'Sessions getting ready to weaponize 'religious liberty task force' against federal govt' & other Tue midday news briefs

In the controversy regarding Trump's illegal attack on birthright citizenship, the violence caused by his rhetoric, and him basically being a nasty cyst occupying the White House, the following move by Attorney General Jeff Sessions is being ignored, except for by Buzzfeed journalist Dominic Holden:

JUST IN — Jeff Sessions tells his Religious Liberty Task Force to find cases of the federal government refusing to fund religious entities.

"If so, it must, and will, stop,” he said.

His prepared remarks today in Boston: pic.twitter.com/cX3Jzi5GIz

— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) October 29, 2018

By the way, Sessions refuses to say who the members of his Religious Liberty Task Force, so Buzzfeed is suing for that information:

Here’s a Law360 story on the lawsuit over the Religious Liberty Task Force and our lawsuit to get U.S. Embassy records relating to Jared Kushner. https://t.co/oSjRX8c6EL

— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) October 16, 2018

In other news:

What having a drag queen visit a middle school really means - Oh gasp and swoon! It's perfectly normal, folks. 

A protester with a trans flag interrupted Jeff Sessions’ speech. He wasn’t happy about it. - I suggest Sessions gets used to it.  

Candidate for Attorney General Accused of Having Told Gay Classmate ‘People Like You Should Be Shot’ - I'm speechless. Well not totally. VOTE BLUE!!!

Family Research Council deludes itself with midterm election video (which does not mention Trump, by the way)

In spite of all of the lies, vitriol, spewing of hate, violent actions caused by, criminal activities, and basic incompetence of the Trump Administration, the Family Research Council seems to think things are going well.

The video below from FRC announces a "prayer event" two days before the midterms and it defies description as to the inaccurate happy face the group puts on the work of the Trump Administration, and what it omits. Particularly any mention of Trump. In all honest, the video was posted last month, but seeing how much has gone on since then (particularly the bombs sent to Democratic leaders, the murder of two African-Americans by a racist, the terrorist attack at the Pittsburgh synagogue), it's amazing that FRC has kept this video up.

It just goes to show deceptive conservative anti-LGBTQ evangelicals have been during the Trump Administration and how pathetically low they will stoop for their goals. Since when does following Jesus includes wallowing in the thick mud of lies? And don't think FRC's omission of Trump in the video was accidental. It was sadly deliberate.

'Anti-LGBTQ hate group targeting individual LGBTQ children with its lawsuits' & other Mon midday news briefs

Anti-LGBTQ hate group are specifically targeting individual LGBTQ children in its cases.

Hate’s New Strategy: Call Trans Kindergartners Sexual Predators - Do no think you can't stop this. You can with your voice. Speak out! Share the article. Tell everyone. Hate despises mirrors because it has to see itself for what it is:

The Alliance Defending Freedom is leading the charge to get the federal government to erase transgender people. Its latest scheme to accomplish this involves picking on 5-year-olds -- claiming that transgender children are dangerous. Sounds absurd, except Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to hand the ADF a victory that may impact transgender people across the country.

On August 17, 2017, ADF threatened legal action against the school district of Grass Lake, Mich. ADF claimed that if a transgender fourth-grader was treated like any other little boy, this would “jeopardize” the other students. A month after ADF threatened legal action, the mother of that transgender student told the Grass Lake school committee, “My son now says he wants to kill himself again,” because he thought “everybody hates him.” Her son was telling her this before he was even 10 years old.

 ADF has gone after transgender children repeatedly over the years. Before ADF bullied a fourth-grader and his family in Michigan, it demonized a transgender high school student in Minnesota because she acted like any other teenage girl. The group has also used similar tactics, unsuccessfully, in attempts to deny transgender high school students the use of school facilities in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Since May, ADF has hyped a dubious claims that a transgender elementary school student assaulted another child in a school restroom in Decatur, Ga. ADF has pushed this claim despite a review by school officials and social service agencies that concluded the allegation was unfounded. ADF hyped this even though the person that made this allegation was a parent publicly opposed to trans-inclusive school policies. This person had even stated so at a local school board meeting just a month before they made the accusation.

ADF’s case was so flimsy that a local news outlet, Decaturish.com, had refused to publish it. To top it all off, ADF’s alleged assailant doesn’t even identify as transgender but as a cisgender boy.

More about the Alliance Defending Freedom.  

LGBTQs Could Win the Midterms for the Democrats - Only if we get out there and vote our asses off. Our lives simply depend on it. 

As bad as it is, there’s even more damage that Trump can do to us - Repeat, our lives depend on it. 

Protesters unfurl giant transgender-rights banner at World Series - Good for them!

'Federal judge says 'bye girl' to lawsuit against Drag Queen Story Hour' & other Fri midday news briefs

Drag Queen Story Hour is popular with children and their parents. And that drives the religious right crazy.

Judge rejects conservative Christian group’s request to halt Drag Queen Story Hour - Good riddance to a DUMB lawsuit. The children love Drag Queen Story Hour. Their parents love Drag Queen Story Hour. Eat it, religious right. 

1,500 Parents of Trans Kids Send Letter To Trump-Pence Denouncing Attempt to Erase Trans People - "The parents, speaking for the thousands of families of transgender children across the country, write, “As parents, all we want is for our children to be safe, healthy, and fulfilled. Our children have our unconditional love, and many have the support of a loving community of friends, peers, teachers, coaches, and other allies. Sadly, however, our children also face ostracization and discrimination in far too many places. We fear every day that our children will encounter bullies -- but we never imagined that the most threatening bullies would be in the White House.”"

Matthew Shepard Will Be Laid To Rest 20 Years After His Brutal Murder - Nothing I can say about this which hasn't been said. Siiiiigh.  

