - Wonderful!

Pro-Trump evangelical leaders hoping midterms will allow them to 'occupy' power until 'Jesus comes'

Just in case anyone doesn't understand how important the November midterms election are, allow this video courtesy of Right Wing Watch to persuade you.

 Three pro-Trump evangelicals are plotting what they want to happen in America should the GOP come out of the elections the big winners. And it goes beyond reducing LGBTQ equality. They aren't even attempting to hide their desire for a "non official, but in deed and action" conservative evangelical theocracy:

On today’s episode of the right-wing voter-mobilization series, “Faith for Our Nation,” airing on televangelist Kenneth Copeland’s Believers Voice of Victory network this week, Religious Right pseudo-historian David Barton and right-wing pastor George Pearsons declared that Christians have a “mandate” to help Republicans expand their control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections in order to help radically transform America in the next two years. 

Barton explained that Donald Trump won the 2016 election because evangelical Christians accounted for a larger percentage of the popular vote than in previous elections, saying that if Christians can again increase their percentages in the 2018 elections, “it will not be close.”

'Pro-Trump evangelicals expected to exploit their religion to drive up GOP voter turn out in Nov' & other Thur midday news briefs

Franklin Graham is one of the pro-Trump evangelicals who may try to drive up GOP voter turn out in Nov. Probably via his fake ass 'Decision America' nonsense tours.

These 5 right-wing pro-Trump evangelists are positioned to drive GOP voter turn-out in November - This brings to mind a saying which has been going around currently on the internet - "For years, the religious right have warned about the Anti-Christ. When he finally shows up, they are urging folks to support him. 

Japanese lawmaker says gay marriage will lead to Japan’s ‘decline and ruin’ - Proof that homophobia runs rampant on a worldwide level. They said that same thing in America about marriage equality and none of that junk has yet to have happened.

Religious Liberty Task Force protects only conservative Christians - Yep. Hammer that point continuously.

Jerry Falwell Jr. Tweeted About Jeff Sessions and the Internet Responded by Ruining Him: ‘You’re an Unapologetic Hack’ - Well damn. Sessions set up that nasty 'religious liberty' task force and then Falwell, Jr. goes off on him? I am confused. And not in a happy way. 

NRA’s Dana Loesch Says Sessions Should Fire Anti-Christian Bigots at DOJ - Purging in the name of Jesus. Oh that will go over well.

Stephen Colbert nails Jeff Sessions' 'religious liberty' task force with 'Ghostbusters' parody

 I understand how comedy and poking fun at inane things helps people cope. That being said, I think this is mildly amusing. It should have been a little bit longer.

However, I don't consider what Jeff Sessions and the religious right are doing to be comical in the least. And expect me to raise some serious ass-toasting hell in the future, particularly if this task force steps out of line.  And I am betting that it will.

'GOP anti-LGBTQ adoption amendment could endanger LGBTQ foster children' & other Wed midday news briefs

Republican adoption amendment would hurt LGBTQ foster youth, advocates say - Once more for the folks in the back. Not only is the amendment an affront to gay taxpayers, but it puts LGBTQ foster children at risk. But I guess the religious right and their allies want to erase them too: 

 According to a recent report, California would risk losing nearly $250 million and New Jersey would lose over $25 million. In total, the amendment could cut more than $1.04 billion to state child welfare budgets. Warbelow also claimed the amendment would allow for a greater number of religiously affiliated agencies to subject LGBTQ foster youth to so-called gay conversion therapy. This medically discredited practice, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is currently banned in 14 states and the District of Columbia, according to Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank. 

Hate groups are behind Jeff Sessions’ new ‘religious liberty’ task force - Let's look at the groups specifically behind Jeff Sessions' nasty task force.

Family Research Council already weaponizing Jeff Sessions' 'religious liberty' task force to target SPLC - Post from last night. Targeting the SPLC and probably other groups who oppose them. Luckily, insignificant folks like are immune (they aren't completely bright, are they?) 

Senate Dems Introduce Bill To Include Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity On Census - Damn right. 

Hans How: The Malaysian Gay Man Fighting for His Life, and Many Other LGBT Asylum Seekers - Kudos to a brave man.

Family Research Council already weaponizing Jeff Sessions' 'religious liberty' task force to target SPLC

If you want to know why so many folks are alarmed with Jeff Sessions' so-called religious liberty task force, this tweet sent out today by the Family Research Council should clue you in. Folks on the right are already attempting to weaponize the task force to attack the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"When you've got an organization in the U.S. that is illegitimately targeting groups because of their Christian views and you have agencies in the federal government that are legitimizing that data, that is a recipe for disaster." @GenBoykin @PJMedia_com https://t.co/B9F9cAlX9e

— FRC (@FRCdc) July 31, 2018

The article in question, which contained the following quote from FRC official Jerry Boykin, is nothing but drivel. It is yet another attack on SPLC for accurately designating organizations like the Family Research Council as anti-LGBT hate groups.  What makes this particular situation very problematic is how the article implies that the full weight of the United States Justice Department would fall on SPLC's head under the guise of "protecting religious liberty."

