Hate group claims the Equality Act would force gays to be hired at places where children congregate

The American Family Association is telling more lies about the Equality Act

The Democrats in the House of Representatives are set to pass the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit, and the jury system.

But hate group the American Family Association calls it a "religious liberty wrecking ball" (complete with the lovely graphic of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi channeling Miley Cyrus from the "Wrecking Ball" video) and gives the following reasons why:

Female business owners, customers, and employees would then be forced to share their privacy in restrooms and dressing rooms with men who claim to be women. 

Health care providers and professionals would be forced to perform gender transition procedures (sex changes) and provide medical services (hormone therapy) that would violate their moral and religious convictions. 

Amusement parks, recreation centers, skating rinks, and daycare centers, etc. will be forced to employ people whose values on sexuality deviates from those of the employer. 

Adoption and foster care agencies will be forced to place children into same sex households and into homes of individuals suffering from gender confusion. 

College and professional sports stadiums would be required to open its restrooms to either sex.

The usual inane lies about the transgender community (i.e. transgender predator nonsense)  and gaslighting that people would be "forced" to do their jobs is bad enough, but the following reason really caught my attention:

Amusement parks, recreation centers, skating rinks, and daycare centers, etc. will be forced to employ people whose values on sexuality deviates from those of the employer.

Bear in mind that the AFA tries to couch this objection with the notion that the employer may not want to hire members of the LGBTQ community "because of his/her values" but the question has to be why did AFA spotlight these particular professions.

Most likely it's because these are places where children congregate.

So basically the AFA is saying that if the employers of places where children congregate have a problem with hiring members of the LGBTQ community, the problem lies with a law which wouldn't allow them to discriminate instead of them  having such irrational prejudices (which they can hide behind religious beliefs) about members of the LGBTQ community being around children.

It's no doubt intended to be a sly way to hide the "gays are a danger to children" lie behind the veneer of "religious liberty." If you ask me though, it comes across as rather sloppy.

But that picture of Nancy Pelosi is rather cute.

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'State Dept goes to court to take away birthright citizenship of gay couple's son' & other Wed midday news briefs

US State Dept. Goes to Court Again to Try to Tear Apart This Married Same-Sex Couple’s Twins - Disgusting. There is no need for the State Dept. to do this. 

Equality Bill vote expected next week in House, but what will happen when it hits the Senate? - We don't know. 

There are four things business leaders can do immediately to fight anti-LGBTQ laws - Amen! Write this down.

Trans people could lose access to health care if this large hospital joins a Catholic network - Ugh!!

Hate group leader Tony Perkins falsely blames gay soldiers for military sexual assaults

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council blames gays for military sexual assaults without having any proof.

Hate group leader Tony Perkins (of the Family Research Council) claims to know who's to blame for a rise in sexual assaults in the military - gay soldiers.

From Pink News:

Perkins, who Trump appointed to sit on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, hit out at gay soldiers after a report found that reports of sexual assault in the military have risen by 38 percent since 2016. 

The data from the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office found that female troops ages 17 to 24 were at the highest risk of being assaulted. 

Female troops are six times more likely than men to be assaulted, and 96 percent of female respondents identified the alleged offenders as male. 

However, Perkins claims that the problems are the fault of President Barack Obama, for permitting gay troops into the armed forces after the 2012 repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in 2012.

Interestingly enough, Perkins doesn't provide proof of his charges. He said the following:

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan said Thursday that these are "persistent challenges" for the Pentagon. "To put it bluntly, we are not performing to the standards and expectations we have for ourselves or for each other. This is unacceptable." As much as military leaders are trying to crack down on the problem, the reality is, there's only so much they can do. Unfortunately, most of these men and women aren't just victims of assault -- but of the sexually-charged environment that's been forced on them. Jackie Speier can complain all she wants, but in the end, she's blaming the military for a problem her party helped create. She voted to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" too, so it's a little late to be grumbling about the consequences. 

Back then, Democrats like her shrugged off the possibility that repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would have any impact on the ranks and are even now trying to resurrect Obama's Operation Transgender, which President Trump has moved to overturn. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to understand that when Congress introduced even more sexual tension into the troops, it put thousands of men and women in defenseless and compromising positions. To the relief of most Americans, President Trump has done everything he can to roll back the social engineering of the Obama years. We continue to be grateful that he had the backbone to roll back the gender confusion the last administration tried to inject into the military in 2016. But on some issues -- like this one -- it's tough to put the genie back in the bottle. 

The Left spent Barack Obama's entire presidency sexualizing the military, beginning with the repeal of DADT -- and continuing with the push for open transgenderism. Almost a decade later, I guess "we told you so" isn't a message his party wants to hear.

You will notice that for all of the gloating Perkins did, the one thing he did NOT do was to provide proof of his charges. The data he referenced didn't blame gay or transgender soldiers. I don't think Perkins cared though. Automatically blaming the LGBTQ community for sexual assaults in the military is an old distortion by  Perkins and FRC. The group made the accusation in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. And every time, these accusations were made without the courtesy of having any proof.

None of this makes any sense whatsoever, but since when did Perkins or FRC yield to sense and miss a chance to point a finger of blame at the LGBTQ community?

