Anti-LGBTQ industry blames trans policy for school assault. But the policy did not exist at the time of the incident.

The transgender bathroom predator lie has been called out many times over the years. But that doesn't stop the anti-LGBTQ industry from continuously repeating it.

 Here we go again:

Right-wing media have seized on a report of a sexual assault at a high school in Loudoun County, Virginia, to attack trans-inclusive bathrooms, often suggesting that a policy in the school district opened the door to predators in girls’ bathrooms. In reality, the policy was not in effect when the reported sexual assault occurred, and it is always illegal to assault or harass someone. 

 On October 11, right-wing outlet The Daily Wire published a story about the reported assault and interviewed Scott Smith, the victim’s father, who was arrested at a June 22 school board meeting after an altercation. 

 In the article, Smith seemed to acknowledge that the suspect might not have been affected by the district's trans-inclusive policy, which allows students to use facilities that align with their gender identity. He said, “The person that attacked our daughter is apparently bisexual and occasionally wears dresses because he likes them. So this kid is technically not what the school board was fighting about." However, he then seemed to blame the policy, saying, “The point is kids are using it as an advantage to get into the bathrooms.” 

 However, the policy was passed by the school board on August 11 -- months after May 28, when the assault was reported to have taken place, making it impossible for the suspect to have used the protections “as an advantage to get into the bathrooms.” 

 The myth that trans-inclusive bathrooms allow predators to attack women has been repeatedly debunked; additionally, assaults and harassment are already illegal regardless of whether bathrooms allow trans people. In fact, the suspect was later charged in a second assault in Loudoun County that was reported to have taken place in “an empty classroom.” The suspect has now been arrested and detained in juvenile detention. 

 The Washington Post has noted that authorities have not confirmed the gender identity of the suspect or that they were wearing a dress but identified as a boy.

Media Matters goes on to call out the right-wing publications and activists who spread the lie about the incident, none of which have issued a clarification.

This is second time in which the conservative propaganda and the anti-LGBTQ industry have been caught spreading false stories about trans students or policies designed to help trans students. In June, The USA Today published an expose which pointed out that bills pushed by state legislatures which banning trans athletes from girls sports were based upon lies and misrepresentations.

'Holiday film season will be very LGBTQ friendly' & other Tue midday news briefs

These new, LGBTQ+ holiday films are going to make the yuletide hella gay in 2021! - Not generally a fan of holiday movies but that's only me. I know others in the community are and I like how we are included here. 

Netflix talent to support employee protest of Dave Chappelle- Jonathan Van Ness, Jameela Jamil and Colton Haynes are among the stars who will be featured in a PSA presented by Netflix employees at Wednesday's walkout. 

Anti-gay Daily Wire host says 2 men shouldn’t be allowed to adopt babies - The Daily Wire and Matt Walsh can go to hell. We make wonderful parents. We proved that time and time again. 

Two LGBTQ-affirming Baltimore churches — one historic and one young — unite with installation of new pastor - This is awesome. LGBTQ folks are people of faith. The religious right has no ownership of faith or God. 

8 Working Gay Porn Performers Living With HIV - A very important article which should generate some discussion.

Supporter of homophobic NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson once said gays wear diapers because they stuff bats and cellphones up their rectums

NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson's homophobia is attracting odd defenders.

Homophobia is everywhere and it's amazing how many idiots in American society will attempt and succeed to transform bigots into noble people. Take North Carolina Lt Governor Mark Robinson.

Robinson has been in a controversy recently for a bunch of ugly comments he has made about the LGBTQ community by making it seem that we are attempting to 'recruit' children via books. He has pegged these books as "borderline pornography." He is also playing the media like a harp by attempting to look like he is being besieged because supposedly he is attempting to protect children from filth in classrooms. Of course some members of the media are unconsciously playing along with his narrative by running headlines and articles detailing how Robinson refuses to apologize or resign for his comments, as if he is some type of lone hero fighting an evil menace.

Luckily for us, egotistical types like Robinson don't know when to let go. They mistake notoriety for fame and continue to talk, thereby making themselves look less heroic and more stridently annoying. Robinson seems to be entering that phase about now.

An added advantage is when certain others weigh in during such controversies seeking to get their bit in the spotlight.  In this particular case, there are some coming in to defend Robinson. One is anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council, which should surprise no one. Dehumanizing LGBTQ people is a massive part of its brand and usually my blog post would talk about them.

However in this case, a more interesting party has decided to defend Robinson and this person makes an excellent point about the vulgarity of Robinson's position. 

'Lesbian sues federal government after being rejected by foster agency' & other Mon midday news briefs

Lesbian sues federal government after being rejected by foster agency - After the last SCOTUS ruling, this should be interesting. 

Netflix Fires Black, Pregnant Leader of Trans Resource Group​ - Netflix keeps digging that hole deeper.

Krysten Sinema seems intent on dragging down the Biden presidency - Between Krysten Sinema and Peter Thiel, it would seem that the LGBTQ community's worst enemies are our own people. 

Kenyon Farrow: 'Too smart' Dave Chappelle has fallen for 'old right-wing political device' - A nicer way of saying the point I made in my piece. Chappelle is being used to advance the gay vs. black false narrative. 

Pete Buttigieg calls out Tucker Carlson over attack - Pete was being too nice.

Article said bills banning trans athletes was based on lies and misrepresentations. The media ignored it.

