'FL legislature advances 'don't say gay' bill after DeSantis voices support' & other Wed midday news briefs

Florida Legislature advances "Don't Say Gay" bill after DeSantis backing​ - DeSantis and Florida are simply determined to walk through it all with gasoline underwear. By all means, please do. 

TikTok star Emira D’Spain is Victoria’s Secret’s first Black trans model - Good for her!

In a First, Asian-American Lesbian Confirmed to Ambassador-Level Post - Another achievement!

The Moderna HIV vaccine trials are underway - Keep your fingers crossed.

Biden Administration strongly condemns Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill

From The Hill: 

 The White House on Tuesday condemned a bill making its way through the Florida legislature that would prohibit the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in the state's primary schools.

 "Every parent … hopes that our leaders will ensure their [children's] safety, protection and freedom, and today conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack kids who need that support the most, kids from LGBTQI+ community," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a briefing with reporters. "Make no mistake, this is not an isolated action in Florida," she continued. "Across the country, we’re seeing Republican leaders taking action to regulate what students can or cannot read, what they can or cannot learn, and most troubling, who they can or cannot be. This is who these kids are, and these legislators are trying to make it harder for them to be who they are." 

 Psaki, when asked why the administration was weighing in on state legislation, said the White House felt it was important to speak out against the Florida law. The Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have described as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, would bar discussion of sexual orientation in elementary schools across the state. Republicans argue the discussion of LGBTQ issues is not age appropriate for those students.

Another dangerous component of the bill is that it would force teachers to out LGBTQ youth to their parents, potentially exposing them to homelessness if their parents kick them out of their homes or violence with their parents being the culprits. Unfortunately, in spite of all of the condemnation, the bill continues to be moving forward through the FL legislature.

White House statement on Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill:

“Every parent hopes that our leaders will ensure their children’s safety, protection, and freedom. Today, conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most – LGBTQI+ students, who are already vulnerable to bullying and violence just for being themselves. But make no mistake – this is not an isolated action. Across the country, we’re seeing Republican leaders take actions to regulate what students can or cannot read, what they can or cannot learn, and most troubling, who they can or cannot be. This is politics at its worse, cynically treating our students as pawns in a game and not people who deserve love and respect. At every step of the way, Republicans have peddled in cheap, political attacks, instead of focusing on the issues parents, students, and teachers care about.

 Just imagine what it would feel like to be a kid watching the leaders in your state bully you through legislation that tries to erase your existence. These types of attacks are the root cause of the mental health crisis that too many LGBTQI+ children face. The President wants LGBTQI+ young people who may be feeling scared or alone to know that they are loved exactly for who they are, and that he won’t stop fighting for the protections and safety they deserve.

 Instead of making growing up even harder for our young people, President Biden and his Administration are focused on keeping schools open, providing resources to combat learning loss, and supporting students’ mental health. The Biden-Harris Administration will continue speaking out against harmful anti-LGBTQI+ bills and taking steps to protect our nation’s students.”

'Seven out athletes are playing for Team Canada's Women Hockey team' & other Tue midday news briefs

7 out athletes are playing for Team Canada's Women's Hockey team! - I remember when only having one out athlete would be problematic. Seven out Olympic athletes on one team is sweet.

A Push to Remove LGBTQ Books in One County Could Signal Rising Partisanship on School Boards - Thank you conservatives for making schools boards a battle zone. Of course I'm being sarcastic (these days, you always have to specify.) 

This Is What It's Like Going To The Gynecologist When You're Black, Trans And In Texas​ - Thank you for this article, KB Brookins. 

LDS Church supports bipartisan Arizona bill with LGBTQ protections - I'm just as shocked as you. 

16 queer Black trailblazers who made history - And oldie but goodie.

Gov DeSantis supports 'don't say gay' bill which could expose LGBTQ kids to parental abuse

 

FL Gov Ron DeSantis

As vile as this development is, it should surprise no one. The 2024 presidential election will be here sooner than you think and FL Governor Ron DeSantis is eager to bcome the GOP front runner. 

Apparently it doesn't matter if he has to pave his road to the Oval Office with LGBTQ kids.

From The New Civil Rights Movement:

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday for the first time showed support for an anti-LGBTQ bill that bans discussion of LGBTQ issues or topics in schools while forcing teachers to out children to their parents at home. “In terms of the schools, we’ve seen instances of students being told by different folks in school, ‘Oh, you know, don’t worry, don’t pick your gender yet. Do all this other stuff,’” DeSantis said Monday, Florida Politics reports. 

“They won’t tell the parents about these discussions that are happening. That is entirely inappropriate.” DeSantis also said it is “inappropriate” for teachers “to be hiding these things from parents,” meaning issues of sexual orientation or gender identity. “To get into situations where you’re not having the parent (involved), where you’re hiding things from the parent, you’re injecting these concepts about choosing your gender. That is just inappropriate for our schools,” DeSantis reinforced.