Trump administration just laid out its legal argument against trans rights — it’s hot garbage - MERCY!

Gay immigrant freed on bond nine months after ICE arrest in West Philly - The struggle is real and it is international.

Franklin Graham thinks his religion makes him an authority on science

Because of their support of him in the 2016 election, Trump has allowed conservative evangelicals leaders to gain access in his Administration. And due to this, many of them are out of control in terms of attempting to force policy on the rest of us. Many of them are blurring the lines between religion and politics.

None are more blatant about it than Franklin Graham. He has been supportive of Trump to the point of bending over backwards to dismiss his many faults. From time to time, he also sends proclamations to his over one million followers on twitter, like this one in which he sly infers that they should vote for Republicans in the upcoming midterm election or risk losing "religious liberty."

No one should buy the inevitable spin that Graham is merely taking advantage of his First Amendment rights. That is a lie and those who say it know this. Graham is exploiting his status as a highly prominent American religious leader to campaign for a political party.  He is adding a dangerous component to politics, i.e. the notion that voting for the "wrong" party is tantamount to sinning and God will punish you if you do. It is unethical on all counts and may be illegal. But who is going to demand that he be prosecuted for it? Who will attempt to stop him?

'GOP candidates go full homophobia, Franklin Graham embraces partisanship & abandons Christianity' & other Thur midday news briefs

Apparently, as we draw closer to the midterms, members of the GOP and their supporters are showing desperation, i.e. either pushing homophobia to scare voters or dropping all pretenses of piety:

An attack ad for an LGBTQ-friendly Republican shows a bizarre gay marriage - The ad, seen above, is disgusting. The comments are disabled for a reason.

How Dan Savage became an election issue in a Congressional race - It's getting deep in here.

And the pièce de résistance - Franklin Graham tweeted NOTHING about the terrorist threats yesterday via bombs mailed to Obama, Clinton, CNN, etc. Not a request to pray for whom the bombs were sent to or anything offering up sympathies. BUT he did send this lovely tweet out today:

Granted, if Graham sent out any prayers or sympathies in any other way, please let me know and I apologize beforehand if he did. All I know if Trump was sent this any of this stuff, Graham would be asking everyone pray, lay hands, speak in tongues, etc. As it stands now, Graham is so busy being partisan that he has forgotten to be Christian.

Democrats double down on Equality Act ahead of midterm elections - Meanwhile . . .

Trump’s anti-trans memo joins a long list of attacks against transgender people - Siiiigh! Pull up the list.

HRC - Trump's 'Erase Trans America' proposal could gut rights for the entire LGBTQ community

While the rest of the LGBTQ community must stand with our transgender brothers and sisters against Trump's awful proposal, we also need to understand the full stakes of it. According to this video by the Human Rights Campaign, Trump's proposal would not only create havoc for the transgender community but could also pave the way to take away rights from the entire LGBTQ community:

 

So-called Christian conservative burned four LGBTQ library books to protest equality' & other Wed midday news briefs

A Christian conservative burned four LGBTQ library books to protest equality - Oh yeah. LGBTQs and "the left" in general are the violent ones. Yet "Christian conservatives" are burning books and someone just tried to assassinate Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Soros. Not to mention blow up CNN (see post below):

Suspicious devices sent to Clintons, Obamas, CNN NY offices - This mess was on the edge when Clinton was in office (thank you Newt Gingrich) and really busted wide open when Obama became president. Fox News, Trump, etc - all of you are to blame. And let's not just make Fox News a big entity. Let's start naming individual pundits on that network who knew what they were doing. Words have an effect on people, assholes. 

LGBTQ Groups Confront Trump Officials About The Suffering Of Trans Kids In Tense Meeting - Oh snap! Take. No. Prisoners. 

Caitlyn Jenner Blasts Trump’s Trans Proposal As ‘Unacceptable Attack’ - Girlfriend, you are my sister and in the spirit of family, I have to frankly say WE TOLD YOUR ASS TRUMP WAS GONNA DO YOU DIRTY! 

Atlanta mayor claps back at Trump transgender erasure - Damn skippy!

Time Out - Let Stewie from 'Family Guy' make you laugh & cheer you up

For over a day, I've been posting news on Trump's awful 'Erase Trans America' proposal.  His nonsense has galvanized our community, but it has also depressed a lot of us. It emphasizes just how serious the situation is for our community nowadays. And to be honest, it brought back some awful memories for me. I think we all need something to make us laugh. Granted, our minds are still  on the fights ahead, but let's all just take it easy for a brief second and enjoy the following clip of my favorite character from the television series, 'Family Guy.'

'Trump claims his 'Erase Trans America' proposal is about protecting the country' & other Tue midday news briefs

Trump says transgender policy seeks to 'protect the country' - Huh? What kind of hooky-ass word salad bullshit is this? 

CDC chief on anti-trans memo: Stigma ‘not in the interest of public health’ - Even the man Trump appointed as the head of the Centers for Disease Control thinks Trump's "Erase Trans America" proposal is not a good idea. 

 Tony Perkins heads to Fox News to defend Trump administration's latest attack on trans rights - Meanwhile . . .  

These anti-LGBTQ group alumni work in federal agencies that will interpret potential anti-trans definition of gender - And this right here is scary for the entire LGBTQ community. Former employees of anti-LGBTQ hate groups working in areas of the federal government which overlooks justice, health, and education.

 A foster agency wants to discriminate against non-Christian parents - Told ya it was about more than a cake. 

LGBTQ acceptance is a 'partisan issue,' GLAAD survey of candidates finds - Well duuuuh.