Editor's note - If it hasn't already, Texas will be passing a bill banning trans students from playing school sports.  That in itself is depressing to me, but added to that is something which underscores how trans Americans - and LGBTQ Americans in general - are being mistreated by our media. In June, the USA Today came out with an expose which proved that the laws banning trans students from playing school sports have been based on misrepresentations and lies. It was an excellent article. The problem is the rest of our media didn't seem to give a damn. The article came and went without a bang or so much as a whimper. There was simply no excuse for that, particularly in light of the fact that so many want to defend Dave Chappelle in spite of the anti-trans comments he makes.  Whatever the case may be, I am resposting my June 30 blog entry about this article. Perhaps some folks will now amplify it. But in a general sense, the entire thing is depressing as hell. It makes one wonder what's the point of exposing the truth about a situation if those who are supposed to give a damn about truth ignores it.

In an exceptional piece of journalism, The USA Today took a look at the efforts and groups behind statewide attempts to ban trans athletes and found a lot of lies and misrepresentation. 

It shouldn't surprise those of us in the know because every effort by religious right groups to denigrate LGBTQ people or deny us rights has been a smorgasbord of cherry-pickings, distortions, and out-and-out lies.  Exposing the anti-LGBTQ industry and calling out their history of lies is how this blog made a name for itself since 2006. 

In the spirit of all of that, I simply have to say that The USA Today article,  Conservatives want to ban transgender athletes from girls sports. Their evidence is shaky by Rachel Axon and Brent Schrotenboer is a goddamn masterpiece worthy of a Pulitzer.  

Yes, it's that good. I'm going to post snippets of it and highly suggest that folks read and share the entire article.

Excerpt 1

Grace Waggoner told lawmakers in February 2020 that her team had lost the first state tournament game it had played in decades to an opponent with a transgender player. She blamed an “unfair” Arizona Interscholastic Association policy that allows students to join teams consistent with their gender identity after going through a review. Waggoner offered few details on the athlete’s impact on the game, but bill sponsor Rep. Nancy Barto accepted it as evidence of a problem in her state.

 . . The game Waggoner referenced in her testimony turned out to be a state tournament play-in game in 2019 that Scottsdale Christian Academy lost to Heritage Academy, 16-6. Heritage Academy coach Steve LaDrigue said his team did not have a transgender player. What Waggoner didn’t say is that she’s the daughter of Kristen Waggoner, general counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom – a conservative, legal nonprofit that has pushed transgender sports bans in states across the nation. When pressed for details about the game, an ADF spokesperson said in an email, “The widespread understanding on the team – including the coach, parents, and players – was that the athlete was male.” LaDrigue guesses the suspicion fell on the team’s catcher, his daughter, because she has short hair.

Editor's note - The Alliance Defending Freedom is the group behind efforts to ban trans athletes

Excerpt 2

Across the nation, state lawmakers supporting transgender athlete bans have painted a picture that girls sports teams will be overrun by athletes with insurmountable physical advantages. But a USA TODAY investigation of the lobbying effort shows that narrative has been built on vague examples that have been overstated or are untrue, and lawmakers have accepted them as fact with little effort to verify their accuracy. The more than 70 bills lawmakers have offered in at least 36 states would suggest a bigger problem facing girls sports, but that didn’t check out either. 

Instead, USA TODAY could find few transgender athletes participating and even fewer complaints about them. In South Dakota, the sponsor of a bill said a transgender girl who played basketball was “consistently scoring 25 points above females” in high school and that the Sioux Falls district alone had three transgender athletes competing in 2019. But the state association responsible for approving participation of transgender athletes says only one transgender girl has competed since 2013, and she was an average athlete who didn’t live in Sioux Falls.

Editor's note - That's just one of the cases the USA Today article revealed that those attempting to ban trans athletes misrepresented.

Excerpt 3

During a discussion at the influential Conservative Political Action Conference in February, Milstead joined former Southern Utah University runner Linnea Saltz to speak about the issue – and Saltz referred to a transgender athlete who has gained mythic status among supporters of these bills. June Eastwood, a University of Montana runner, became the first openly transgender cross-country runner in major college sports in 2019-20 after undergoing hormone therapy for a year to suppress testosterone, as required by NCAA rules. But bill proponents often exaggerate Eastwood’s accomplishments or take them out of context.

Those are three examples of religious right distortions and misrepresentations made against trans athletes in an article filled with examples. This is the type of article I hoped to write when I began this blog - the one I wish was published during the time I was attempting to come out. 

Please read and share it.

Homophobic ad comes across as demented episode of 'Leave It To Beaver'

According to LGBTQNation, there was a small controversy with the above homophobic ad released earlier this year. Recently, conservatives were claiming that YouTube had deleted it. If this were the case, they have been thanking YouTube.

The ad is the usual fearmongering nonsense which implies that anything which doesn't look at America through a white heterosexual gaze is somehow dangerous to children. Aside from lies that legitimate debates about racism are anti-white, the ad also pushes ugly beliefs about the LGBTQ community. It claims that trans girls are trying are cheating cis girls in sports and that LGBTQ people are "indoctrinating" children, making sure to omit the simple fact that we are raising children too. 

And while these lies should be enough to get one angry, the ad itself  is simply strange in a brainsick sort of way. 

For one, some are accusing the star of the ad (who portrays the husband) of giving a "trying so hard to be heterosexual that you just know that he is gay" vibe. Far be it from me to spread such rumors, but I will say that he comes across as a bizarro Ward Cleaver in a demented episode of Leave It to Beaver. 