DeSantis's tone is one of the problems with the bill. His narrative embraces deliberate omission of LGBTQ parents and same-sex families. And there is a even deadlier problem with the bill which needs more discussion.

As the article notes, the bill forces teachers to out students to their parents because of the narrative that parents know best. However, the sad but unfortunate fact when it comes to LGBTQ kids is that many times, parents don't know best. And sometimes the actions they take after their children are outed are the worst thing which could happen.

Some LGBTQ youth become homeless because they are kicked out by their parents after being outed. And on the streets, they face high risks of physical and sexual abuse, more discrimination, suicidal thoughts, and as well as other negative repercussions.   

According to Lambda Legal:

Between 20% and 40% of all homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ. Frequently rejected by their families or fleeing abusive long-term placements, these youth are too often misunderstood and mistreated by the staff and other residents at temporary shelters. Homeless and runaway LGBTQ youth too often are misunderstood and mistreated by the staff and other residents at temporary shelters. Harassment, assault and even rape within these facilities are common experiences. The data is sobering: half of a sampling of lesbian and gay youth who had been in out-of-home care settings reported that they had spent periods of time living on the streets in preference to the hostile environments they had found in these settings.  Being homeless imperils a young person’s physical and emotional security. 

According to a 2002 study by the University of Washington, LGBTQ homeless youth are physically or sexually victimized on average by seven more people than non-LGBTQ homeless youth. With nowhere to go and no means of support, some may be forced to engage in survival behaviors that place them at significantly higher risk for mental health problems, substance abuse and exposure to sexually transmitted infections. Some of these survival activities, such as sex work, are illegal, leading many LGBTQ homeless youth to encounters with the juvenile justice and delinquency systems.

And in equally ugly situations, having to remain at home after they are outed exposes LGBTQ kids to violence and other forms of abuse. with their parents being the culprits.

Supposedly the bill has a component which says notifications may not happen if it is determined that the child would be exposed to violence in their home. But that part is vague in terms of who makes the determination or its criteria. And LGBTQ kids deserve more than a vague component which sounds more like of a Cover Your Ass protection for the bill instead of genuine protection for them.

By supporting this bill, Gov. DeSantis is saying he doesn't care about the well-being of  LGBTQ kids who are stuck in potentially abusive households or even just as bad, thrown out in the street by their parents. 

In this desire to create more notoriety for themselves and more action from their base,  DeSantis and supporters of the bill seem to be ignoring the fact that kids have rights too - most specifically, the right to feel safe from discrimination, violence and other forms of abuse even if it may from their parents.

Related post - FL 'don't say gay' bill sends message of erasure to LGBTQ kids and same-sex families

'Republicans targeting LGBTQ youth in state legislative sessions' & other Mon midday news briefs

Florida Republicans target LGBTQ youth in 2022 legislative session​ - So it's not just transgender children. The GOP is targeting all LGBTQ kids. 

Lawmakers Target LGBTQ Issues in Schools - And not just in Florida.

16 Penn swimmers issue letter in support of new transgender athlete rules - Right after a letter of support for her. No difficult guesses who or what group is behind THIS letter. 

LGBTQ adults report higher COVID vaccination rates than heterosexual adults, CDC says - Meanwhile. 

This gay NHL fan was attacked and is coming forward to stop homophobia - A terrifying but necessary story.

Video - 33 Iconic Quotes from RuPaul's Drag Race

To be honest, I don't watch RuPaul's Drag Race, but I do enjoy the snippets I have now and again seen. Mainly, I enjoy watching how drag culture has made itself a part of the American mainstream culture. Particularly because I'm old enough to remember the time when no one talked positive about drag queens, much less put them on television. 

'Teacher suing the district. Says she was harassed for standing up for LGBTQ kids' & other Fri midday news briefs

Teacher says she got harassed for standing up for LGBTQ kids. Now she’s suing the district.​ - Sometimes only the loss of money can get people to do the right thing.

LGBTQ Books Are Being Banned. Their Authors Are Fighting Back. - We all need to fight in this war. 

Tennessee bill would ban teaching of LGBTQ issues in schools - Geez, Tenn! It's a dumb bill, but keep it up. Dig that hole.

Gay British curler Bruce Mouat picks up Team LGBTQ’s first Olympics win - Hello!!

They are now actually burning books in Tennessee, y'all

Conservative anti-LGBTQ pastor Greg Locke prepares to throw a bunch of books into a bonfire (as seen in the below tweet)

As everyone knows, there is presently a nationwide hysteria with regards to the banning of books. This is because some felt that they would warp the minds of children by  encouraging discussion on racism and other controversial issues amongst kids especially confirm the existence of LGBTQ people.

Probably the most attention-grabbing incident was a school in Tennessee banning a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about The Holocaust entitled Maus. Apparently the state isn't done with the issue as of yet because a controversial pastor who spreads misinformation about COVID decided to take it all a step further.