'TX businesses oppose 'license to discriminate' legislation' & other Tue midday news briefs

 TX businesses don't want this discriminatory mess.

Business Leaders Oppose 'License To Discriminate' Against LGBT Texans - Dang right!

Here’s Your Guide to Mike Pence’s Anti-LGBTQ Record - A little reminder never hurts.

Ellen’s interview with the Mormon valedictorian who came out at graduation left viewers in tears - This is wonderful. 

All The 2019 Met Gala Red Carpet Photos You Need To See - Frivolous, yes. But we all need a little frivolity now and then.

Hate group wants you to soothe Franklin Graham's wounded ego

The American Family Association wants you to soothe Franklin Grahams' wounded ego.

I think we can file this one under "Gee, guys. You aren't helping."

Recently, Franklin Graham faced a firestorm of criticism over he made about openly gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Much of the criticism pointed out the hypocrisy of Graham attacking Buttigieg's sexual orientation as being sinful while simultaneously heaping praises on Donald Trump, whose behavior as president hasn't been exactly Christian.

The criticism was so intense that it led Graham to meekly backtrack. But now the hate group known as the American Family Association has a petition online asking folks to support Graham and show him a little love:

Last week, Rev. Franklin Graham came under fire for his support of President Donald Trump. 

National Review writer David French has wrongly accused Franklin Graham of having a double standard by not being openly critical of President Trump's past while being public in his criticism of other politicians. 

French cites Graham's criticism of the moral failings of former President Bill Clinton and Presidential contender and South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigie. In his biased brand of yellow journalism, French unjustly contends that by not holding President Trump to the same moral standard, Graham has lost his influence as an evangelical witness. 

Certainly, no one would agree that President Trump's past is a perfect model of morality, but French has attacked and mischaracterized Mr. Graham's integrity by unjustly comparing apples to oranges. Since our current president has taken the oath of public office, he has come nowhere near the glaring moral indecencies of Clinton while he served in office. Buttigieg is an open homosexual who claims God made him "gay" and is a better Christian because of it. 

Graham is unquestionably a godly man of impeccable integrity. His decades of faithfulness to the gospel and the Great Commission are what make him one of America’s most beloved men. 

This character assassination by David French is unconscionable and should not go unchallenged. 

I urge you to stand with us in showing our appreciation and love for Franklin Graham by signing our petition to this great man of God.

No doubt AFA will get lots signatures on this petition, but I'm all for it.

Graham got rightfully ratioed because of his hypocrisy. And with sentences like Since our current president has taken the oath of public office, he has come nowhere near the glaring moral indecencies of Clinton while he served in office, the AFA is merely show its own hypocrisy as well as the hypocrisy of anyone who signs this petition.

Unless, that is, you forget all of Trump's misdeeds. His over 1,000 lies, his obstruction of the Russia investigation, his refusal to release his tax returns, his callous behavior towards Puerto Rico after the hurricane, his lies and attacks on immigrants, his praising of dictators, etc, etc.

It doesn't matter how many people AFA gets to sign its petition because the petition is a lie. It's a piece of pandering crap designed to soothe Graham's wounded ego. But neither 100 nor one million signatures will remove the stain and stench of hypocrisy from Graham. It's something he rightfully earned.

Trump's HHS official Roger Severino has long history of anti-LGBTQ activism

This video was made last year, but it is very pertinent to events happening currently to the LGBTQ community. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump Administration announced what it called a "religious freedom" rule which would allow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers to opt out of providing services or procedures which they claim would violate their faith. This rule could negatively affect LGBTQ health, particularly those with HIV and the transgender community.

That's why the city of San Francisco is suing to block it, calling the rule extremely broad. The video above focuses HHS official Roger Severino, one of the people behind this rule. It shows that based upon his history of anti-LGBTQ activism before coming to HHS, our community probably does have a lot to fear from this "religious freedom" rule.

One more thing - at 6:12, that is the Heritage Foundation's Ryan T. Anderson with Severino. Anderson also has a very long history of anti-LGBTQ activism, including publishing a junk science book attacking the transgender community.

'Brunei won't enforce anti-gay death penalty' & other Mon midday news briefs

BREAKING: Sultan of Brunei says country will not enforce its anti-gay death penalty - A victory for us. For now. It shows the power of the boycott but will our people be safe?

Furman professor: Many LGBTQ students in SC are harassed. More must be done to protect them - Yep. So true.

Fox anchor Shannon Bream hosts another anti-LGBTQ group figure: Heritage's Kay Coles James - Bream strikes again. But this interview will haunt James. Trust me. She claims to have a gay son, but yet is employed by an organization which undermines LGBTQ equality. 

Pete Buttigieg Is Exposing Tensions In The LGBTQ Movement - They were already there. Now let's have a nice conversation.

Madonna honors LGBTQ community with emotional speech at 30th annual GLAAD awards

GLAAD held the second half of its 30th annual awards show Saturday night and though I didn't win 'Outstanding Blog,' I am happy that the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents (led by my good friend Susan Kerr) won. Other award recipients included Janelle Monae, Don Lemon, and the television show Pose.