The ad itself tries too hard in creating a ridiculously romanticized-to-death idea of America - the white, upper middle class motif,  the man referring to his wife as 'hot stuff' (By the way, she doesn't talk or do anything else except lurk in the background like a good Stepford Wife), the 2.5 children (Two boys, one girl), and the obscenely enormous American flag placed at the front of the house. The only thing missing is Fox News playing in the background.  And I didn't even mention the husband making one of his "sons" in video do the "truffle shuffle"  (Which is comprised of the little boy standing on a chair,  baring his stomach, and attempting to jiggle it. Just how are LGBTQ people a danger to children again?)

So apparently us LGBTQ people are a danger to "values" like this? If that were true, we should get a medal. On second thought, a medal and a postage stamp in our honor.

Hat tip to LGBTQNation

'NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson compares LGBTQ activists and drag queens to pedophiles' & other Thur news briefs

NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Suggests Transgender Rights Activists and Drag Queens Want to Molest Children - A bigot is like manure. No matter how folks try to pretty it up, you simply can't hide it. And folks have been attempting to pretty up Robinson's attacks on LGBTQ people. But he mistakes notoriety for fame and continues to step out further on the rails. And for the record, Mr. Robinson, the drag queen you attacked was wearing feathers, not horns. . . asshole.

Biden uses Trump-era policy to expand health care for transgender Coloradans - Good! 

7 Things to Know About 'Eternals' Phastos, the MCU's First Gay Hero - I still ain't buying the action figure. 

Apple CEO, NBA's Dwyane Wade help LGBTQ group build homes - Wonderful! Don't forget to kick out some ducats. Especially you, Mr. Cook. You know you ain't hurting for some change.

Transgender student asks state legislators - 'Why in the hell are y'all doing this? There is no point.'

There is a war of fear and misinformation across America's schools because Fox News and other right-wing entities have been spreading lies about children being attacked and "indoctrinated."

First there is the lie that Critical Race Theory is sweeping the nation's schools and  teaching white students to be ashamed of themselves. This, of course, is ludicrous.

Then conservatives are also targeting transgender kids with the lie that they hold an unfair advantage against cis kids in sports. There have been attempts at passing laws across the nation fueled by beliefs  that trans athletes are stealing scholarships and records from their cis counterparts.  This is another lie, but like the CRT stories, truth means nothing.

Truth is irrelevant when you have organizations with vast reaches smothering the debate with lie after lie. And when you have government officials and others hiding behind religious beliefs and false assurances that they don't hate while labeling  LGBTQ people and our kids as Satanic or demonic.

The 59 second video above will break your heart. It is of a trans student, Eli, speaking at a Texas state legislation hearing. The state is attempting to pass an anti-trans bill for the fourth time. Eli breaks down all of the awful things which happened to him in high school because of transphobia and how his participation in sports - which Texas legislators want to ban trans students from participating in - helped him get through it all.

Eli's simple question at the beginning breaks through all of the fear mongering. 

Related post - BUSTED! USA Today article makes strong case that attempts to ban trans athletes are based on lies and misrepresentations

'Gay Trump insurrectionist complains he can't get a date' & other Wed midday news briefs

Brandon Straka can't get a date.

Gay Trump insurrectionist complains he can’t get a date. Go figure. - Cause we got taste. 

Lt. Gov. Robinson defends himself, as LGBTQ leaders say he ‘lit a match of hatred’ - The man is disgusting and any narrative which makes him look brave is garbage. 

Madonna called Dave Chappelle “the next James Baldwin” in her new tour doc and fans are pissed - Madonna done lost her damn mind. 

Lego vows to remove gender bias from its toys - Cue the conservative outrage.

Video: Black LGBTQ Pioneers deserve more attention than Dave Chappelle

 

  

While we are still having to deal with this Dave Chappelle mess, let's amplify the voices of black people who have truly done positive things for both the LGBTQ and Black communities. This two-part special about Black LGBTQ Pioneers came out in February, but it is still remains pertinent viewing.

 . . . Phillip Alexander Downie commemorates the Black LGBTQ pioneers who have exceeded the expectations placed upon them, and surmounted hurdles some called ‘impossible’ to overcome. In this two-part special we celebrate the remarkable people that have changed our path in history, and made the world a better place. Fighting for a voice in their time that sent cultural and artistic shockwaves, and inspiring the voices of the next generation with their actions and ideas—they have fought not to garner acclaim, but to promote love and equality.

Hat tip to Montgomery Municipal Cable. 

'New Superman comes out as bisexual, GOP candidate flips out' & other Tue midday news briefs

GOP Candidate Josh Mandel Declares ‘They’ Are Trying to ‘Destroy America’ Because New Superman Is Bisexual - Mercy! Has this fool ever read Garth Ennis? 

New Superman comes out as bisexual in upcoming DC comic - More about the issue which has little Joshie upset. 

National Coming Out Day: 21 people who have come out in 2021 - Nice! 

Franklin Graham praises GOP Lt. Governor for telling “the truth” that LGBTQ people are “filth” - A moron defending a moron. 

 Finally, if black lives truly matter to some black heterosexuals, they would stop defending Dave Chappelle and listen to black LGBTQ people when we say he is hurting us: 

Dave Chappelle’s Betrayal

Dave Chappelle's 'The Closer' Neflix special is no laughing matter to LGBTQ people like me

Neither Dave Chappelle nor any other Black heterosexual has sole ownership of the Black experience

Today, I heard a caller on a radio show say that Dave Chappelle was simply saying that the life of a black person should mean as much as one in the LGBTQ community. The fact that she ignored the existence of LGBTQ black people is the problem here and I don't think it is being stated enough.