He held an event in which there was an actual banning of books. According to The Nashville Scene:

Last week, McMinn County made news when the school board voted to ban beloved graphic novel Maus — a Holocaust story told with anthropomorphic mice and cats — due to instances of swear words and nudity. While the vote happened in early January, it went viral following a report from TN Holler. 

Last night, Mt. Juliet pastor and pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Greg Locke decided to turn it up a notch by organizing an old-fashioned book burning. The books included millennial staples like Harry Potter and Twilight — hits of the early Aughts that were targeted by Christian book burnings back in the day. In a sermon preceding the bonfire, 

Locke described beefing with "Free Mason devils" and said "I ain't gonna be 'suiciding myself' no time soon." Locke also said people aren't mad that they were burning books, but mad because of the books they were burning — implying that his critics, even other pastors, were devil and witchcraft supporters.

 

Republicans are now literally burning books pic.twitter.com/zAJHl2HY4q

— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) February 3, 2022

Locke  is a very interesting figure in Baptist circles and isn't necessarily liked. Last year, he was banned from Twitter for spreading wild misinformation about COVID and vaccines. In addition, he believes that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and is also - surprise, surprise - rabidly homophobic even to the point of playing the "gays are pedophiles and they want to have sex with children" card.

He's a nut, but he is also an empowered nut. And that is the problem.

Still, he has his uses. No matter harmless some conservatives and members of the religious right cast their plans, there is always one in the crowd eager to rip off the mask of faked levity and reveal just how sordid they all are. 

And we should always be grateful for the existence of that fool.

Editor's note - Picture and tweet courtesy of Tennessee Holler. Big props for breaking this story.

'Ex-president Alphonso David sues HRC for racial discrimination' & other Thur midday news briefs

Alphonso David

Ex-president Alphonso David sues HRC for racial discrimination​ - Batten down the hatches. Things are about to get ugly at HRC. Still our work as a community goes on. The pursuit of LGBTQ equality did not begin because of HRC and it won't end with HRC no matter what problems the group has. 

7 Times Amy Schneider Made Jeopardy! History - No matter what our trans brothers and sisters are faced with, they always rise to challenge and kick ass. 

USA Swimming capitulates to a right-wing media hate campaign and prematurely ends trans swimmer Lia Thomas’ season - This illustrates the power of the anti-LGBTQ industry. They have a disciplined network and we don't. Unpaid and uncoordinated bloggers with minimum reaches to powerful LGBTQ and mainstream media sources have a hard time competing. Now it's not just the refutation of homophobic and transphobic lies and junk science which is necessary. The machine has become larger and more powerful. 

Comedians get Trumpers to agree to ban the Bible from schools by telling them what’s in it - Like I said before, let's have that conversation.

Video - 'Unladylike2020' - LGBTQ black icon Gladys Bentley made defying the cultural norms work for her

I am posting this video because its subject, Gladys Bentley, is a fascinating icon in both Black and LGBTQ history. At a time in which homosexuality was heavily frowned up, Bentley stood out as a talented artist who refused to hide who she was. She embraced not being seen as 'ladylike' and made it work for her.

Also, this video should start a much needed, albeit highly difficult discussion with regards to our black heroes and how said heroes treated LGBTQ people of color. (as seen with civil rights stalwart Adam Clayton Powell starting at 7:18 of the video ) As we saw last year with the Dave Chappelle situation, some heterosexual black people only 'tolerate' LGBTQ black people after they psychologically split our dual identities. 

Biden's desire to put a black woman on SCOTUS is yanking the evangelical hypocrites out of the closet

Tony Perkins thinks that Biden's decision to put a black woman on SCOTUS is wrong because the American public 'deserves a robust debate' on the nominee no matter who it may be. Too bad he didn't feel that way about Merrick Garland.

President Biden's decision to name a black woman to the Supreme Court is wonderful in so many ways. For one, it's about time a black woman is put on SCOTUS. The closest we got to receiving one is when former president Bill Clinton talked about naming former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan as a justice. Unfortunately her health problems kept that from happening.

Another benefit to Biden's decision is how it allows me to dig into my basket of receipts and call out the conservative and religious right hypocrites who are raising a fuss about it. These folks claim that Biden is sending a negative message of discrimination to those who aren't black women and message of pandering to black women.

Exhibit A of this outcry is from what's becoming my favorite anti-LGBTQ group to call out, the Family Research Council. It's president, Tony Perkins, claims that Biden's desire to name a black woman to SCOTUS is unfair, while pointing to a poll which says the majority of Americans disagree with Biden decision to name a black woman:

To most people, it didn't feel like a grand, equitable gesture. It felt like identity politics run amok. "Typical," Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) fumed, of an administration that's been "race-obsessed, gender-obsessed" from the beginning. And Americans seem to agree. In a brand new ABC poll over the weekend, 76 percent of Americans said they wanted Biden to consider "all possible nominees." Only 23 percent think he should limit the pool to black women. 