Family Research Council tries to quell firestorm caused by Trump's 'Erase Trans America' proposal

Trump has got the LGBTQ community galvanized against him and the Family Research Council is scared.

You can count the Family Research Council as another entity (i.e. group or person) angry about the Trump Administration's  "Erase Trans America" proposal. However, seeing that it is the Family Research Council, the anger is not at anyone in the Trump Administration, but the New York Times for breaking the story:

No one is "defining transgenders out of existence." What President Trump is doing is following the law -- which, after eight years of Barack Obama's overreach, is suddenly a shocking concept. Under the last administration, liberals were so used to the president twisting the rules to suit the Left's agenda that it's news when Donald Trump decides to operate within the plain text of law. As far as the New York Times is concerned, the most "drastic" thing any president could do is bring America back in line with legal statutes. And this non-story that's setting the far-Left's hair on fire is nothing more than that.

In Sunday's piece, a trio of reporters argues that the Trump administration is disenfranchising people by defining gender as it always has been: a "biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth." No one is quite sure how that's radical, since it's how the law has been understood both before and since 1964. Not a single president questioned it until Obama, who decided that he didn't care what the Civil Rights Act said. He was going to "reinterpret" the 54-year-old law on "sex" discrimination to mean "sexual orientation" and gender identity too.

That's how the Obama administration justified its gender-confused school bathroom and shower mandate. They argued that people who identify as transgender were somehow part of the broad umbrella of "sex" outlined in the law in 1964. But, as FRC and others argued, sexual orientation wasn't on the minds of legislators 54 years ago when it was trying to weed out prejudice -- and more importantly, it wasn't in the text of the law it passed! Even the courts, where liberals turn when the public isn't on board with its extremism, called it a bridge too far. A half-century ago, Judge Reed O'Connor ruled, "Congress did not understand 'sex' to include 'gender identity.'" . . .

Trump Administration plan to erase the trans community is politically-driven bullshyte

Roger Severino, HHS official and one of the parties leading the Trump Administration's effort to erase the trans community.

Unless you are living in a cave, you already know about the Trump Administration's brazen attempt to erase the transgender community. Here is the breakdown in a way we should know and repeat:

Trump’s Religious Right Team Schemes to Legally Erase Trans Identity - PFAW's Right Wing Watch calls it right.

1. Who is behind it:

The push by the Department of Health and Human Services to impose a trans-denying definition of “sex” onto federal civil rights law “would essentially eradicate federal recognition” of an estimated 1.4 million transgender Americans, according to the Times story.

The effort is being led by Roger Severino, who has taken the anti-LGBT agenda of his former employer, the Heritage Foundation, into the Trump administration as director of the civil rights division at HHS. When he was named to that position, a dozen U.S. senators objected, citing Severino’s “long history of making bigoted statements toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and attacking women’s access to health care services and reproductive rights.”

2. The mindset of behind this proposal is politically-driven

One of Severino’s former colleagues at the Heritage Foundation, Ryan Anderson, is at the forefront of the Religious Right’s anti-trans crusade. Anderson’s latest book is “When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment.” Anderson argues that gender cannot be severed from biological sex, and that “taking our sexual embodiment seriously in public policy is not discriminatory.”

That language is strikingly similar to Anderson’s approach to sexual orientation, suggesting that if Religious Right activists in the Trump administration are successful in wiping out legal recognition based on gender identity, they may be willing to try the same with regard to sexual orientation.

Anderson is not a conservative willing to seek “compromise” in the form of religious exemptions to non-discrimination laws. He says that “sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) laws” are “bad public policy” and argues against legal protection for LGBTQ people from discrimination

'Anti-LGBTQ group in TX spending $1 million to scare midterm voters' & other Fri midday news briefs

Anti-LGBTQ group in Houston spending $1 million to scare voters

Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group to Spend $1M on Ads Supporting GOP Candidates in Houston - Well as a gay man, I was beginning to feel left out of the madness that is this year's midterm. I guess I'm not supposed to feel that way any longer.  The old gimmicks of homophobia never really die and never actually go away.

Editor's note - And just in case this story hits big, the following link answers all of your questions about the event in the center of the anti-LGBTQ attack - Drag Queen Story Hour. It's a perfectly harmless, educational event and parents of the children who attend approve. Some of the parents attend themselves.

Justice Dept. Rank-and-File Tell of Discontent Over Sessions’s Approach - Contained in this excellent New York Times article on how AG Jeff Sessions is bringing down morale in the Justice Department (due to his pursuit of his own personal agenda even to the point of ignoring advice from lawyers in the department) is a seriously damaging passage on how he chose to attack the transgender community:

In stripping protections last year for transgender people under the Civil Rights Act, Mr. Sessions consulted no departmental experts, leaving out Diana Flynn, the head of the civil rights appellate division who led the effort to add the protections in 2014, and many of her career staff.The process left little room for debate. “Edicts came down, and it was up to us to try to implement them,” said Ms. Flynn, who has left the Justice Department for Lambda Legal, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal aid organization.

In addition:

 Internal events intended to boost morale have also proved tense. Guy Benson, a Fox News commentator, was chosen to speak at a gay pride event over the objections of the department’s L.G.B.T. affinity group, DOJ Pride, Justice Department lawyers said. DOJ Pride members held a separate event, where one employee spoke about how progress for L.G.B.T. Americans had regressed under Mr. Trump. Department officials would not comment on the episode. 

Men and Christians experience higher amounts of discrimination than other groups, Trump voters claim ...more than women, LGBTQ people, Muslims, or non-white people. - Ahem . . . bullshit!  

This bisexual Republican politician is switching parties thanks to Trump - Way to go, girlfriend!