The majority of attention seems to be the ugly things which Chappelle said about transgender people, but I think that the erasure or minimization of LGBTQ people in his mind is the root of the problem.  Chappelle implies a belief which is prevalent in the black heterosexual community.

This is not to say that the majority in the black community are homophobic or transphobic, but truth be told, there seems to be an "either/or" mentality with some heterosexual black folks. Either you are LGBTQ or black. To these folks, you can't be both. Your identities can't overlap. When they talk about system racism or violence against black people in general, they refuse to acknowledge that LGBTQ people of color have particular problems with those injustices. And when talking about the black family, the black church, black survival in general, we are overlooked. 

While Chappelle and his followers claim that LGBTQ lives mean more than black lives in America, there is an epidemic of violence affecting the black trans community. In 2020, 44 trans women were murdered and the majority of them were black. I doubt that  hardly any of these folks clinging to  Chappelle as if he is Jesus on the cross and they are the Virgin Mary would even care if they were aware of this.

Apparently in spite of what many of them say about "Black Lives Matter," ours don't.

'Here we go again - American group causing anti-LGBTQ persecution in another African nation' & other Mon midday news briefs

How a US group with links to the far-right may have influenced a crackdown on Ghana's LGBTQ community - What the hell. Apparently some folks learned nothing from Uganda.

North Carolina’s Lt. Governor refuses to resign after calling LGBTQ people “filth” - North Carolina elected a nut as its lt governor and brother does it show. 

Doctor Lists Homosexuality as Woman's 'Current Disease' - Say what?

New film chronicles fight to remove homosexuality's 'mental disorder' label - I am watching this.

Dave Chappelle and the warped self-victimhood of transphobes - I especially like this part: 

" At another point, Chappelle expresses jealousy about his perception that LGBTQ people have made more progress than Black people, because a white gay man once called the police on him at a bar. He begs LGBTQ people to "free" DaBaby and Kevin Hart, as if these men are being unfairly held hostage for the truly horrific comments both have made about queer people. Last we checked, DaBaby just recorded a track on Kanye West's new album, and Hart has several movies coming out in 2022 alone. They're hardly suffering."

Video - Fox News is the author of America's recent division and pain

The above video featuring MSNBC's Chris Hayes breaks the down the recent problems of anger and rage in this country. He talks about one factor that the rest of our news gatherers seem to be afraid or too selfish to mention. - the Fox News Channel. This video will probably be ignored by a lot of folks. And this is a real shame because as long as the danger of Fox News remains unrecognized, the danger to the country will remain.

Related post - 400+ moments that defined Fox News. The network just turned 25. It's been a disaster – and it's getting worse.  

 

'Trans Netflix staffers call out company, quit over Dave Chappelle' & other Fri midday news briefs

Dave Chappelle controversy goes on.

Trans Netflix Staffers Call Company Out, Quit Over Dave Chappelle​ - I am impressed. These folks are making a huge stand.

A teen was beaten for carrying the pride flag at school. His classmates support the bully. - This right here is why our fight for equality must continue. This is awful. 

A New York Times article proclaiming “Homosexuals Proud of Deviancy” is resurfacing online - A bit of history we should never forget. 

Dave Chappelle can kiss my black gay ass - Speaking of the first item on this list,  my Tuesday post about the controversy has been viral for several days. I got some compliments about it. But also some rude statements, one of which you can read below. It's hilarious how some people have accused me of trying to 'cancel' Dave Chappelle. Nope. I don't do that sort of thing. But I won't sit for myself and my being people disrespected, degraded, or erased. 

So some folks - like the deluded child below - should get over themselves:

Video: 'Now That's What I Call Yikes' - the worst of Pat Robertson

 

In celebration of Pat Robertson stepping down from hosting The 700 Club, The Daily Show presents 'Now That's What I Call Yikes,' which celebrates the worst things he has ever said while on the air for 60 years. 

My question is how were they able to pick the truly worst with so much to choose from?

'Virginia gov candidate kissing up to the anti-LGBTQ right' & other Thur midday news briefs

Glenn Youngkin

Glenn Youngkin Spoke at Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Choice Family Foundation Event - But he won't undermine the rights of LGBTQ Virginians should he be elected governor, right? Right? 

Democrats want Dr. Rachel Levine & HHS to issue trans youth mental health guidance - Wonderful idea. Also, including the voices of trans children. According to article, they are way ahead of me on that one. 

Guess which openly gay actor is set to play Bayard Rustin for producer Barack Obama - Oh snap!! 

Tory minister Nadine Dorries finally regrets voting against gay marriage: ‘I voted against love’ - Yes you did.

Woman wants to 'cancel' Tide detergent for ad featuring lesbian couple and their black children

Conservatives and other members of the religious right like to accuse us of 'canceling' people. What do they call this hot mess coming from the far right site Gab. 

I got a suggestion. How about embarrassing:

Hat tip to PatriotTakes

'TikTok's algorithm leads users from transphobic videos to far-right rabbit holes' & other Wed midday news briefs

TikTok's algorithm leads users from transphobic videos to far-right rabbit holes - This is depressing.

Kenya Banned This Gay Documentary — It Will Now Stream Across Africa - Can't shut us up.

Fact checkers take Meghan McCain to task for calling her homophobic husband “sexy” and “brilliant” - Take her to school! 