 Even the Washington Post's Ruth Marcus couldn't help but admit, "Would I be more comfortable if Biden hadn't been quite so explicit? Yes. Partly because it carries an aura of unfairness to announce that no one will be considered who does not meet an announced racial test," she wrote. Still, she insisted, the criticism over Biden's criteria seems "racially tinged." In other words, the Wall Street Journal's editors point out, "What she's really saying is that conservatives are right in their criticism but only liberals can say so... The Court and the public deserve a robust debate about the nominee, whether black, white, Asian, man, woman, whatever." 

Well that's interesting because it reminds me of another poll in 2016 concerning another potential SCOTUS justice - our present Attorney General, Merrick Garland:

The majority of Americans want the Senate to consider President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, according to a new poll. A CNN/ORC poll released Friday found that some two-thirds of Americans surveyed want the Senate to hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, who Obama nominated to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. 

Most Republicans surveyed disagree with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who, along with other Senate GOP members, has said the Senate will not hold hearings for an Obama nominee. Some 55% of Republicans said the Senate should hold hearings, along with 67% of Democrats. A majority of those polled also said Obama should select the next justice (57%), but those views are divided by party with 85% of Democrats backing the president and only 26% of Republicans.

We all know how this story ended. Garland did not get a hearing and Trump - being elected after Obama  - chose Neil Gorsuch as his SCOTUS pick. The GOP-controlled Senate, led by Sen. McConnell, confirmed him.

But where was Perkins and the Family Research Council when Garland was being denied a hearing?  They were cheering on efforts to deny the hearing. FRC even sent out a press release echoing McConnell's excuse for not holding a hearing and attacking Garland as being too radical:

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement: 

 "Judge Garland is far from being a consensus nominee and would be an incredibly different jurist than Justice Scalia. In fact, he was opposed by almost a quarter of the Senators who voted on his nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court in 1997, and some of Judge Garland’s most recent opinions and dissents raises serious questions about his ability to serve as a constitutionalist. 

 "During this presidential election year, there is not time to provide any nominee the thorough review necessary to adequately consider a person’s appointment to the Supreme Court. In fact, it has been almost a century and a half since a Supreme Court vacancy occurred and was filled in an election year when the White House and Senate were controlled by different parties. 

"This November, Americans will speak to who they want nominating the next Justice for the United States Supreme Court. The American people should have a say, and the Senate should respect Americans' desire to speak to this important issue by declining to schedule hearings and votes on a Supreme Court nominee this year.

It's obvious that Perkins and FRC think of the America public in the same way as the GOP - not mattering until their opinions can be distorted and exploited.

'Joe Rogan also spews anti-trans rhetoric on his podcast' & other Tue midday news briefs

Joe Rogan amplifies transphobic lies but won't invite transgender people on his show.

Joe Rogan Continues to Spew Anti-Trans Rhetoric on His Spotify Podcast​ - People have righteously raised hell with Rogan over his COVID misinformation. BUT they forget how he amplifies transphobic grifters WITHOUT giving trans people the courtesy of being invited on his show. Folks claim that Rogan encourages needed debate in general, but when it comes to transgender people, that notion is a HUGE lie.   

Anti-gay Trump judge is insulting his colleagues & annoying everyone on the federal bench - But then they whine about Biden's possible SCOTUS pick. 

Trump promises to ban transgender women from sports if re-elected - Okay . . .. whatever. 

He started an LGBTQ magazine during the pandemic. Here’s what he learned. - A wonderful and positive article.

Speaking of banning books. let's have a conversation about the Bible . . .

In light of all of the book banning going on around the country, we should call out the irony when it comes to the 'religious persuasion' - conservative evangelicals - of the groups and individuals behind much of this madness.  This is solely because of the book they claim to be their guide for life, i.e. The Bible. 

Far be it from me to seem petty, but for a group of people so concerned with children being warped from what they read, the book they endorse has a lot of violence and sex in it. 

For example:

We all know the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho, but folks seem to forget that after those walls came crashing down, Joshua's army massacred everybody in the city except for a prostitute called Rahab and her family. 

We all know the story of Daniel in the lion's den, but folks seem to omit that after he was delivered, those responsible for his plight - and their families - were then fed to the lions. 

And the story about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah has been drilled into our heads as proof that homosexuality is a supposed sin. But what about the story afterwards of the incest between Lot and his daughters. Or the Levite man in the book of Judges when faced with the situation of nearly being gang raped - see Sodom and Gomorrah - handed over his concubine to be manhandled to death, which she was.

Then there is the story of the general, Sisera, who had a tent peg nailed through his head while he slept.