And the drama isn't even about religious liberty or religious beliefs.

Jeff Sessions' conservative evangelical supremacy task force . . . er . . . 'religious liberty' task force is very unpopular' & other Tue midday news briefs

Based on tweets like these, Jeff Sessions'  conservative evangelical supremacy  'religious liberty' task force is very unpopular.

Twitter Rains Hell On Jeff Sessions’ New Religious Liberty Task Force - This picks up my spirits big time. Jeff Sessions' conservative evangelical supremacy 'religious liberty' task force is highly unpopular because no one is fooled about its actual goals. And it has been dragged through twitter. I say we continue to drag it through twitter nonstop.

Jeff Sessions’ Justice Department Promotes Religious Right’s Take On Religious Liberty - Just in case you need more confirmation as to what Sessions and his cohorts in the religious right are attempting . . . 

Justice Department’s new “Religious Liberty Task Force” highlights the agency's troubling ties to Alliance Defending Freedom - Or the hate group helping to force it on America  . . . 

Trump administration says it’s time to stop punishment of anti-gay African countries - Or ways this task force and mess like it will probably harm LGBTQ safety . . . 

 Rude comment at 'Religious Liberty' Summit reveals ignorance & desire to erase LGBTQ taxpayers - Because those pushing this task force don't care about the LGBTQ community. They want to erase our children, our families, and our dignity as taxpayers. 

Our Tax Dollars Shouldn’t Fund an Anti-LGBTQ “Religious Freedom Task Force” - Basically hell yeah. But calling it a “religious privilege task force” is too nice. We need not pussyfoot about this monstrosity of a sham of a mess this task force actually it. It is a Conservative Evangelical Supremacy Task Force.

Rude comment at 'Religious Liberty' Summit reveals ignorance & desire to erase LGBTQ taxpayers

The Heritage Foundation's Emilie Kao's rude comment about gay couples demonstrates her ignorance of history

If you want to pinpoint just how mean spirited and callous the mindset behind the creation of a "religious liberty task force," look no further than comments by one of the speakers at the so-called "religious liberty summit" on Monday which was held to announce its creation:

From Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade:

. . . other speakers on the panel railed against efforts to uphold LGBT rights as they face compromise in the name of religious freedom, including Emilie Kao, director of the Richard & Helen DeVos Center for Religion & Civil Society at the anti-LGBT Heritage Foundation. 

Kao was critical of litigation filed by the ACLU against the Michigan law enabling Catholic adoption agencies to refuse placement to LGBT families over religious objections. 

Asserting same-sex couples seeking to adopt face no problem in access to adoption, Kao said the plaintiff in the lawsuit drove past four other adoption agencies to reach St. Vincent’s Catholic Charities, which she said “still holds the belief that they should put every child with a mother and father.” 

“The lesbian couple says they were personally offended by St. Vincent’s not placing a child with them,” Kao said. “I think it’s important for us to recognize that throughout the history of our country and the Supreme Court’s cases, we have always protected the right of people to follow their religious beliefs, and we’ve never protected the right not to have your feelings hurt.”

Kao's callous words was merely another way to evade one of the actual issues of the Michigan case, which is St. Vincent and another adoption agency which discriminates against gay couples, is receiving taxpayer funds. Lots of taxpayer funds:

Documents provided by the ACLU show the state entered into a three-year contract with an option year with Bethany Christian Services for different amounts including up to $6.8 million and with St. Vincent up to for $4.1 million.

Also, I would like to point out just how not only rude, but highly inaccurate Kao's comments were. Perhaps she was attempting to project some false wit or cleverness. What she actually succeeded in doing was to show either her basic or deliberate ignorance of history.

Jeff Sessions, DOJ create task force to promote (anti-LGBTQ conservative Christian evangelical supremacy) . . . er . . . religious liberty

The reality Jeff Sessions and the religious right want to create. They will fail.

In case you haven't realized it, this means war.

The following just happened this morning:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Monday that the Department of Justice is creating a "religious liberty task force."

Sessions said the task force, co-chaired by Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio and the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy, Beth Williams, will help the department fully implement the religious liberty guidance it issued last year. 

The guidance was a byproduct of President Trump’s executive order directing agencies to respect and protect religious liberty and political speech. Sessions said on Monday that the task force will “ensure all Justice Department components are upholding that guidance in the cases they bring and defend, the arguments they make in court, the policies and regulations they adopt, and how we conduct our operations.”