But the big story was the stirring speech from Madonna, who received the 'Advocate for Change' award:

"Why have I always fought for change? That's a hard question to answer," she said. "It's like trying to explain the importance of reading, or the need to love. Growing up, I always felt like an outsider, like I didn't fit in. It wasn't because I didn't shave under my armpits -- I just didn't fit in, OK. 

"The first gay man I ever met was named Christopher Flynn. He was my ballet teacher in high school and he was the first person that believed in me, that made me feel special as a dancer, as an artist and as a human being. I know this sounds trivial and superficial, but he was the first man to tell me I was beautiful."

You can see another portion of what she said above. The entire speech itself (though not released) was incredible.

Go here for a complete list of 30th annual GLAAD Award recipients

Trump's announced 'Conscience Rule' could threaten LGBTQ health

Trump just stabbed the LGBTQ community in the ribs yet again.

It seems that every time the National Day of Prayer rolls around, Trump uses it to gouge the LGBTQ community and thus get in good with right-wing evangelicals. This year is no different.

From The Advocate:

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced its final “conscience rule” excusing health care personnel from participating in procedures to which they have religious or moral objections. 

Activists have warned that the rule could jeopardize health care for LGBTQ people, such as those seeking gender-confirmation procedures or HIV treatment and prevention services, as well as women seeking contraception or abortion. 

A draft of the rule was released in January 2018 so that HHS’s Office for Civil Rights could receive comments from the public on it. Donald Trump announced the finalization of the rule during a Rose Garden speech this morning for the National Day of Prayer, and HHS published the final rule on its website. 

 . . . “This final rule replaces a 2011 rule that has proven inadequate, and ensures that HHS implements the full set of tools appropriate for enforcing the conscience protections passed by Congress,” says an HHS press release. “These federal laws protect providers, individuals, and other health care entities from having to provide, participate in, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for, services such as abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide. It also includes conscience protections with respect to advance directives.” Notably, the Office for Civil Rights is run by Roger Severino, who has a history of anti-LGBTQ activism. 

Civil rights advocates have feared that the new rule will allow even those marginally involved in providing health care to opt out because of religious objections, therefore making it more difficult for patients to receive care. This rule could severely affect LGBTQ people living in rural areas where there are few health care options. 

“In an attempt to justify more discrimination against transgender people, HHS minimizes the very real pain exemptions like these have caused transgender people,” Gillian Branstetter, media relations manager at the National Center for Transgender Equality, told The Advocate via email. 

Speaking of Severino, the official most behind this monstrosity, Buzzfeed had this to say:

When asked what patients without many health care options were supposed to do if their hospital or health care provider refused to perform the procedures they were seeking, Severino repeatedly avoided the question, instead saying that the US had many health care options, and that “patients want doctors who match their values.”

One more thing about Severino - it is important to note that while he pushes this nonsense, his wife is actively working with another organization to get judges appointed who will uphold it.

This is not meant to scare or depress anyone. Just letting you know where we stand. When we know where we stand, we can begin to fight this. And we will win.

'In Tenn, anti-trans bills moves forward, LGBTQ adoption ban stalls' & other Thur midday news briefs

Tennessee moves forward on anti-trans bills, while LGBTQ adoption ban stalls - I only see this as a victory when all of the anti-LGBTQ bills have stalled.

Tennessee Kills Bill That Would Have Allowed LGBTQ Adoption Refusals For Now - More details about this.

Gay Chechen man with HIV seeks asylum in US - I hope he gets it.

‘Gay panic defense’ would end under proposed CT law - Good for Connecticut! 

It's Time for LBTQ Women to Claim Our Seats at the Table - Yep!

Equality Act approved by House Judiciary Committee

While overshadowed by other news coming out of DC, the following is still very significant.

From the Washington Blade:

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights laws.

The Equality Act, which U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in March, passed the committee by a 22-10 vote margin with all Republican committee members voting against it. The openly gay Rhode Island Democrat in a statement after the vote said “fairness and equality are core American values.” 

“This bill affirms those values and ensures members of the LGBTQ community can live their lives free from the fear of legal discrimination of any kind,” said Cicilline.

. . . The Equality Act would specifically add gender identity and sexual orientation to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act. 

The bill has 240 co-sponsors in the House from both sides of the aisle. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has introduced the Equality Act in the U.S. Senate. 

It’s time for Congress to add explicit federal LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections to our nation’s civil rights laws,” said the Human Rights Campaign in a tweet. Advocates have urged the full House to approve the Equality Act.

How important would the Equality Act be? Let the following video show you.

'How right-wing propaganda industry spread smear against Pete Buttigieg' & other Wed midday news briefs

Pete Buttigieg

Trump-endorsed One America News Network among right-wing amplifiers of Jacob Wohl's attempted smear of Pete Buttigieg - This is how the right-wing propaganda industry works. And they nearly took down Pete Buttigieg

Bryan Fischer: "In the homosexual community, one is called the bottom. The other is called the top. ... Neither of them is going to make it into the eternal kingdom." - I swear I wonder about that boy.

Teens Protest United Methodist Church’s Anti-LGBTQ Stance In Powerful Statement - Like so many times in the past, the children lead the way. 

From Nigel Shelby to Zion Wade, America must protect Black queer children - Amen.