Navy Officer’s Wife and Daughter Help During Her Promotion Ceremony - This is sooooo cute! I LOVE this!

Ad says vote Republican in Nov to keep white women & Democrats from lynching black men

From the same mindset which thought it could get African-American voters to abandon Obama because of his support of marriage equality comes this ad running in Arkansas. It exploits the recent Kavanaugh hearing in order to target black voters. To put it nicely, it's the most incredibly offensively racist ad I have ever heard. As a matter of fact, I would like to expand more about how this ad makes me feel, but there aren't words vulgar enough to articulate how I truly feel. Just listen to it. (Editor's note - If you can't see the ad, click here) :

This is a real radio ad currently running in Arkansas in support of Republican Congressman French Hill on radio stations targeted to the African American community. I don't even have words to describe it. pic.twitter.com/vpzt1nGPlc

— (((Ben Tribbett))) (@notlarrysabato) October 18, 2018

And who is behind this mess you ask (after probably picking yourself up from the floor)? This group right here (Editor's note - click here if the tweet below isn't showing):

"Paid for by Black Americans for the President's Agenda"https://t.co/yWJ6WcA1aU

32 likes on Facebookhttps://t.co/d9zgzoTRHy

Among the black Americans supporting the President's agenda on Facebook?

Easy E, who's been dead for 23 years. pic.twitter.com/lmaAuF3x15

— Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) October 18, 2018

It just goes to show why the LGBTQ and African-American community can't be truly accepted by the GOP. It thrives on making people fear LGBTQs  and attempting to make African-Americans fear everyone else.


UPDATE - That didn't take long at all. The ad is causing a huge controversy with Rep. Hill disavowing it.

'Judicial loophole gives anti-LGBTQ activist $1.2 million payday' & other Thur midday news briefs

Kelvin Cochran will receive a huge settlement from the city of Atlanta even though he lost his case.

He was fired for spreading antigay hate. His former boss just gave him a $1.2 million payday. - One of the religious right's "religious liberty martyr,"  former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran, just got a fat settlement, but not because he won a court case. He didn't.

(Cochran) sued the city and lost his case last year, when the judge found that the city had not discriminated against him because he’s a Christian and had ample reason to fire him. But the judge’s ruling left open the possibility for further litigation when it comes to the city’s pre-clearance policy, which was mentioned in Cochran’s termination letter. The policy requires that city employees get clearance for outside-of-work speech like publishing books, which the judge said may be unconstitutional. It was this possible litigation that the Atlanta City Council decided to avoid with the settlement. 

In other words, because Cochran had the backing of a religious right legal group (the Alliance Defending Freedom) which could constantly keep the case in the courts and not cost him a penny, the city thought it was best to settle. It's not a loss for Atlanta, but simply a way to spray down a bug. 

Six ways to avoid being a 'slacktivist' on Spirit Day - It's Spirit Day! Stand up for our kids!  

Laverne Cox Describes Survivor’s Guilt She Experiences As A Black Trans Woman - A wonderful interview with a wonderful, trendsetting woman. 

 GOP lawmakers’ scores plummet on LGBTQ congressional scorecard - I haven't been THIS surprised since Leslie Jordan's character came out to Karen on 'Will and Grace.'

Anti-LGBTQ groups filing lawsuits hoping to take advantage of Kavanaugh being confirmed to SCOTUS

Kavanaugh

From Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade comes the news that the anti-LGBTQ industry is too hungry for court victories to even care about style points.  To say that they are happy that Kavanaugh is on SCOTUS seems to be an understatement:

Precisely on cue with the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, anti-LGBT groups have filed lawsuits challenging LGBT rights that may in the near future serve to test the new justice on his position on the issue.

The complaints — two filed in federal court, one filed in state court — were filed in Texas and seek to challenge the City of Austin’s LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. agency charged with federal employment civil rights law, over its interpretation of Title VII to prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in the workforce.

 . . . .Conspicuously, the two federal lawsuits were filed on Oct. 6, the exact date Kavanaugh was confirmed as a U.S. associate justice to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh won’t have a chance to act on the newly filed lawsuits anytime soon, but they will likely percolate through the courts, giving anti-LGBT groups the opportunity to file petitions for review.

The newly confirmed justice, chosen by President Trump from a list of potential nominees backed by the Federalist Society and the anti-LGBT Heritage Foundation, could be the fifth and deciding vote on whether to preserve LGBT rights if the petitions in the federal cases come before the Supreme Court. (The lawsuit in state court raising state claims will be left to Texas state court. Kavanaugh or the Supreme Court wouldn’t be asked to review the decisons.)

Now before you begin wringing your hands and spewing portents of doom, I suggest you do two things:

1. Read the article in its entirety.

2. Do not freak out and keep in mind that while it is (FINALLY) obvious to most that the right has a problem with defending their arguments in court and thereby have to create a rigged judiciary, that doesn't mean they are going to defeat us.  Their abandoning all pretenses of the morality and fairness will hurt them in the eyes of the public as long as we make an effort to point it out.

C-SPAN caller 'reads' conservative evangelical leader Tony Perkins for being a 'worshipper of Donald Trump'

For all of his whining about how opponents of him and his group won't debate, Family Research Council head Tony Perkins likes to insulate himself from having an actual debate. He tends to go on Fox News where he is pretty much pandered to. That's why what happened Tuesday on C-SPAN was a joy to watch. A caller confronts and "reads" Perkins to filth on how he and the evangelical right have perverted religion and sold out to Trump. Notice how Perkins sidesteps the caller's words in his answer:

.