Do NOT be fooled.

'NBC spotlights GOP attack on LGBTQ families' & other Fri midday news briefs

As evidence supporting LGBTQ families mounts, legal hurdles loom - Thank you NBC for putting the spotlight on the GOP's "religious liberty" anti-gay adoption bill. I still have one problem with the coverage. I know it sounds cold, but I really do believe that how gay taxpayers are erased by this bill should be considered. Children need good families, no matter if they are LGBTQ families or heterosexual families. AND LGBTQ taxpayers shouldn't have to give our hard earned tax dollars to entities which discriminate against us. We are being told that we should pay for a service that we can't have because we are supposedly inferior. If my gay dollars is good enough for an entity to have, then giving me respect should also be a must.

Related post - You don't get to call me a sinner AND help yourself to my gay tax dollars

Catholic Priest Denies Communion to Trans Teen… Because She Was Chewing Gum - Yeah, riiiiiiight.

Why Trump's Putin Fixation Is an LGBT Problem - Trump's existence in the Oval Office itself is an LGBT problem. His Putin fixation only make things worse. 

British teen banned from doing drag in school talent show invited to perform with Drag Race queens - Wonderful! I love a happy ending!

Media Matters exposes the homophobia that hate group Alliance Defending Freedom is hiding

Reading and sharing information like this about hate group Alliance Defending Freedom is vital for the LGBTQ community to win this so-called culture war.

The LGBTQ community will never make any definitive steps in attaining equality unless we publicly acknowledge to that there is a deliberate effort to undermine our safety and dignity as American citizens. And this effort is being undertaken by several religious right groups with deep pockets and very little scruples for being honest.

Our battle is not with religious beliefs in general nor ordinary individuals. Our battles are with groups and personalities who work diligently undermine our equality. Enough pussyfooting. Enough nonsensical discussions about Gays vs. Christianity. That was never the argument.

It was always:

 Gays vs. The Family Research Council

Gays vs. the American Family Assocation

Gays vs. the Liberty Counsel.

Gays vs. the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Gays vs. every group, organization, paid personality, pundit, and talking head who claimS to be "pro-family," "pro-Christian," or "pro-morality."

For over 11 years, I have, via this blog, one failed self-published book, and one online booklet, tried to expose these folks myself in my own inimitable fashion AND get our community and our leadership to step up in calling these folks out.

I've succeeded a lot in the former more than I have in the latter. But I am also glad to note that I have not been alone. Other blogs, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and organizations such as Media Matters did a lot to focus on this situation. And granted, it may not be as popular as internal arguments, cute little academic terms and esoteric language, and other  ways some of us in the LGBTQ community have wasted time, this work is very necessary.

 And that's why I am thrilled at the new project published by Media Matters.

An interactive research book on the anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom

“The extremism of anti-LGBTQ powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom” is an interactive research book outlining the anti-LGBTQ positions of the influential legal powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). These positions were identified through extensive review of public statements by ADF and its representatives, reports on the group's legal and political activities, and publicly available materials created by the group. Information regarding significant portions of ADF's legal and political advocacy work is not publicly available; the group may hold additional positions or engage in additional activity that it refrains from commenting on publicly.

Click here to download the interactive PDF version of this report.

The following below is a smaller facsimile of the report:

'Transgender students gain huge court victory, opposition to trans troop ban marks full year' & other Thur midday news briefs

Today marks a year since Trump announced his trans troop ban. It has been a disaster for him.

Full Page USA Today Ad Features Bipartisan Opposition To Trump’s Transgender Military Ban - It's been a full year since Trump announced his ridiculous ban of trans men and women from serving in the military. Since then, the announcement backfired on him to become one of the many embarrassing missteps of his administration. 

Judge's ruling supports Dallas School District's transgender policy - An Oregon school district policy which protects transgender students has been upheld by the courts. Sharing space with transgender students doesn't violate anyone's rights.

This bisexual Russian man could be killed if he’s deported — but an Oregon judge won’t let him stay - The struggle is real and it is worldwide, y'all.

Bryan Fischer’s Answer To Global AIDS Crisis: No Sex For Gay Men - Ah yes. The man who almost singularly got the American Family Association designated as a hate group. 

America’s most self-loathing homosexual blasts ‘the gaying of Fox News’ - Oh for crying out loud . . .

Moving from cakes to housing and adoption - 'religious liberty' is being weaponized to discriminate against gays

So many of us repeated the simple fact that "religious liberty" or "religious freedom" as defined by the anti-LGBTQ evangelical right was not simply about a cake or a bakery or participation at a same-sex wedding. Those trite things were merely the beginning of a plan to codify anti-LGBTQ discrimination by using religion as a weapon.