Charlotte Observer: Franklin Graham is becoming 'irrelevant'

Franklin Graham

More negative fall out for Franklin Graham because of his criticism of presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's sexual orientation. His hometown newspaper, the Charlotte Observer issued a blistering reprimand, calling him irrelevant and hypocritical. Part of it reads as follows:

Graham is not the Christian leader he once was. He’s a man whose organization does wonderful work, but he’s also one whose words have become increasingly and gloriously irrelevant. 

In part, that’s because Graham’s perspective on homosexuality has been pushed to the fringe, but it’s also because of how he has marginalized himself with his vocal support of Donald Trump. Like other supposed faith leaders, Graham has been caught in the trap of politically supporting a man with so many moral failings. How do you tell a gay candidate to repent but utter hardly a peep about the philandering, dishonest man who now holds the office? There’s only one way to get past that inconsistency, and that’s to pretend it doesn’t exist. So Graham has chosen to do something that even many Trump supporters won’t do — he calls the president’s affairs “alleged” and exalts him as a defender of the faith. 

And like Trump, Graham has abandoned any pretense of moderation.

Ouch! That's gotta hurt.

'Franklin Graham backtracks in face of firestorm over Pete Buttigieg comments' & other Tue midday news briefs

Franklin Graham learned today.

Franklin Graham Says ‘I’m Not Condemning Anyone’ After Being Blasted for Telling Pete Buttigieg to ‘Repent’ Being Gay - Whatever. You got your ass spanked so now you want to act all nice. It's not going to work.

This is how Graham got spanked - Franklin Graham subject of brutal twitter ratio after condemning Pete Buttigieg's sexual orientation 

Republican pundit: Pete Buttigieg ‘made gayness an issue’ by kissing husband - Whatever, girlfriend. Have a seat. 

Powerful New Documentary Sheds Insight On Plight Of Transgender Inmates - A much needed documentary. 

Arizona Supreme Court rules judges can order treatment for trans kids if a parent doesn’t consent - Wonderful!

Randy Rainbow calls out Trump's AG in 'Barr!'

Randy Rainbow has something to sing about with regards to the recent release of the Mueller Report and Attorney General William Barr's attempt to minimize its findings in order to protect Trump. To say he's brutal would be an understatement. Via a musical take off of 'Belle' from the movie Beauty and the Beast,  our favorite musical satirist reads the principal guilty parties of this recent mess to filth.

'Hate group leader claims Equality Act will lead to pedophilia' & other Mon midday news briefs

Mat Staver

Liberty Counsel Founder Mat Staver lies that the Equality Act will "open the door to pedophilia" - When all else fails, anti-LGBTQ hate groups always pull the "gays want to recruit children" card.

Minnesota moves toward banning 'conversion therapy' but it's still legal in many states - Can Minnesota do it? I hope so. 

Trump administration may allow doctors to refuse to treat transgender patients - Ugly mess. But it's not over by a long shot.

Husband/wife tandem working to ensure discriminatory, religiously biased regulations of Trump Administration - This is a blog post I published in January but it speaks to the above article. A vicious individual, Roger Severino, is behind the nonsense regulations of the above story. Meanwhile his wife, Carrie Severino, is working to help Trump install judges more inclined to uphold the regulations in court rulings. 

Dear Franklin Graham, LGBTQ Christians Don’t Need Your Blessing - Preach!!

Former 'ex-gay' counselor denounces the fraudulent ministries

 Twenty-one years after launching a disastrous million-dollar “ex-gay” ad campaign, where virtually every leader featured has since come out of the closet, the extreme right wing is unveiling a new effort to rebrand these failed “pray away the gay” programs. The new glitzy campaign to recycle these mentally abusive ministries is called the Changed Movement with the hash tag #OnceGay. 

In response, Truth Wins Out released a new online ad  . . .  featuring former Love in Action Director John Smid. He was the real life “ex-gay” counselor in the movie Boy Erased, played by Joel Edgerton as therapist Victor Sykes. Smid had counseled hundreds of men to rid them of their homosexuality. Now out of the closet and living with a his partner, Smid says in TWO’s ad, “If you are strongly attracted to someone of the same gender that will not change. I’ve never seen a real success story of anyone who has changed from homosexual to heterosexual.” 

“The ‘ex-gay’ myth is an experiment that has unequivocally failed and it takes a lot of chutzpah to try to rebrand the snake oil,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The right wing must think that Americans have amnesia and no longer recall that one ‘ex-gay’ leader after another, who loudly proclaimed change, are now living happily as openly LGBT people. These programs are dangerous and cause lasting psychological scars.”

More at TruthWinsOut.org

Franklin Graham subject of brutal twitter ratio after condemning Pete Buttigieg's sexual orientation

Editor's note - No news briefs on Friday because of a personal issue.

I hate the fact that the Huffington Post beat me to the punch on this because I witnessed the occurrence as it took place. Still, it's nice to point out.

Anti-LGBTQ pastor and Donald Trump supporter Franklin Graham took it upon himself to scold presidential candidate Pete Buttigief about his sexual orientation in a series of posts like so:

Mayor Buttigieg says he’s a gay Christian. As a Christian I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized. The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman—not two men, not two women. 2/3

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) April 24, 2019

Usually when Franklin tweets something, particularly about current events (and taking an anti-LGBTQ point of view), the retweets are mostly "amens" and sycophantic agreements. Not this time. Franklin got twitter spanked so badly that he was reduced to meekly posting other Biblical verses. Some of the responses he received from the Buttigieg tweets are as follows:

You epitomize one of Jesus' disciples.