The king Agag, who was chopped into pieces by the prophet Samuel,

The queen Jezebel who thrown out of a window and then whose corpse was eaten by dogs after a chariot was driven over her (She was NOT a nice person), 

Elisha the prophet who had bears come out of the forest and attack boys who was making fun of him,

The king Eglon who has assassinated by having a knife so deeply driven into his belly that feces came out

Then there was  Athaliah, a queen so wicked that she had her grandchildren massacred so she could gain the throne. (She was the daughter of Jezebel. That was not a nice family)

And let's not forget massacre after massacre after massacre all done in God's name, including the wedding dowry of 200 foreskins (which of course was NOT handed over voluntarily).

I hope you see where I'm going with this. There are people out there wanting to ban books because of profanity, sex,  discussions of racism and anti-Semitism, or the existence of LGBTQ people for fear that these things are harmful to their children. And yet these are the same people taking guidance  - including the raising of same children  - from a book containing more violence and sex than a Quentin Tarantino movie.

The point is not to disrespect the Bible or the religious beliefs of those who have a deep personal faith in the Bible. But to put it plainly, book banning is not about parental control nor protecting children. It's about protecting an inflated and undeserved sense of self-entitlement. Some seem to think that it's not enough to mandate what ideas are appropriate in their own homes. Instead they want the ability to mandate the appropriateness of ideas to other families and their children.  They want to dictate standards which others are forced to follow while claiming that not affording them this privilege is harming them.

There is a name for that - gaslighting.

Books are not dangerous to children nor are class discussions about controversial issues those books may spark.  The danger lies in the hypocrisy of those exploiting their children to sanction their own personal beliefs and prejudices in laws and regulations.  Especially when we see that the faces and voices of LGBTQ and parents of color have been omitted throughout this controversy.

And most likely, deliberately so.

'Conservatives are banning books from schools while whining about 'cancel culture'' & other Mon midday news briefs

Conservatives Are Banning Books From Schools While Whining About 'Cancel Culture' - We definitely noticed. 

LGBTQ advocates regroup on paid parental leave after Biden's safety net bill stalls​ - Obstructionism affects us all. 

A Guest Was Denied Entry At a Restaurant For 'Not Dressing Their Gender' - So ridiculous of the restaurant. 

Schumer Vows to Pass Federal LGBTQ Non-Discrimination Bill - We'll see.

Video: The time Madeline Kahn put drag and radical queer theater on primetime television

LGBTQ folks loved us some Madeline Kahn. She was highly talented, very funny, and could do anything. She was the only person I knew who could upstage Barbara Streisand and she did that in her first screen appearance. And, of course, she was a wonderful ally. As we cruise into a new week which will bring us probably more drama and eyerolling moments (particularly with the book banning madness going on around the country), let's have a light moment courtesy of LGBTQ video historian Matt Baume. Apparently, Madeline put drag on primetime television decades before RuPaul came on the scene:

Did you ever hear about the time Madeline Kahn used a failing sitcom to introduce America to radical queer theater, convincing ABC to broadcast an appearance by one of the most subversive drag artists in the country? This is the story of how Charles Ludlam, Charles Pierce, and Charles Busch revolutionized queer theater, and how their influence can still be found on your favorite drag shows to this day.

'Minnie Mouse is going to wear a pantsuit and conservatives are angry about it' & other Fri midday news briefs

Minnie Mouse is going to wear a pantsuit & OMG conservatives are upset about it - I WISH this was a joke. They gonna really freak when they hear about Smurfette living in the forest with a bunch of gay guys (well not all of them. wasn't it convenient how Baby Smurf just showed up two years later) 

Lessons Learned as a Gay Son of Holocaust Survivors - Never Again. 

Top GOP staffer compares transgender children to terrorists​ - Guess who he works for.  

Out Princeton wrestler says he quit the team due to rampant homophobia - This is terrible! 

National LGBTQ group GLSEN appoints first Black, nonbinary executive director - Good going, GLSEN!!

'Parental rights' bill could discourage abused children from confiding in their teachers

Imagine being so homophobic that you push a bill which could prevent an abused child from seeking help. That is what's happening in Arizona.

According to The Arizona Mirror by way of Raw Story:

Arizona Republicans this week lined up behind a measure that would discipline teachers and open them up to lawsuits if they don’t tell parents everything a student tells them — even if the student confides that he or she is gay or transgender. The legislation, House Bill 2161, would make it illegal for a government employee to withhold information that is “relevant to the physical, emotional or mental health of the parent’s child,” and specifically prevents teachers from withholding information about a student’s “purported gender identity” or a request to transition to a gender other than the “student’s biological sex.” The bill would allow parents to sue school districts if teachers don’t comply. 