According to a recent events,  things have moved steadily from businesses supposedly not wanting to participate in same-sex weddings. We are now talking about senior living communities who don't want to house gay couples:

A St. Louis County senior community has denied housing to a married lesbian couple who have been together for nearly four decades because of the couple's sexual orientation, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court. 

Mary Walsh, 72, and Bev Nance, 68, both of Shrewsbury, say the Friendship Village senior living community, which has locations in Sunset Hills and Chesterfield, denied occupancy to the couple to live at the Sunset Hills community in 2016 because their relationship violated its cohabitation policy that defines marriage as "the union of one man and one woman, as marriage is understood in the Bible," according to the lawsuit.
The policy, the suit says, violates the Fair Housing Act and the Missouri Human Rights Act. It names Friendship Village and its parent company FV Services Inc. as defendants. The couple is represented by the San Francisco-based National Center for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Washington D.C.-based firm Relman, Dane & Colfax. 

Walsh and Nance were married in Massachusetts in 2009 but have been together for 37 years, their suit says. They tried to move to Friendship Village in July 2016, got on a waiting list and paid a $2,000 deposit but were later told they couldn't because of the "longstanding policy." Friendship Village continues to enforce the "cohabitation policy" that has denied housing to other same-sex couples, the suit claims. 

And let's not forget the laws in Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, as well as a bill moving through the House of  Representatives which contains an amendment that, under the grounds of "religious liberty," allows foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate against gay couples while still being able to receive tax dollars.

Today, 40 Democratic Senators targeted the amendment:

In a letter to Senate appropriators, the senators slammed a House Republican proposal passed earlier this month that would shield taxpayer-funded adoption and child welfare agencies that refuse to provide services to children and parents on the basis of religion, LGBTQ status, or family structure. The senators urged the Senate Appropriations Committee not to include this dangerous proposal in the upcoming appropriations bill. 

“Allowing child welfare agencies to close the door to willing and fully qualified foster and adoptive parents due to a difference in religious belief opens the door to taxpayer-funded discrimination and deprives vulnerable children of safe and loving homes,” the senators wrote. “We strongly encourage you to reject this language and instead, support federal laws and regulations barring discrimination, and protect the rights of all qualified parents who answer the call to foster and adopt children in foster care.” 

The proposal would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to withhold federal funding from states that prevent child welfare agencies from denying services to LGBTQ parents or children, penalizing states with existing nondiscrimination policies. Late last week, over 100 child advocacy organizations sent a letter to Congress opposing this proposal. 

Wyden was joined on the letter by Sens. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass.; Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii; Tom Carper, D-Del.; Chris Coons, D-Del., Maggie Hassan D-N.H.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Dianne Feinstein D-Calif.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Angus King, I-Maine; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Kamala Harris, D-Calif.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Michael Bennet D-Colo.; Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Tom Udall, D-N.M.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Robert P. Casey, Jr., D-Pa.; Bob Menendez, D-N.J.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Jon Tester, D-Mont.; Mark R. Warner, D-Va.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Amy Klobuchar D-Minn., Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

And I am certain that there will be more instances to come in which the anti-gay evangelical right will weaponize religious beliefs  against the LGBTQ community. You can count on that.

'Does the religious right want to criminalize gay sex again?' & other Wed midday news briefs

The Religious Right Appears Intent On Criminalizing Gay Sex Again - A recent column by Tony Perkins of hate group The Family Research Council has Michelangelo Signorile wondering are religious right groups wanting to bring back the sodomy laws. While it may seem hysterical, I say, from monitoring religious right groups for close to 12 years,  that nothing is for sure and one should never assume. When it comes to these groups, it's all about audacity. No matter how ridiculous the cause may seem, if they think they can succeed, they will put forth a huge effort and at the very least, we would have to deal with debating issues which we never thought we would. Personally, I feel that if these groups want to bring back the time in which they openly and freely cited discredited studies by charlatans who accused us of stuffing gerbils up our rectums, feel free.  We got receipts regarding all of the lies groups like FRC once told about us. And we haven't forgotten a single thing.

GLAAD calls for increased and accurate media coverage of transgender murders - Siiigh! Our transgenders sisters are being murdered across America and it's not being handled like it should. We need more press coverage and at the very least, can the media not misgender our sisters. 

Trump's Timeline of HATE - Trump has been screwing up everyone who isn't white and straight. Makes me wonder if this nonsense with tariffs is his way to not make THEM feel left out.

Oklahoma woman offers to be a stand-in mom at LGBTQ weddings - Awwwww! This is so sweet!