Man accused of vandalizing LGBTQ Pride intersection to stand trial - Good. 

Report details disparities faced by aging LGBTQ Illinoisans - There should be reports like this in every state.

Dave Chappelle can kiss my black gay ass

Dave Chappelle needs to check his ignorance.

There is no other way to say this.

Dave Chappelle is an ignorant son of a bitch whose embrace of stereotypes about LGBTQ people do more to hurt both the LGBTQ and black community than any words or actions of the anti-LGBTQ right. 

First, a little background from LGBTQ Nation:

Comedian Dave Chappelle’s new Netflix special, The Closer, is his last for the service as he concludes a multi-project deal spanning several years and while he tries to pass it off as an examination of racism and LGBTQ issues, it comes across more as a hypocritical justification of a career spent making vulnerable people feel like shit. To cap off his numerous comedy specials, Chappelle pledged not to make jokes about the LGBTQ community any longer, offered to negotiate terms for rapper DaBaby, and announced he is a transgender exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) before launching into a derogatory diatribe about transgender women’s genitals.

That's not all. Chappelle proceeded to attack all LGBTQ people:

Throughout the special, he repeatedly circles back to pitting racism against anti-LGBTQ animus. After pointing out that DaBaby had killed another man and still continued to perform and escaped punishment, but got “cancelled” after making incredibly derogatory comments about gay people, Chappelle made the comparison direct. “Do you see where I’m going with this?” he quipped. “In our country, you can shoot and kill a n****r, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings!” 

 

Then he proceeded with more junk:

“Gender is a fact,” he continued. “Every human being in this room, every human being on Earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on Earth. That is a fact. Now, I am not saying that to say trans women aren’t women, I am just saying that those pussies that they got… you know what I mean? I’m not saying it’s not pussy, but it’s Beyond Pussy or Impossible Pussy. It tastes like pussy, but that’s not quite what it is, is it? That’s not blood, that’s beet juice.” 

 . . . In the end, he proclaims that he’s done making jokes about “LBGTQ, LMNOPQXYZ people,” saying “it is over.” “I am not telling another joke about you,” he said, “until we are both sure that we are laughing together.” 

 “All I ask from your community, with all humility, will you please stop punching down on my community?”

I could say a lot of things about this man's ignorance, but I want to focus on one thing because it infuriated me the most. This comment:

 “All I ask from your community, with all humility, will you please stop punching down on my community?”

That is the epitome of all of the bullshit LGBTQ people of color have had to deal with from black heterosexual people - the entitlement mentality. 

'Former CA policeman who sued over anti-gay abuse wins $2.2 million settlement' & other Tue midday news briefs

Former California Cop Who Sued Over Antigay Abuse Wins $2.2 Million - Awriiiight! Two snaps up! Treat us wrong and u gonna get up off the money!

 
Mr. Gay World changes rules to allow transgender men to compete - Works for me. 

Texas moms rally against dozens of state bills targeting transgender children - My hat goes off to you ladies. Fight the good fight! 

Welcome Halloween season with an overlooked gay romance in a terrifying classic - Oh?

Hate group: We need money because the Muppets, the SF Gay Men's Chorus, and Kellogg's are working with gays to recruit children

I monitor the Family Research Council's webpage a lot, but it doesn't mean that I ignore other anti-LGBTQ groups. The American Family Association is another homophobic hate group I have my eye on. Similar to FRC, AFA's demonization of LGBTQ people a huge part of its brand and the group has been doing it probably longer.

That's certainly evident with the email it sent me asking for donations while ratcheting up the paranoia. It reads in part:

In July, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus stirred up a hornet's nest when it posted a music video that said homosexuals were coming for the children of straight parents.

 Lyrics included:

 "We'll convert your children. Happens bit by bit. Quietly and subtly. And you will barely notice it. …

 We'll make them tolerant and fair. … We'll convert your children. Someone's gotta teach them not to hate. We're coming for them. We're coming for your children." 

 After receiving negative reactions about the video, the choir issued a statement saying it was done tongue-in-cheek. However, do the following stories make it sound like the perversity of the left is a joking matter? 

 ▶ The Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual has now issued guidelines for sexual health education which state, "Schools that teach grade 5th and up must maintain a condom availability program." 

 ▶ A recent episode of the Disney Junior Muppet Babies children's program included the male character Gonzo having his wish fulfilled – a dress to wear to Miss Piggy's ball. 

 ▶ To publicize its solidarity with the homosexual community, Kellogg's released an LGBTQ-focused cereal called Together With Pride. The characters on the box included Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Snap-Crackle-Pop, and others. The campaign announced to kids, "No matter who you are, who you love, or what pronouns you use," Kellogg's supports you.

 . . .  I could cite another half dozen examples of children's programming promoting sexual deviancy and gender confusion, but you get the point.

. . . This kind of lunacy has clearly impacted America's youth. For example, according to an article in National Review, the Center for Transyouth Health and Development in California saw the number of young people coming in for gender dysphoria problems jump from 80 in 2009 to 1,000 in 2019. (In the U.K., the media has reported a 4,000% rise in young people wanting to change their sex!) 

 But there is good news too. A major abortion case before the U.S. Supreme Court this fall renews hope that the high court might finally reverse the abominable Roe v. Wade (1973) decision that legalized the slaughter of unborn children. The new case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, stems from the Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks – a bill that AFA vigorously promoted. 