A bill like this is shortsighted on a number of levels. The most obvious was how it could undermine a child in an abusive household from telling his or her teacher. This was pointed out during a Jan 25th legislative committee meeting:

Jeanne Casteen, the executive director of the Arizona Secular Coalition and a former teacher, worried about how the reporting function of the bill would impact child abuse. Teachers are mandatory reporters, and Casteen said that every time she had to report child abuse, it was being inflicted by a parent. Under Kaiser’s bill, she said, a teacher would also have to notify the parents — the likely abusers — that the child informed them of the abuse. “I keep hearing about parental rights, but what about the rights of these students?” Casteen said.

A very telling moment about this bill came during the same committee meeting when Rep. Daniel Hernandez, an openly gay legislator, challenged the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Steven Kaiser, about who exactly drafted the bill. Kaiser admitted working with anti-LGBTQ groups instead of educational organizations:

Kaiser initially said the bill was created via a “stakeholder group” and his “own inherent passion” for the issue. But when Hernandez pressed him on which stakeholders were involved in drafting the bill, Kaiser admitted he didn’t work with education groups or teachers, but with anti-LGBTQ advocacy groups — chief among them the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative Christian lobbying organization that has pushed numerous controversial and bigoted bills since forming in 1995. CAP holds sway with most Republican lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey, and is widely considered one of the most powerful lobbying groups at the state Capitol.

 “I know you have a long-standing (dislike) of that organization. I understand where the bait was in that question,” Kaiser told Hernandez, who is gay. “I’m not sure what education group I’d go to, because they’d be against this.” 

 Another stakeholder that Kaiser consulted is Family Watch International, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated an anti-LGBTQ hate group. That group also has its fingerprints on another piece of legislation that would ban any books that have “sexually explicit” content and that critics say would effectively make it illegal to teach about homosexuality.

The Arizona bill is one of many pushed by GOP state legislators across the country. These bills seek to shut down discussions of race, sexual orientation, or gender identity in classrooms under the guise of 'parental right,' which seems to the new buzz phrase for conservatives.

But according to columnist Will Bunch, these 'gag orders' are mimicking 'McCarthyism.'

'Florida lawmaker tells homophobic parents exactly what we all want to say' & other Thur midday news briefs

Florida lawmaker tells homophobic parent exactly what we all want to say​ - THIS is why representation matters. There is nothing wrong with LGBTQ people running for office and thus being able to get into a position to amplify our community concerns.

Florida Senate Bill Could Ban Books With LGBTQ+ Characters - More about the above situation. Unfortunately this is a different bill than the one in the House. Good news though, there was a heavy pushback on the false information. Again, having LGBTQ office holders helps tremendously. 

Amy Schneider's historic 'Jeopardy!' win streak comes to an end after 40 victories - Well darn. Oh well. You did good, girlfriend! 

Jerry Falwell Jr. opens up about pool boy scandal, says the whole evangelical thing was just an act - JUST in case you didn't hear . . . no sh!t. 

LGBTQ Afghans face surge of rape, torture after Taliban takeover, report says - The struggle is real and worldwide. Keep our brothers and sisters in your hearts and prayers.

Don't be fooled. The Family Research Council doesn't give a d@mn about any of your children.

Below is the graphic from a Family Research Council email asking for money:

The email is the usual lies about the need to protect America's children from 'pornographic sex education,'  'LGBT ideology,' 'a pervasive anti-American sentiment' and (here's a new one) Critical Race Theory (which, for those who aren't familiar with the term, is the new way conservatives are scaring the hell out of their base.)

As odious as this ridiculous - and probably successful - fundraising attempt is, it gets even more nauseating when one remembers other ways FRC invokes 'protecting children' in its literature:

.  

I'd be willing to believe that the Family Research Council actually did care about children in its own twisted way if it weren't for the group falsely implying that transgender children are rapists and all-around predators. 

In reality, the Family Research Council sees children in the same manner which it sees religious beliefs, which is as a commodity for money, fear, and power. 

'Over 500 corporations support Equality Act, but it may not even matter' & other Wed midday news briefs

Over 500 corporations back effort to support Equality Act. Does it matter? - It probably doesn't because as the article notes, many of these companies are supporting legislators standing in the way of it being passed. Some people want to blame Biden for this, but we can't.

St. Vincent Catholic Charities wins settlement that allows charity to deny adoption to LGBTQ couples​ - Half of the story. It was an overall victory for our side but little crinkles for the religious right. Such as this. 

This gay NASCAR driver just raced at Daytona for the first time since coming out - How did he do?

'Batgirl' casts Ivory Aquino as first trans character in a DC Comics feature film - Good for them!

Cedar Rapids community rallies around inclusive statement after board member falsely connects it with child sex trafficking

 

No matter how many times the above claim about gay men and pedophilia has been refuted, some people still believe it as an incident in Cedar Rapids IA proved.

A recent incident during a board meeting in Cedar Rapids, IA reminds us that the prejudicial beliefs about groups of people generally don't go away. Instead, they get remodeled or retooled into another form.