'Randy Rainbow wrecks Melania Trump's 'Be Best' nonsense & other Tue midday news briefs

Pay attention to Randy Rainbow, brothers and sisters. He is using his queeny cattiness for good. Study and practice it like Green Lantern learned to use his power ring.

FRC attacks the SPLC - Reveals why it is considered a hate group - The Family Research Council accuses the Southern Poverty Law Center of attacking "Christian" parents. Yet another lie from the hate group.

Trump broke all of the promises he made to the LGBTQ community, but the media doesn't care enough to ask why - My post from last night cause I feel that it needs to be repeated and shared. "Promises made, promises kept" my black ass. Trump used the LGBTQ community then has attempt to feed us to the rabid wolves with the cross burned in their fur pelts.

Helping Pediatricians Care for Transgender Children - YES!!  

Debunking “Trans Women Are Not Women” Arguments - PREACH!!

Trump broke all of the promises he made to the LGBTQ community, but the media doesn't care enough to ask why

An annoying mantra constantly repeated by Trump supporters in praising his performance, particularly conservative evangelical groups and public figures, is "promises made, promises kept."

But that's a damn lie.

I remember that Trump, while running for office, made promises to the LGBTQ community (see the video above).

According to Newsweek:

During his 2016 presidential campaign, then-Republican candidate Donald Trump boasted his advocacy for LGBT Americans. "Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs," he wrote in a June, 2016 tweet.

This tweet below as a matter of fact:

The Newsweek article also points out that in his first year in office, Trump backpedaled on supporting the LGBTQ community, particularly calling for a ban on transgender men and women serving in the military. 

Vox goes into more detail as to all the ways the Trump Administration practically declared war on the LGBTQ community during his first year in office:

'Anti-LGBTQ activist compares Kavanaugh protests to Sodom and Gomorrah' & other Mon midday new briefs

Matt Barber

Matt Barber: Kavanaugh Protests Were Reminiscent Of Sodom And Gomorrah - It was bound to happen. Someone is linking the Kavanaugh protests to the so-called evil homosexual via the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. 
So if the folks protesting the sham of his appointment and hearing got their hands on him, they would have raped him? For someone who claims to detest so-called homosexual acts, Barber is reaching waaaay up in his tookis to pull out THIS point. 

These 3 anti-LGBTQ lawsuits outline new conservative strategy in Texas - Three "religious liberty" lawsuits planned within days of each other. No. It's not a plot or a conspiracy. It simply happened by accident . . .  

National Coming Out Day: 37 celebrities who’ve come out this year - THIS is wonderful! 

Philadelphia Archbishop: ‘Joy and wholeness’ requires denying existence of LGBTQ Catholics - I know lots of LGBTQ Catholics would disagree with this.

Eight Superheroes Who Are Openly LGBTQ

Especially for all of you superhero and comic book fans out there, here is something to ease us all into the chaos of Monday, i.e. another beginning of a week in the Trump regime. None of these characters surprise me, but with regards to number one, now you know the actual reason why he grabbed Colossus' butt cheeks in the movie:

'Lambda Legal having serious internal crisis' & other Friday midday news briefs

Lambda Legal, Which Won Key Court Victories For Marriage Equality, Is In Crisis -  At a time when we need all hands on deck to combat the Trump Administration, one of our best legal groups is having a crisis. This is the time when we need to band together and do what we can to support one another. 

This RuPaul’s Drag Race queen broke her hand punching a Nazi - Damn! I'm not one for violence, but the Nazi started it. I'm all for defending one's self. In addition, if you see one of your brothers and sisters being homophobically hassled . . .  kick ass now, film it later.

  Mack Beggs welcomed to his college men’s wrestling team with open arms - A transgender man joins a male wrestling team. And nothing negative happens. This would be the usual story if the anti-LGBTQ industry would back off. 

 Alliance Defending Freedom has lost its latest effort in a decade-long battle to prohibit marriage equality in Romania’s constitution - Money doesn't automatically buy haters a victory.

Vice President Pence's wife campaigned for candidate who favorably reminisced about when homosexuality was criminalized

Mark Harris

 If this election season gets any more "charming," I'm going to be ready for a straitjacket.

From Right Wing Watch:

Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, spent time this week in North Carolina campaigning for Mark Harris, a right-wing pastor who upset incumbent Rep. Robert Pittinger in the GOP primary in May.

Karen Pence was seemingly brought in to help Harris deal with fallout from recent controversy over comments Harris had made about women, such as emphasizing Bible verses requiring women to submit to their husbands and questioning whether women having careers is “healthy” for society. WFAE reported that “Pence came to Charlotte as the guest of the Women for Mark Harris Bus Tour,” which kicked off at the University of North Carolina’s Charlotte campus on Monday morning.

 . . . Harris is a member of the Family Research Council’s “Watchmen on the Wall” network who wants to push his extreme opposition to abortion rights and LGBT equality into law. One of his “staunchest supporters,” according to the Christian Broadcasting Network, is Christian nationalist David Lane, who has made it a priority to recruit conservative evangelical pastors to run for office.

As we noted after his primary win:

Not surprisingly, Harris has a track record of opposing LGBTQ equality and abortion rights. Harris was an ally of the anti-LGBTQ Benham brothers in opposition to a Charlotte nondiscrimination law, and he was a driving force behind the campaign that put a ban on same-sex couples getting married into the state constitution; his First Baptist Church contributed more than $50,000 to the campaign. Harris, who says being gay is “a choice,” has said the anti-equality amendment was not about discrimination but about “standing up for the values and principles that have been a part of the fabric of American society.”

In August, Media Matters unearthed video of Harris bemoaning, “We have watched in one generation where homosexuality was once criminalized to now we see the criminalization of Christianity.”

Let me guess about Mrs. Pence's participation in his campaign. She felt compelled because Harris reminded her so much of her husband. 