 Also, it looks like for now the fight to protect religious liberty has solid public support. A Rasmussen poll this summer found that 82% of Americans believe our First Amendment protections of religious freedom are important to our society. At the same time, the poll found that a mere one-fifth of Americans say churches and religious organizations should be forced to hire people who do not hold to their religious beliefs.

Oh brother, where do I start in deconstructing this mess?

1. What does the San Francisco Chorus' tongue-in-cheek song (because it was simply tongue-in-cheek) have to do with the examples AFA listed  afterwards? Specifically,  what does the Chicago Public School Manual and condoms have to do with the AFA's overall ludicrous point that gays are going after children?  Aren't heterosexual youth included with regards to sex education? How is heterosexual youth having sex proof of gays "going after children?" If it is the handiwork of gays, we obviously need to step up on our 'recruiting' methods.

2. What does Gonzo wanting to wear a dress or Kellogg's showing solidarity with LGBTQ kids have to do with "sexual deviancy?"

3. And I haven't forgotten about the "gender confusion" nonsense. AFA later implies that visibility are persuading children to be transgender. Of course the group provides no proof of it, but I am not surprised. Distorted causation is a hallmark of anti-LGBTQ propaganda.   I doubt visibility can make a child become transgender, but it seems to make them less ashamed being trans and more willing to be open about it. And this isn't a bad thing.

4. What the heck does abortion have to do with anything?

5. Rasmussen is not a trustworthy source.  Its conservative bias is well-known.

Unfortunately, AFA's target audience don't ever seem to ask critical questions when the group bombards them with spooky claims about LGBTQ people supposedly recruiting and turning children. Their job is to sop up the paranoia fuel and give up the money. And apparently they seem to be doing it very well.

'Pride flags in classrooms become newest target in culture war' & other Mon midday news briefs

Education culture war finds a new target: Pride flags in classrooms - From 'critical race theory' to pride flags. I dare anyone to tell me that these fake moral panics are mere coincidences. 

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ - I reiterate . . . 

Trump administration pastor encourages GOP Congress members to oppose marriage equality - If you don't like or believe in gay marriage, then don't marry someone of the same sex. THAT should be the only way you have to oppose it. 

13 Queer Horror Films & Shows to Stream This Halloween Season - I wonder will the religious right accuse us of taking over Halloween.

Equality Forum picks annual list of 31 Icons for LGBTQ History Month 2021

 

It's that time again. October is LGBTQ History Month and The Equality Forum has come out with its newest list of 31 LGBTQ icons for 31 Days. This year's list contains quite a few surprises. I think at least two of the selected icons are probably going to be seen as controversial. Still, it's LGBTQ history and deserves to be noted. (And yes, I still cling to the dream of one day making the list.)

'Texas has considered dozens of anti-trans bills. These moms have helped stop them.' & other Fri midday news briefs

Texas has considered dozens of anti-trans bills. These moms have helped stop them. - These attacks on our trans kids and their families should not be happening. And we all need to do more to help stop them.

Queer rights are reproductive rights & repro rights are queer rights - Puts forth a reasonable argument. Goodness knows we have the same enemies.

12 New LGBTQ books that prove pride isn't just for June - Good choices. 

When this gay college soccer player was called a slur by an opponent, his team rallied around him to a 5-0 win - Boom!

Family Research Council needs to be reminded that it doesn't own values of morality, faith, or family

One of the LGBTQ community's 'favorite' hate groups, the Family Research Council has the above ad floating around on its webpage.  It's the usual "gays are out to wreck society" meme we have come to expect from Tony Perkins and company. With this particular one though, it's not necessarily what's being said which is the entire problem. It's what being implied.

FRC falsely portrays us as outsiders by implying that we are threatening religious liberty (because apparently LGBTQ people cannot be people of faith), children's health (because apparently children cannot be LGBTQ), and parental rights (because its impossible for LGBTQ adults to be parents or raise families in general).

It's an interestingly and unfortunate way for FRC to pass along the lie that the concepts of faith, family, etc aren't open to us. We supposedly can't have those things because we are evil anomalies. Therefore all we ever do is attempt to wreck them for the so-called normal people. The truth is those concepts aren't foreign to us and we embody them everyday in spite of attempts by groups like FRC and people like Perkins to strip us of them.

Just because these folks label us as freaks and outsiders doesn't mean we have to accept it. But it does mean that from time to time we should remind them that they own nothing that they have to be persuaded to extend to us.

'Students stage massive walk-out after trans girl was blocked from locker room' & other Thur midday news briefs

Students stage massive walk-out after a trans girl was blocked from the locker room - While you have nonsense about 'parents' raging against critical race theory being taught in schools (when it is actually NOT being taught in schools), vital articles about school kids standing up for their LGBTQ peers and teachers are being ignored. 

Orlando school elects its first transgender homecoming queen - I reiterate my first point. 

The Joy of Gay Sex Author Charles Silverstein Goes Deep 40 Years Later - Because good sexual health is an important issue for LGBTQ people. 

Drag has gone mainstream. Here’s how it continues to change the world for the better. - After getting unfairly maligned for the longest, it's about time for this to happen for drag.

Ex-Murrieta Valley High cheer coach sues after firing, alleging anti-LGBTQ discrimination - The struggle continues.

Video: Evicted for being LGBTQ. Without the Equality Act, it could happen to any of us.

With so much off-the-wall stuff going on, it is easy for LGBTQ Americans to get distracted. But that's one thing we cannot afford to be. We are still faced with situations which can undermine or eliminate our rights, equality, and families. The above video merely points that out. Queen Hatcher-Johnson tells her story about being evicted for being transgender. And I doubt that she is the only LGBTQ American who has faced this. 