Unfortunately—it's Judas.

— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) April 25, 2019

No, man. You were reading BREITBART, not the BIBLE.

Easy to mix up. They both start with B.

— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) April 25, 2019

Read the Jefferson Bible. With scissors and paste he took only the words of Jesus-.ignoring the rest. Jesus did not have a word of condemnation for gay people. Surely you can find better things to do than hating on us, while pandering to Trump.

— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) April 25, 2019

Wake me up when Franklin Graham calls on Donald Trump to repent for being a serial sexual-assaulter and cheater. https://t.co/ubUNHUbXvM

— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) April 25, 2019 

Franklin Graham is not just a false prophet; he’s a sorry excuse for a person who claims to follow Christ.

This is not of Christ. This is of a cynical callousness toward everything Christ preached.

My queer identity is inextricable from my Christianity. This is how God made me. https://t.co/PIO2hcVmHk

— Charlotte Clymer🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) April 25, 2019

I'm not God, but I know a heart filled with kindness and love will find favor in the sight of God, regardless whom they chose to share affection with. But a deceptive soul and those who condone them with be condemned. People like you sir, are the reason there's hate in the world

— I dig deep, lightly (@TrueSatire) April 24, 2019

Needless to say that others were, shall we say, less polite. But you can click on Graham's tweet and read the responses for yourself. 

Documentary spotlights transgender soldiers harmed by Trump's ridiculous ban' & other Thur midday news briefs

Trump's military ban on transgender troops is back in effect -  But the fight isn't over - It's never going to be over until we win.

Major Corporations Release Letter Opposing Anti-LGBTQ “Slate of Hate” in Tennessee - And if Tennessee doesn't get the message, then the state must pay the price for bigotry. 

Trump poised to roll back transgender health protections - Trump's war on the transgender community isn't being looked at by the mainstream as something which should be taken seriously, but be patient. It's NOT supposed to be easy. 

Report: Eight LGBTI Nicaraguans killed during anti-government protests - The struggle is real and it is worldwide.

Pro-Trump TV channel OANN tries conservative comedy, bombs spectacularly

My apologies for this not being LGBTQ-centric and to those of us in the community who may have a conservative leaning. But in my defense, this is so awful that it becomes hilarious.

When not trafficking conspiracy theories which causes international incidents, such as the Obama Administration spying on the Trump campaign with the help of England, slightly right of Atilla the Hun "tv channel" One America News Network is trying its hand at creating a comedy show.

This clip is only 51 seconds but it's so painful that it becomes funny, while simultaneously proving that the conservative outrage industry can amplify lies but can't do shyte with comedy. I can safely say that this is probably the most hilariously sad or sadly hilarious thing you will see in a while.

In the first clip tweeted out by Herring on Tuesday, host Drew Berquist—a former BlazeTV host and counterterrorism officer—took aim at the right’s favorite bogeywoman as of late: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The result, of course, is Mike Huckabee-style hokey “comedy” tailor-made for people who apparently love painfully flat humor. Riffing on a nearly three-week-old story of Ocasio-Cortez supposedly appropriating a forced “black accent” during a speech addressing an African-American audience, Berquist’s punchline is him just imitating AOC, but with an even more stereotypical accent. The show’s laugh track loved it though!

Tune in to OAN to see our new comedy show. Here's a sample of what you can expect to see beginning Saturday, May 4th. #OANN #HeadlinesTonight @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/zy27Yp9sKa

— Robert Herring (@RobHerring) April 23, 2019

Hat tip to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch.

'Lesbian teacher wins Hesperia lawsuit' & other Wed midday news briefs

Lesbian teacher wins Hesperia lawsuit, says she was fired for helping gay students - Give it up, turn it loose. You were wrong so now you gonna pay.

Jane Castor Is Elected First Lesbian Mayor of Tampa - This just happens and should get more attention.

After Smearing of Obama, Democrats Should Know How to Defend Ilhan Omar - One would think . . . 

 ‘To Wong Foo’ is being rereleased with new footage. Will it be a hit in 2019 like it was in 1995? - If you didn't get at least a little teary at the end, then you have no soul.

Mueller Report responses prove Trump evangelicals replacing Jesus with 'p-**y-grabbing messiah'

The anti-LGBTQ and evangelical right distort Mueller Report findings to praise Trump.

To the anti-LGBTQ and evangelical right, Trump represents the power to force their agenda on America. That's why so many of them discarded or recalibrated their tirades about values and morality to feature him in the center. And in many cases, replacing Jesus.

Their responses to the recent Mueller Report sadly cements this fact.

From American history professor John Fea:

Donald Trump is a liar who clearly obstructed justice. He has forced others to lie to the American people on his behalf. Some, like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a self-professed evangelical Christian, lied for the president on multiple occasions. (That is a lot of slips of the tongue). Others refused to lie for him. The Mueller report reveals that Trump’s presidency lacks a moral center. He should be impeached. 