'Happy National Coming Out Day!, Why trans community is running for office in record numbers' & other Thur midday news briefs

Happy Coming Out Day!!!!

Law recognizes same-sex parents equally, regardless of biology, Hawaii Supreme Court rules - Good for Hawaii!  

A conservative writer attacked ‘gender theory.’ He only exposed his ignorance. - Glenn Stanton makes a fool of himself via his attacks on the LGBTQ community again.  

Gay out the vote this November - Damn right.

Four reasons why transgender people are running for office in record numbers - The success of the transgender community in recent elections has been a hidden story. Hopefully they will achieve more success in the upcoming midterms.

Family Research Council falsely accuses Hillary Clinton of encouraging death threats, assassinations

The Family Research Council falsely accuse Hillary Clinton of encouraging violence.

The minute I read that Hillary Clinton said something about today's political climate, I knew there would be trouble. I knew that whatever she said would be deliberately distorted. I didn't know that the Family Research Council would be the entity getting the "booby prize" for fearmongering.

First, let's recap. In a recent interview, Clinton said the following:

"You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about," Clinton said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "That's why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and or the Senate, that's when civility can start again. But until then, the only thing that the Republicans seem to recognize and respect is strength."

That was it. That's the quote which is now being distorted to claim that Clinton is advocating mob violence. I kid you not. Due to the fact that the GOP really doesn't have a message for the voters in the upcoming midterm election and the simple fact that just mentioning her name creates all sorts of negative emotions with its base, party members and their operatives have distorted Clinton's statement to brand her as the Madame DeFarge of the midterms. The only thing they are missing in their accusations is claiming that Clinton is making a list of targets in her "knitting."

And as I mentioned earlier, if any one person or group was in the running for the grand prize of hysteria in that department, it would be anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council:

If you're looking for respect from the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton says you've come to the wrong place. In a damaging sit-down with CNN, the former First Lady didn't do the Left any favors when she insisted that liberals should only act decently when they're winning. (Something her interview may have just put on hold indefinitely.)

"You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about," Clinton said to the gasps of plenty in her own party. "That's why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and/or the Senate, that's when civility can start again." But given what we've seen over the last two years I don't think the Left is even capable of civility at this point! We've seen leftists call for the assassination of the president, Brett Kavanaugh, and issued death threats to Senate Republicans. And instead of condemning the aggression, one of the faces of the Democratic Party is encouraging more of it.

Assassinations? Death threats? Really? How can anyone actually glean any of that from Clinton's statement? In no way, shape, or form can anyone rationally believe that Clinton was calling for or encouraging violence of any sort. Of course seeing who now occupies the White House and how his supporters are turning flips to justify all of his incompetent actions, it wouldn't be a lie to say rationality exited the picture a long time ago.

'TX pastors file silly lawsuit against city over non-discrimination ordinance' & other Wed midday news briefs

Texas pastors file federal lawsuit seeking license to discriminate against LGBTQ people - Someone is a bit too over exuberant over the supposed right-turn of SCOTUS. The irony of this case is that the pastors are suing the city over an ordinance by claiming that it doesn't have certain exemptions for churches. But the ordinance DOES IN FACT contain those exemptions. Get out the popcorn. BTW, I'm not posting this brief to hear portents of doom. Seriously folks, we are a powerful people and we can overcome an obstacle. 

UK Supreme Court Rules Unanimously for Evangelical Christian Baker in ‘Gay Cake’ Case - Now before everyone freaks out and the religious right distorts this case, let's reveal certain facts. The customer wanted a specific message on the cake and the baker refused. That's totally different than not baking a cake in general. 

John Carroll University student column argues against drag show, incites free speech debate - Oh lighten up. There is nothing wrong with a good drag show.  

'Drag kids' are slaying the runway — one 'fierce' look at a time - And I wholeheartedly support the drag kids. Drag performing takes skill, discipline, and extreme talent. Why not teach these things to children at a young age? 

 Perkins and Farris Join Dominionist Pre-Election Event to Boost Religious Right Turnout - A "religious" event led by hate group the Family Research Council designed to trick people into voting for the agenda of an incompetent, loudmouth charlatan who lies more than he breaths . .. and doing it for Jesus.

GOP official slurs LGBTQ & Native American communities with attack on Congressional candidate

Sharice Davids is trying to make history with her Congressional run. Unfortunately, she has to deal with mess like this Facebook message.

Instead-of a cohesive message celebrating their successes (because they don't have any which also equals success for the public), the GOP has decided to scare people into voting for them. Via Fox News and several representatives, the party is painting the Democrats as a crazed mob who can't change government the right way, so they are going to force change through violence.

It's an insulting and pathetic message and I don't think it will resonate. Also, some members of the GOP will probably slip and mess up the narrative.

Such as the case in Kansas :

A local Kansas GOP official lashed out at Democratic congressional candidate Sharice Davids on social media earlier this week, saying “your radical socialist kick boxing lesbian Indian will be sent back packing to the reservation.”

The Facebook message was written by Republican precinct committeeman Michael Kalny of Shawnee and sent to Anne Pritchett, president of the Johnson County Democratic Women’s north chapter.

“Little Ms. Pritchett- you and your comrades stealth attack on Yoder is going to blow up in your leftist face,” Kalny wrote. “The REAL REPUBLICANS will remember what the scum DEMONRATS tried to do to Kavanaugh in November. Your radical socialist kick boxing lesbian Indian will be sent back packing to the reservation.”

 . . . Davids is running against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder for the hotly contested 3rd congressional district seat.