''Hallowed Ground' looks at the Civil Rights Movement through LGBTQ+ lens' & other Wed midday news briefs

Bayard Rustin, openly gay Civil Rights Movement activist who was the head organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.

'Hallowed Ground' Looks at Civil Rights Movement Through LGBTQ+ Lens - And it's about time, too. LGBTQ people of color have been omitted from the history of the Civil Rights Movement for too long. 

Indya Moore Is Co-Starring in the New Aquaman Sequel - And it better be a good role. Just saying.

Transgender, intersex activists participate in White House listening session - I'm going to say it again - this would have never happened under Trump or any other GOP administration. 

Chesapeake School Board adds revisions for LGBTQ students in nondiscrimination policy; updates COVID protocols - At the very least, a step in the right direction. 

Liz Cheney just apologized to LGBTQ Americans. Is it too little, too late? - That's a good question.

Religious conservatives are now embracing racist voter suppression laws in bid to undermine abortion and LGBTQ rights

Religious right leaders such as Family Research Council president Tony Perkins are embracing and pushing racist voter suppression laws in a bid to undermine abortion and LGBTQ rights.

The religious right gained a lot of power during the Trump years and apparently they are willing to stoop to voter suppression in order to keep that power and gain more. Via a passive aggressive support of Donald Trump's big lie of voter fraud (because they aren't going to come out and openly support the lie), religious right groups and figures such as the Family Research Council and its president Tony Perkins and the Alliance Defending Freedom are exploiting the phrase "election integrity" with as much deceptive skill as they exploited other phrases such as "religious liberty" or "save women's sports."

I noticed this a while back so I am glad that someone with more writing talent, resources, and reach is taking this on. Historically, African-American and LGBTQ people have had the same enemies trying to undermine our rights. This merely adds an explanation point to that fact.

In the Vox article,  How the Christian right embraced voter suppression, Sarah Posner breaks it all down:

For decades, the Christian-right foot soldiers who form the backbone of the Republican Party have regularly and enthusiastically showed up for legislative battles over religious freedom and reproductive and LGBTQ rights. On September 1, they scored one of their biggest victories yet: the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and deputizes private citizens to report anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion. 

 Six days later, religious conservatives celebrated another critical legislative victory, one that signaled a new frontier in their movement. In the east Texas city of Tyler, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Election Integrity Protection Act of 2021, passed in late August after Democrats fled the state in a futile effort to stop it. The new law severely restricts voting access in Texas, with the biggest impact on voters of color; Abbott hailed it as a “good paradigm for other states to follow.”

 . . . The Christian right’s ability to mobilize its own voters has long made it one of the most potent forces in American politics. But this year, evangelical leaders have embraced a new strategy, one with direct roots in the outcome of the 2020 election: Religious activists have taken up the cause of “election integrity,” pushing bills to crack down on voter fraud, even though no evidence of widespread fraud in US elections exists. In the process, they’ve helped restrict ballot access for millions of Americans — the most regressive wave of voting measures since the Jim Crow era — and drawn a direct connection between their new cause and their core religious beliefs. 

 The goal is to protect the gains made by the Christian right during Donald Trump’s presidency, especially in the federal courts, and to restore the White House and Congress to Republican control. The biggest prize, of course, is the US Supreme Court, where — not coincidentally — all three of Trump’s appointees declined to block the Texas abortion bill from taking effect, signaling their willingness to overturn Roe v. Wade.

You can read the entire article here. It's definitely worth a read and share.

'LGBTQ -themed books removed from Fairfax County high school libraries' & other Tue midday news briefs

 

LGBTQ-Themed Books Removed From Fairfax County HS Libraries - And then they lied about the content of the books. Why am I not surprised? 

Three Polish regions repeal 'LGBT-free zone' declarations- Money talks. Always. 

13 Celebrities Who Came Out As Bisexual in 2021 - Bi-visibility!

Lauren Patten’s Tony Win For ‘Jagged Little Pill’ Slammed Amid Backstage Controversy - The more we know . . .

Homophobic anti-vaxxer catches COVID. Profanity-laced meltdown seems to be his side-effect.

Homophobic anti-vaxxer Josh Bernstein 

I do not rejoice when an anti-vaxxer is suddenly stricken with COVID and I generally don't spotlight such a thing because it's kinda morbid. But you will understand why the following is an exception to my rule.

Josh Bernstein (not the explorer) is an extreme conservative commentator far to the right of the genocidal Atilla the Hun crossed with serial killer Delphine LaLarue. He is an extreme homophobe (once referring to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as "Pickle Pete, the sodomite from South Bend") and an anti-vaxxer to the point of threatening to shoot anyone who tries to vaccinate him.

You know where I'm going with this. He now has COVID. But that's not the subject of this post. Stories of anti-vaxxers catching COVID is as old and tired as those family reunion episodes talks shows used to inundate us with.  The real story is that, according to Right Wing Watch, Bernstein has been in quarantine from last week and he may be going "stir crazy." So much profanity.  Such an ugly imagination

 You've been warned.

Anti-vax right-wing commentator Josh Bernstein has been sick with COVID and stuck in quarantine for the last week and he *is not* handling it well. (Fun fact: We can't recall having been sworn at this much before.) pic.twitter.com/EwfMpg0Nyc

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) September 27, 2021

'Culprits identified in viral video of attack on Gay-Straight Alliance' & other Mon midday news briefs

Culprits identified in viral video of Florida high schoolers attacking Gay-Straight Alliance - Good. Pluck all of those turkeys. 