And what about the court evangelicals and all of those other white evangelicals who still support Trump? They will double down in their support for the president. He is God’s chosen instrument and his evangelical supporters will invoke biblical examples of how God’s anointed instruments will always suffer persecution. They will claim that the Mueller Report is biased (except, of course, the parts that say there was no collusion). They will continue to stoke the “witch hunt” metaphor. They will continue to take their marching orders from Fox News and claim that the report proves that Trump did not commit a crime. They will argue that the country should simply move forward as if nothing happened. They will ignore the parts of the report that show Trump’s immorality and lies. Court evangelicalism blinds one to the truth. For example 

Americans must demand that “no collusion, no obstruction” means NO MORE HARASSMENT of President @realDonaldTrump! — Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) April 18, 2019 

The attacks on @PressSec Sarah Sanders are disgraceful and pure politics. She does an outstanding job as WH Press Secretary and is a woman of character & integrity. — Ralph Reed (@ralphreed) April 19, 2019  

The #MuellerReport on whether President @realDonaldTrump colluded w/the Russians in the 2016 election is out. The answer is still NO. 1/2 https://t.co/JmoXvJjEKv — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) April 18, 2019 

 . . .  AG Barr was masterful in his press conf. The lie of Russian collusion and obstruction of justice has been completely refuted. But the left won’t stop. They are addicted to the lie.#MullerReport #BarrPressConference #Barr #MAGA — Gary L Bauer (@GaryLBauer) April 18, 2019

The irony is these folks seem to forget that Trump isn't going to stay in office forever. How ever and whenever he goes,  if these Trump evangelicals think that they will be able to slide back into their unearned positions as self-designated arbiters of cultural morality, they need to make other plans.

No one is going to forget their behavior during the Trump years. Some of us are even taking notes.

'SF opens safe house for embattled transgender youth' & other Tue midday news briefs

The nation’s first transitional housing shelter for transgender youths opens in SF, filling an urgent need - Yes sir. We need actions like this and stories to draw attention to them.

Supreme Court takes up job discrimination cases that could settle whether LGBT workers are protected by law - Just in case you haven't heard . . . Some folks are scared. I have a wait and see attitude about it. 

New hope rises for would-be LGBTQ parents in New York - THIS is good news. 

Pelosi: Supreme Court review to have ‘no impact’ on Equality Act, floor vote in May - Let's NOT forget about the Equality Act.

Anti-LGBTQ discrimination in foster care, adoption suffers setback in Philadelphia and Michigan

Same-sex families have foster care, adoption victories in Philly and Michigan

Those who feel that faith-based adoption and foster care agencies should have the right to taxpayer dollars while discriminating against the LGBTQ community just received major setbacks in Philadelphia and Michigan.

From The Advocate:

The city of Philadelphia doesn’t have to contract with a foster care agency that discriminates against LGBTQ people, a federal appeals court ruled today.
The Philadelphia Department of Human Services last year ended its contract with Catholic Social Services after the agency refused to change its policy to comply with Philadelphia’s LGBTQ-inclusive anti-discrimination law. The Catholic group will not place children with LGBTQ parents. 

The Catholic agency sued, and last year a federal district court ruled that the city was within its rights to exclude organizations that discriminate. Today a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld that decision, saying among other things that the Catholic group’s religious beliefs do not exempt it from the city’s antidiscrimination law, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. 

“The City’s non-discrimination policy is a neutral, generally applicable law, and the religious views of CSS do not entitle it to an exception from that policy. ... [CSS] has failed to make a persuasive showing that the City targeted it for its religious beliefs, or is motivated by ill will against its religion, rather than sincere opposition to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” Judge Thomas L. Ambro wrote for the panel. 

The Becket Fund, a conservative legal group that represents Catholic Social Services, is reviewing whether to appeal the Third Circuit’s decision to the Supreme Court. However, the high court last year denied the Catholic group’s emergency petition to have its contract reinstated.

Also today, Bethany Christian Services, a faith-based foster care and adoption agency in Michigan,  announced that it will begin  working to place children in same-sex homes.  This reversal of policy comes after a legal settlement in March between Michigan and the ACLU after the state was sued by two lesbian couples and a former foster child. The settlement says that faith-based foster care and adoption agencies working with the state cannot use religion as an excuse to turn away members of the LGBTQ community.  Another faith-based foster care and adoption agency, St Vincent Catholic Charities, via a local couple, is challenging the settlement in court.

Last week, South Carolina state legislators turned away a bill which would have allowed faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate while receiving tax dollars. 

'Conservative group targeting trans community with distorted 'panel discussions'' & other Mon midday news briefs

Anti-LGBTQ group Heritage Foundation has hosted four anti-trans panels so far in 2019 - That's an average of one panel a month so far. Panels full of lies and ignorant people pushing anti-trans distortions. 

Health Department proposes nixing data collection on LGBTQ foster youth - More attention needs to be focused on this. What kind of mess is the Trump Administration doing anyway?

The Washington Post said Mike Pence doesn’t support conversion therapy. No one’s having it. - Sorry Washington Post, but the LGBTQ community knows that rascal better than you do. 

Actress Leyna Bloom Is Gonna Make Trans, Black, And Asian History At The Upcoming Cannes Film Festival - Any step forward is always huge.