 In the past, folks used to accuse LGBTQ people of trying to 'recruit' children. Now they say we are attempting to 'groom' them.  The incident also reminds us of the success we have when we refuse to allow ourselves to be maligned.

From KCRG in Cedar Rapids (link includes a video news report of the situation including footage of the meeting):

A statement meant to promote inclusion in Fairfield, led to controversy, when city council member Judy Ham said it could lead to perversions and sex trafficking. Confused and offended, several community members in Fairfield addressed the city council Monday night over the comments, which were made January 10th. 

 “This is called grooming if you don’t know what sex trafficking is,” Ham said while holding up the Statement of Intent prepared by the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. The statement, condemns discrimination based on several factors including sexual orientation and gender identity. Council member Doug Flournoy, responded to Ham’s concern at the January 10th meeting. 

 “No this document in and of itself is not grooming but it’s a component of grooming isn’t it,” Flournoy said. “Yes it is,” Ham answered. “Because you normalize and you teach children these are normal things for people to be doing,” Flournoy explained. 

 The conversation was tabled on the 10th, but led several LQBTQ residents to the microphone Monday night, to call on the city to pass the Statement of Intent. 

According to The Ottumwa Courier, Ham's accusations of grooming had the opposite effect of what she may have intended. Not only did LGBTQ residents speak out in favor of the statement, but her claim was also condemned by the IOWA ACLU:

A statement by ACLU of Iowa Executive Director Mark Stringer said the resolution included language that aligns with what the city is required to do by law. 

 "Treating everyone equally and with dignity, as the letter of intent states, is the foundation of fair and good government," Stringer said. "It's important to note that the law requires the government, including the City of Fairfield, to treat people fairly and equally and not discriminate. We were appalled to hear some city council members express disagreement with those long-held American principles." 

 Several community members have reacted in Facebook posts and letters to the city's leadership, as well. 

 "What occurred during the Council's discourse can only be described as a step back in time," Lore Oliver wrote in a letter shared on Facebook. "To a time at which members of the LGBTQ community were viewed as subhuman and sexual deviants. I was appalled as at least one member of the Council compared myself, and those like myself to "perverts." It was also implied that by validating the humanity of LGBTQ people they would somehow be opening the door to "child groomers" and "sex traffickers." 

Other posts show community members who have urged others to contact their city council members, including Ham. Some have called for Ham's resignation.

The statement ended up passing by a 4-3 vote.

'Chasen Buttigieg: Florida's proposed anti-LGBTQ bill will 'kill kids'' & other Tue midday news briefs

Chasten Buttigieg: Florida’s Proposed Anti-LGBTQ Bill ‘Will Kill Kids’​ -  It's an ugly fact but it's a fact.

 Dozens of Catholic priests just came out of the closet - Hello! 

Anti-LGBTQ group claims Va. marriage amendment repeal will legalize polygamy - STILL fighting this battle. LOL 

Here Are the Out Athletes Competing At the 2022 Winter Olympics (So Far) - So far is right.

Senator Marco Rubio ignores FL 'don't say gay' bill while meddling in Finland court case of anti-gay MP

Sen Marco Rubio defends anti-gay government official in foreign court case while ignoring 'don't say gay' bill in his own state.

Recently, several GOP senators chose to meddle in a foreign hate crimes case, raising questions of hypocrisy. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sent out the following press release on Monday:

 

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Mike Braun (R-IN) sent a letter to Rashad Hussain, the newly-confirmed U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, urging his office to monitor the alarming case in Finland against two Christians accused of violating Finland’s hate crime law due to their deeply held religious convictions.

 Today, Finnish courts held a hearing on charges brought against former Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church for alleged hate crimes based on their tweets and past statements reflecting their beliefs on biblical teachings. “It is our understanding that Finnish authorities believe that these actions constitute hate speech, even though these statements reflect a conception of marriage and sexuality that is upheld not just by hundreds of millions of Christians, but also by many Muslims and Jews worldwide,” the senators wrote. 

“We are greatly concerned that the use of Finnish law is tantamount to a secular blasphemy law. It could open the door for prosecution of other devout Christians, Muslims, Jews and adherents of other faiths for publicly stating their religious beliefs that may conflict with secular trends. We believe that, regardless of whether Finnish prosecutors agree with the religious beliefs that MP Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola have expressed, all people have a fundamental right to the freedoms of religion and speech, which should be upheld without fear of government interference.”

According to Yahoo News  the situation involves Paivi Rasanen, a government official in Finland, and Bishop Juhana Pohjol who are on trial because of an anti-gay Bible tweet. They have been accused of violating Finland's hate crimes law.

 A Christian Democrat MP said Monday she is defending "freedom of speech and religion" on the first day of her hate speech trial in Finland over social media posts condemning homosexuality. Paivi Rasanen, a former interior minister and Christian Democrats leader, denies all four charges of incitement against a minority group, which relate to a radio show appearance and online writings about same-sex relationships. 