If she wins in November, Davids, a lawyer and amateur mixed-martial arts fighter, would become the first ever openly gay member of the Kansas Congressional delegation, as well as the first female Native American lawmaker in Washington.

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article219720280.html#storylink=cpy

Naturally, Kalny has been condemned all around, including by other Republicans.  Obviously the GOP is scared about that seat. Trump has said worse things and they generally celebrate him for "speaking his mind."


Hat tip to my friend Joe Sudbay.

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article219720280.html#storylink=cpy

'CA Republican steals transgender veteran's photo for ugly attack ad' & other Tue midday news briefs

Nasty and disrespectful way to treat those who fight for our freedoms.

California Republican steals transgender veteran’s photo for campaign attack - First folks on the opposite side of our equality want to take our tax dollars while discriminating against us. Now they want to exploit our faces and images. Tacky as hell.  

Gay Comedian Sampson McCormick Will Make History on Coming Out Day - Sampson is a wonderful comedian and definitely deserves this honor. McCormick will headline a Coming Out Day event at the National Museum of African-American History in Washington D.C., on Thursday, October 11. The event will celebrate the contributions of black queer art of the Harlem Renaissance; McCormick will be the first LGBTQ comic to ever perform at a Smithsonian museum.  

Black History Month: 5 black LGBT heroes who fought for equal rights - Goes without saying. A few of these folks even I wasn't aware of. 

Victory! Hawai`i Supreme Court Upholds Parenting Rights and Responsibilities of Married Same-Sex Couples - Good news! Under the radar but still good news. 

GLAAD is accepting nominations for its 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards - calling ALL LGBTQ blogs! You can nominate yourself and GLAAD is waiving the admission fee for LGBTQ blogs. As a past recipient of a GLAAD Media Award (that just brought a delightful chill down my spine), I can tell you that even being nominated is a huge honor. And winning is like  . . .  wheeeew!!! It's been over a year and there is a part of me which still isn't down from the high.

'Designing Women' goes looking for a lesbian

It's Monday and I should be revving up to give hell to the anti-LGBTQ industry but sometimes a queen needs a little more time to get himself together. So I will let my friend Matt Baume handle the blog spot tonight featuring this landmark episode of  Designing Women:

When we think about gay characters on sitcoms, we usually picture people in big Northern cities. But season four of Designing Women features an unusual southern and conservative take on having queer friends. And it also set the stage for Ellen’s coming out episode, just a few years later.

'Taylor Swift endorses two Democrats in Tennessee races because of LGBTQ & women's rights' & other Mon midday news briefs

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift calls out a Republican for opposing LGBTQ rights - Taylor Swift made a huge political statement last night, causing a welcomed controversy. She said she endorses the Democratic candidates in the TENN races during midterms because of LGBTQ & women's issues. She also called out GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn for her lack of support of women's issues.

Taylor Swift endorses two Democratic candidates in Tennessee races - More on this situation. What this will do  to the races is not known. But it makes things more interesting.

Education Dept. to investigate hate group’s claim that transgender inclusion caused alleged assault - Anatomy of an Alliance Defending Freedom smear. I posted this before but I am reposting it because I encourage everyone to read it on an analytical basis. THIS is how the Alliance Defending Freedom undermine LGBTQ rights. Notice how the hate group puts a regular person up front as the face and voice of its cause, just like it did with the baker Jack Phillips in the Masterpiece case. The difference is that in this case, ADF is up against a school district which has its ducks in a row and its facts gathered. HOWEVER, the Trump Administration's education department is "investigating" and count on the woman in the video below to be interviewed unchallenged in the media, such as Fox News and 'The View," just like the baker Jack Phillips was. And we all know how that turned out.

Black Mothers Of LGBTQ Children Need Space To Share Their Experiences - YES!  

Record number of U.S. cities earn perfect scores for LGBTQ equality - Color me surprised.

Anti-LGBTQ hate group giddy that Kavanaugh confirmed for SCOTUS

Hate group leader Tim Wildmon of the American Family Association

Well it happened Saturday.

Brett Kavanaugh is the newest SCOTUS justice. It was an ugly fight and he barely got 50 votes. What it means for the court remains to be seen, but a few anti-LGBTQ hate groups and homophobic personalities are giddy over it. Rather than go down the line, I will share only what the American Family Association had to say. Apparently the site Mediaite, which generally hardly ever focuses on these groups, reported on it:

AFA President Tim Wildmon, son of AFA founder Donald Wildmon also chimed in. He said, in the release, “Brett Kavanaugh is a constitutional judge who will adhere to the original intent of our Founding Fathers. Despite the sleazy tactics used against Judge Kavanaugh, he has weathered the storm. His confirmation will have a positive impact for generations to come. Issues important to the American Family Association, such as sanctity of life and religious freedom, are taking on an even greater importance in our culture, and how the Supreme Court rules in these matters will affect every American for decades to come.”

The younger Wildmon continued, saying, “Liberals desperately want absolute control of the courts to continue their full-throttled attack to destroy America. Democrats, for example, want to use the courts to create open borders, to force people of faith to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs, and to allow boys who think they are girls into public school restrooms designated for girls only. This effort will not stop at the lower courts, even in light of Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.” 

They are careful to not say it directly, bu they are hoping that Kavanaugh would be the deciding vote to overturn Roe v Wade, be a roadblock to LGBTQ rights, and maybe overturn marriage equality. That's why right-wing and conservative groups were pushing so hard for him and spending the dark money to get him through. Read all about how one group, the Judicial Crisis Network, spent millions to get him on the court.