University UMC votes 'overwhelmingly' in support of same-sex ceremonies, LGBTQ clergy - Wonderful!

RIPPrince

This Sunday marks the third anniversary of the passing of Prince, one of the greatest artists of our time. The videos featured here are a mere snippet of his vast work and influence.

'Fifteen states where it's legal to fire someone for being gay' & other Fri midday news briefs

15 States Where It's Legal To Fire Someone For Being Gay - Like the article's author says, it should be zero.

Soon you won’t be able to justify killing a gay man in Nevada by saying he hit on you - The "gay panic" defense is a travesty and should permanently eliminated everywhere.

License to discriminate: Religious exemption laws are trampling rights in rural America - It bears repeating that you can't tell people to "go somewhere else" when they are discriminated against. Sometimes there is no there place else they can go.

E.W. Jackson: Pete Buttigieg Wants to Turn the Country Into a “Homocracy” - Lawd hammercy! I just can't with this man today. 

Same-sex couples applying for a mortgage face more rejection and higher rates, a study says - Sad but not unexpected. 

Fox "news side" anchor Shannon Bream hosts Alliance Defending Freedom for fifth time in a year - Yet another way Fox News damages the LGBTQ community under the guise of having a "debate." Bream rarely, if ever, invites LGBTQ people on her show.

SC Senate turns away anti-LGBTQ adoption bill

Just got this message from my friends at SC Equality:

Moments ago, Proviso 38.29 (a bill that lawmakers were trying to sneak into the massive state appropriations bill (and) would allow private state-funded faith-based adoption agencies in South Carolina to turn away LGBTQ couples from adopting/foster children) was DEFEATED on the Senate floor  . . .  SC Equality would like to thank Senator Brad Hutto and other allies in the senate for standing strong with us on this issue and having it go down in a ball of flames.

There has been a nationwide controversy regarding faith-based foster care and adoption agencies wanting to discriminate against the LGBTQ community while continuing to receive tax dollars.  Last year, SC governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order which would have allowed faith-based foster care and adoption agency Miracle Hill Ministries to practice this sort of discrimination. And not just against the LGBTQ community, but other religious communities such as Catholics and Jews.  McMasters also asked for a federal waiver so that Miracle Hill could receive federal funds. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration granted the waiver.

Also this year Aimee  Maddonna, a Catholic mother from Greenville, filed a lawsuit against Miracle Hill because she was turned away for not being a "born again Christian."

Atlanta's mayor urges Georgia legislators to ban 'ex-gay therapy'

Unnoticed by many but nonetheless important is the push to eliminate forcing minors into reparative or "ex-gay therapy." Georgia would be the 17th state to do this should state legislators listen to Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms:

Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is calling on state leaders to ban the practice and advertising of LGBTQ conversion therapy, a controversial medical method which studies say has led to increased suicide rates. 

In a resolution passed Monday, Bottoms urged the state to ban the practice, also called “reparative therapy,” which uses psychological or spiritual interventions in an attempt to convert someone’s sexual orientation to being strictly heterosexual.“State-sanctioned practices that inflict persecution and suffering on LGBTQ individuals — particularly young people— should end immediately,” Bottoms said in a statement. “Simply put — we cannot and should not endanger the well-being of the LGBTQ community for living their truth.” 

An estimated 698,000 adults have had the therapy and more than half that amount received the treatment as a teenager, according to the William Institute at the UCLA School of Law. According to a study by the Family Acceptance Project, LGBT youth whose parents tried to change their sexual orientation had higher suicide and depression rates. Suicide rates among LGBTQ youth whose parents tried to change their sexual orientation were at 48 percent compared with 22 percent for LGBTQ youth who had no conversion experience, according to the study.

Last month, Colorado outlawed the practice and this week, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to New Jersey's 2013 ban for the third time.

'Former Evangelical, trans daughter testified for Equality Act' & other Wed midday news briefs

A Former Evangelical Testified for the Equality Act Alongside Her Trans Daughter - This is awesome!

No Mr. Staver - Twitter did not "Say goodbye to SPLC" - They have been trying so hard to bury SPLC and their efforts have stayed in their own bubbles.

Majority of Republicans think evangelical Christians are more discriminated against than minorities - Well for Pete's sake . . .

How This Year's Outstanding Blog Nominees Are Using Their Platform to Elevate the LGBTQ Community - WONDERFUL article on this year's nominees for GLAAD's 'Outstanding Blog' award, including this humble blog.

Anti-LGBTQ hate group embarrasses itself with latest fake poll

For an entity which is always whining about how the so-called religious liberty of right-wing evangelicals is in jeopardy, anti-LGBTQ hate group the American Family Family Association cries foul when other religious bodies doesn't follow its definition of Christianity.

Via its fake news service, One News Now, AFA is on a rampage about a group of Tennessee religious leaders who have strongly come out against the "religious liberty" (i.e. anti-LGBTQ) legislation in the state. Rather than respecting that these leaders have different religious beliefs, AFA is spinning dark conspiracy theories, as witnessed by said poll:

I personally voted for "Seduced by LGBT groups" because it sounded rather kinky. As of Tuesday afternoon, though the results were as follows:

I might point out that in between declaring that it has the patent on what God's word is, AFA (via One News Now) has posted article after article on the greatness of  our resident "coochie- grabber in chief. Makes you wonder what type of God AFA worships.