Playwright Matthew López makes history as first Latino to win Tony for best play - Gay folks rule at the Tony Awards. What is an example of an evergreen headline. 

Police departments across U.S. are mandating LGBTQ training - And it's about time, too. 

Kenya bans tender gay film for being ‘demeaning to Christianity’ and ‘unsuitable for children’ - Give me a break, Kenya. 

Caitlyn Jenner has work to do after betraying trans athletes during California governor campaign - But will she?

Liz Cheney denounces her past opposition to gay marriage

Rep. Liz Cheney

Let me be clear about something.

 I am not a fan of Rep. Liz Cheney. I don't like her general positions, her past attacks on Obama nor am I posting this to somehow forget that she opposes gun control, a woman's right to chose an abortion, Obamacare, or other positions I favor. But I will give her props on what she said during a recent 60 Minutes interview with regards to her past opposition to marriage equality. No jumping through hoops. No long-winded explanation. Her statement was refreshingly simple.

The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney was an ascendant Republican leader before the Jan. 6 riot, yet she is increasingly defined by her public opposition to Trump and his hold on the GOP. Cheney, 55, noted that she still talks with her father every night and that they share the same views on rejecting Trump.  

 Liz Cheney famously broke with her family in 2013 by opposing gay marriage ahead of a failed Senate bid. Her objections caused a rift with her sister, Mary, a married lesbian. Mary’s spouse, Heather Poe, posted on Facebook that year that Cheney’s position was offensive and that I always thought freedom meant freedom for EVERYONE. 

 In the interview, Cheney said her opposition to gay marriage was misguided and she channeled her sister-in-law’s Facebook post in explaining why she changed her position. I was wrong. I was wrong,” she said. Its a very personal issue and very personal for my family. I believe that my dad was right. And my sister and I have had that conversation … Freedom means freedom for everybody.

On that one thing, I don't mind saying that I agree with her.

'Removal of 'safe space' stickers at high school causes students to walk out in protest' & other Fri midday news briefs

High School removes LGBTQ ‘Safe Space’ stickers- students walk out - These young kids continue to impress me.

Rhode Island Hate Group Leader Attacks Trans Kids - Another one. 

California poised to make this shady sexual practice illegal - Works for me. It is a rather tacky thing to do.

Hungary: Leaders slam migration, LGBTQ at 'family values' summit - Get bent, bigots.

Billy Eichner's Gay Rom-Com Makes History with All-LGBTQ Cast: 'A Long Overdue Dream' - Sounds promising.

Is 'Cruising' a disgusting movie or a misunderstood cult classic?

 In 1980, a movie called Cruising came out and caused a firestorm. It starred Al Pacino as a New York detective who goes undercover  as a gay man in the leather district in order to find a serial killer. It was controversial because it was vile and sordid. It took a lot of negative stereotypes about gay men and went into overdrive, particularly the one about realizing that you're gay causes you to become a killer. Needless to say it caused extensive protests even while being made and subsequently bombed at the box office.

I've seen it and thought it was disgusting. But once I showed a clip of it to a younger gay man - as in grew up in the post Ellen DeGeneres comes out/ Will and Grace world. He didn't find it to be as nauseous as I did. And that's the subject of this blog post. I have included the trailer and a full scene (NSFW) of Cruising as well as interviews with protestors. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Feel free to respond in the comments section

    

'False story of two girls 'groping and French kissing' on LGBTQ float causes controversy at school board meeting' & other Thur midday news briefs

A video pushed by this group helped to spread a lie that two girls were 'groping and French kissing' on an LGBTQ float. The story isn't true, but it has caused controversy.

LGBTQ pride float sparks controversy at Williamson Co. school board meeting - This is a perfect of how even acknowledging LGBTQ people causes some folks to overreact. The situation was that two LGBTQ students are on video kissing on a parade float. They were accused of French kissing and groping each other. The kiss was a mere peck on the lips. No groping. No French kissing. You can see it via the link and judge for yourselves.

Priest Busted Stealing Parish Money For Drugs and Gay Sex Parties - How many times is this going to happen? 

Catholic high school rehired a gay coach following outcry from students and parents - Nice! 

Hundreds Of Irving Students Walk Out In Protest Of Alleged LGBTQ Discrimination - Good for them! 

One Polish ‘LGBTQ Free Zone’ reverses status after EU threatens funding - Good. Grab those fools by their wallets.

Right-wing pastor claims homosexuality is a demonic spirit taking over children because it wants our seed . . . or something like that

Kent Christmas

One of the "duties" this blog has when it comes to monitoring religious right lies is to remind LGBTQ folks that lies spread about us in the past can't ever be easily dismissed. This is because they continue to be repeated and believed by a segment of the population.. I don't like doing and folks don't like being reminded of it, but it's necessary.

Take for example this claim by religious right pastor Kent Christmas in what looks like a megachurch sermon. He adds a new dimension to the "gays want to recruit" children lie:

Right-wing pastor Kent Christmas says that Christian children are being "taken over by homosexuality": "It is a demonic spirit that has come after our seed." pic.twitter.com/dKWlSZNTne

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) September 22, 2021

Okay, who told him. Seriously can't you queens keep a secret?  And don't think I didn't catch the part about "seed." Let's NOT go there.

Hat tip to Right Wing Watch