In contrast, the LGBTQ community got what we have so far the right way. We went through the long process and proved in a court of law that we were deserving of the rights we have, including marriage. We didn't need to spend money pretending to be an objective news source or coordinating talking points with other fake news sources, shameless pundits, astroturfed supporters, and propaganda networks. We didn't have to rig the game by pushing for partisan individuals to serve on the courts because we, unlike those who oppose us having any rights,  were able to prove our cases. Our arguments were sound.   They were truth. And no matter who is on the courts, we aren't about to give up what we earned without a fight. Right is on our side.


Related post: Pro-Kavanaugh Councilman: ‘Better Get Your Coat Hangers Ready’ - not necessarily LGBTQ-centered but it's a nasty view into how some on the right views Kavanaugh's selection. This and the post above regarding the AFA are than enough reasons to storm the voting booth en masse on election day in November so we can begin the process of righting the ship other folks turned upside down

'Anti-LGBTQ hate group happy about Kavanaugh cloture vote' & other Fri midday news briefs

FRC head Tony Perkins hopes that having Kavanaugh on SCOTUS will rig it against LGBTQ equality.

Sad update - Susan Collins will be supporting Kavanaugh, pretty much assuring his place on SCOTUS.  She is trying to assuage negative feelings by assuring folks that Kavanaugh won't harm marriage equality. LGBTQ groups aren't buying it. And based on the news briefs below, they shouldn't.



BREAKING: Senate votes to advance to final Brett Kavanaugh confirmation vote - The Senate has voted to advance final Kavanaugh vote. This sets up a huge and UGLY fight tomorrow to see if he is confirmed as the newest SCOTUS judge. Aside from the nasty situation regarding alleged incidents of sexual assaults dogging Kavanaugh is the fact that he was handpicked by right-wing groups such as the Federalist Society and anti-LGBTQ groups. Their arguments against such things as Roe V. Wade and marriage equality have failed to convince the judiciary. So why not rig the judiciary. Regardless, we will not lose, no matter who may be on the courts.

Family Research Council Applauds Senate Cloture Vote to Advance Kavanaugh Nomination - Anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council is practically wetting itself in anticipation of the homophobic mayhem it can possibly cause with Kavanaugh on the bench.

 Trump Administration briefed anti-LGBTQ hate group leader about Kavanaugh investigation, raising ethical questions - As my post last night demonstrated, another anti-LGBTQ hate group, the Alliance Defending Freedom, is behind the scenes being briefed by the Trump Administration about Kavanaugh. ADF has in the past and will in the future be arguing cases in front of SCOTUS.

Education Dept. to investigate hate group’s claim that transgender inclusion caused alleged assault - Meanwhile, the Department of Education is making a move regarding the rights of transgender students in our schools. And it's not a good one. Guess what anti-LGBTQ hate group (see news brief above) has its hands deep in this muck.

My opinion about tomorrow's vote - I say this vote is gonna be strange. Collins wants to officially announce her final vote today and Murkowski voted loudly against cloture. NOTHING seems to be definite. Regardless of whatever happens, don't get so depressed or get so happy that you forget that this is only one step in a long march. Let whatever happens motivate you to work for the blue wave in November. And don't get distracted by gaslighting, concern trolling, or anything else thrown at you. Use your emotions and don't let your emotions use you.

Trump Administration briefed anti-LGBTQ hate group leader about Kavanaugh investigation, raising ethical questions

From Media Matters:

In a since-deleted Facebook post, Michael Farris, president of the influential and extreme anti-LGBTQ group Alliance Defending Freedom, wrote today that the White House had called him “with information about the Kavanaugh-FBI investigation” not long after U.S. senators received the FBI’s report on the matter. Farris and his organization argued twice before the Supreme Court over the last session, and ADF has played a role in more than 50 other cases at the high court.

 . . .  It is not clear who at the White House contacted Farris or why they would be giving such information to him, particularly as he and his group are likely to argue in the future before the Supreme Court, which could include a Justice Kavanaugh.

One reason for alarm about Farris receiving private information from the White House about the Supreme Court confirmation process is that he and his group have argued before the high court several times before and are very likely to do so again, meaning they will be particularly affected by the nomination decision.  . . .  The Supreme Court ruled in favor of ADF’s client, NIFLA, a network of fake health clinics. The court also ruled in favor of another ADF client during the past session in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case, determining that the commission had shown “hostility” to a Christian baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. The ruling was considered narrow and did not indicate how the court should rule on other cases regarding religious discrimination. The Department of Justice issued an unusual brief in favor of ADF’s client.

 . . .  While it is not surprising that Farris and ADF are in contact with the White House about sensitive matters, it raises ethical questions for the White House to contact them with private information that will directly affect ADF’s work as the group continues to push for discriminatory policies through the courts. Farris’ deletion of the post only adds to those questions.

 

'Poll says Americans more likely to shop at business which take a pro-LGBTQ equality stand' & other Thur midday news briefs

Putting $$ where your values are: 68% would shop at businesses that back LGBTQ equality - This kernel of good news got lost in the Kavanaugh mess. Something to put perspective in through the din of overpaid punditry and dismal concern trolling: 

More than two-thirds of Americans say they would be likely to dole out their dollars at businesses that take a public stand for LGBTQ equality, a survey released Wednesday shows. . . . Seven out of 10 Americans also say a federal law is needed to protect LGBTQ people from bias in employment, public accommodations, housing and credit, according to the Harris Poll done in conjunction with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to workplace equality. 

 Across U.S., several colleges open 'clothing closets' for trans students - Even in this climate, all is never lost. Seemingly small acts of kindness reap huge benefits for us all.  

Facebook admits to blocking gay adverts - Shame, shame, shame. 

Trump’s Latest Attack On Same-Sex Couples Is Exactly What His Base Wants - Of course it is. Let's not get discouraged over what we can do, however.