'Evangelical college students don't want Mike Pence to speak at their commencement' & other Tue midday news briefs

Evangelical college students say they don’t want Mike Pence to be their commencement speaker - Well heck, we don't want that turkey at all either.

Christian Site: Life Expectancy Of Gays Is 20 Years Less - Refuting the "homosexuality takes 20 years off of your life" lie is one of the things which made a name for this blog. I'm glad Joe Jervis caught this. 

Mayor Pete’s Marriage is Bogus and the Trumpified SCOTUS Will Agree, Says Brian Brown - Brown keeps dreaming.

Christian university president falsely attacks Pete Buttigieg: ‘Please stop telling us what kind of sex you like’ - Might as well get used to it cause we are gonna hear it from the usual characters who can't seem to stop linking everything about the LGBTQ community to sexual intercourse. But that's not a bad thing. Let the public see them rage.

Michele Bachmann thinks we may never see a more 'godly, biblical' president than Trump

Michelle Bachmann

You want to know why Pete Buttigieg's criticisms of right-wing evangelicals is resonating? Because of right-wing evangelicals like former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

From Right Wing Watch:

Former Minnesota congresswoman and current Religious Right “pastor to the United Nations” Michele Bachmann was a guest on Jan Markell’s “Understanding The Times” radio program last weekend, where she prayed that God will expose those in the “deep state” who are supposedly working to undermine President Trump, whom she declared to be the most godly and biblical president she has ever seen.

. . . “In my lifetime I have never seen a more biblical president than I have seen in Donald Trump,” Bachmann said later in the program. “He is highly biblical and I would say to your listeners [that] we will, in all likelihood, never see a more godly, biblical president again in our lifetime. So we need to be not only praying for him, we need to support him, in my opinion, in every possible way that we can.”

Michele Bachmann has never seen "a more biblical president" than Trump: "We will, in all likelihood, never see a more godly, biblical president again in our lifetimes." pic.twitter.com/xnqCZRaq5f

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) April 15, 2019

And at the end of the first inning, the score is Pete Buttigieg -1, Evangelical Christian Right - 0 

Video: Mike Pence's anti-LGBTQ record proves Pete Buttigieg's point

On Sunday, Peter Buttigieg officially announced that he is running for president. With that news, his back-and-forth with VP Mike Pence is sure to get a brighter spotlight. To rehash the situation, Buttigieg has called out Pence for his anti-LGBTQ record.  Pence and his defenders contend that Buttigieg is attacking his "Christian faith."

That's nonsense. It goes without saying that Pence, as a Congressman, governor of Indiana, and now vice president, has made his political career out of undermining the rights and safety of LGBTQ Americans while hiding behind his religious beliefs. Buttigieg has touched a raw nerve by focusing on this. But what's needed is something concrete which can be pointed to when talking about Pence's record. This video courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign is more than adequate to reference and share. Don't fall for Pence's "I'm just a Christian defending my faith" act. It's a colossal lie.

'Trump's ban on transgender soldiers bringing fear and chaos to military families' & other Fri midday news briefs

Trump’s Transgender Ban Brings Chaos and ‘a Lot of Fear’ to Troops’ Families - Friday is the official start to this awful ban. It will not stand and those who pushed it will be remembered for what they have done.

Navy to allow off-duty trans sailors to dress in accordance with gender identity - How about no ban at all on transgender troops?

Members of Congress, activists rally against trans troop ban - Like I said, this ain't over by a long shot.

Pride organizers cancel parade citing ‘current political & social environment.’ They mean racism. - This is a MESS, no matter what side you are taking. And I'm sorry but I am not leaning with the outside groups here. Their actions are virtue signaling at its worse. Also, police departments and the military HAVE A PLACE at Pride celebrations. They should be included. 

Arizona’s Anti-LGBTQ Sex Education Law Has Finally Been Repealed After 28 Years - Progress!

GLSEN's Day of Silence showcases struggles and worth of LGBTQ youth

If some on the right actually cared about children like they claim to, they would be joining the annual GLSEN's Day of Silence taking place Friday.

 To those not aware, it is a student-led protest calling attention to the harmful effects of anti-LGBTQ harassment and discrimination in K-12 schools.  Participants take a vow of silence to highlight the struggles of LGBTQ youth. Our kids are important and they will not be erased. Especially not their worth.

'Mike Pence dodges Buttigieg's criticisms of his homophobic record' & other Thur midday news briefs

Mike Pence, facing criticism from 2020 Democratic hopeful Pete Buttigieg over his record on gay rights, says South Bend mayor ‘knows better’ -Not just Buttigieg, Pence. The ENTIRE LGBTQ community knows better than to trust you. THIS is one of the main ones:

DeVos: I Knew Trans Youth Would Be Harmed When I Ended Obama-Era Rules - You know you ain't right, Mrs. DeVos!

Karen Pence accused Pete Buttigieg of using her husband for attention. It didn’t go well for her. - She got twitter-dragged cause the LGBTQ community had receipts and aren't afraid to use them.

San Jose city council votes to make their airport Chick-fil-A the ‘gayest’ in America - I didn't know there was a competition . . .