 Rasanen described homosexuality as a "psychosexual developmental disorder" and said that homosexual people are "dysfunctional". One charge related to a June 2019 tweet in which the long-time parliamentarian criticised the Finnish Lutheran church for partnering with that year's Pride celebrations, accusing the organisation of "elevating shame and sin to a subject of pride" 

 ... Bishop Juhana Pohjola also faces incitement charges for publishing Rasanen's writings on the website of Finland's Luther Foundation. 

I am not condemning or defending Finland's law, but there is a major problem here. It's rather hypocritical for these senators to meddle with a foreign case involving no Americans in light of how they - specifically one (Josh Hawley) - behaved during the January 6th insurrection of last year and how they continue to undermine the committee attempting to uncover the truth about that day.

And specifically in the case of Rubio, the hypocrisy becomes downright ugly.

Florida is presently embroiled in a controversy over a bill which would ban discussions of LGBTQ issues in classrooms across the state.  While the 'don't say gay' bill passed a committee vote and will advance to the Full House, Rubio has been conveniently silent about it. The main complaint about this bill is that it works to erase LGBTQ kids and same-sex families so maybe Rubio is practicing in anticipation. (that was sarcasm)

The fact of the matter is that these senators were not elected to look after Finnish interests. Americans taxpayers are responsible for their salaries. And in the case of Rubio, he should remember that some of those taxpayers are LGBTQ Floridians. 

' AC Mack becomes pro wrestling's first out LGBTQ male world champion' & other Mon midday news briefs

AC Mack

AC Mack is pro wrestling’s first out LGBTQ male world champion - Note the word 'out.' If we can make it in pro wrestling, we can make it anywhere. 

Republicans are hoping to make Virginia the next state to ban trans youth from sports​ - I don't know if they are going to win this one but they certainly are going to try. 

LGBTQ groups stop short of criticizing Sinema for obstructing filibuster reform - This is a serious quandry. 

NCAA's new trans athlete guidelines sow confusion amid Lia Thomas debate - I'm all for clarification, but this doesn't seem to be clarifying anything for anyone.

Attempt to suppress ad featuring drag queen backfires and creates a 'Streisand effect'

 

An attempt to pull an ad featuring a drag performer gives us all a wonderful opportunity to witness a media term entitled the 'Streisand effect.' Without going into too much detail - yes it is named after gay favorite Barbra Streisand - the Streisand effect is when an attempt to keep people from seeing information causes more people to see the information. In other words, the attention generated from attempts to suppress the information creates interest, thus making people aware of it and wanting to see it. 

Or in this case, according to LGBTQNation: 

Samsung decided to remove an advertisement from airing in Singapore and deleted it from online channels, shortly after posting it, because it “may be perceived as insensitive and offensive to some members of our local community.” The full ad, just under five minutes, featured unknowing individuals — wearing Samsung headphones — hearing their loved ones read letters they wrote about them using a Samsung device. One of the individuals featured was a Muslim woman, hearing her son read a letter thanking her for being accepting of the fact that he is a drag performer. After hearing him read it, he surprises her donning drag apparel and they embrace.

 As with things amplifying the visibility of LGBTQ people, some folks came out of the woodwork with same tired old phrases about 'pushing LGBT ideology,' etc. This backlash caused Samsung to pull the ad. 

But, according to LGBTQNation, the attention generated by this move caused more people wanting to see the ad. And these folks defended it.

“Trusted alternative news source” Wake Up Singapore, which shared a version of the ad on their TikTok channels, reports that “the Streisand effect is in full swing”: “Due to the removal of the video, people who did not even know of the existence of these advertisements learnt about the video and its subjects.” The website claims that as of yesterday, they had “reached 80,000 users” on Instagram and “200,000 people” on Facebook about the ad’s removal, and “it is clear that the majority of people did not share the same views harboured by the conservatives that led to the removal of the videos.”

Far be it from me to be petty, but HA! HA!

'2022 may bring more legislative attacks on transgender Americans' & other Fri midday news briefs

Exclusive: 2022 could be most anti-trans legislative years in history, report says​ - This makes me cringe. To hell with cringing. Let's rock.

A History of Georgia’s Black LGBTQ Celebrities - This is nice. I love this. 

Judge rules trans teacher’s lawsuit against P.G. County can go to trial - Sweet!! 

NCAA adopts new policy for transgender athletes - Clarification never hurts. Get in front of the liars and stop their tactics. 

Tennessee couple sues state after allegedly being denied foster services over Jewish faith - That rumble you're hearing is a nation of queens going "Mmhmmm! We TOLD you that this would happen."

FL 'don't say gay' bill sends message of erasure to LGBTQ kids and same-sex families

Under the guise of parental rights, some Florida legislators are attempting to ban discussions of LGBTQ issues in classrooms.  

From the site Florida Politics:

A bill giving parents more information about their children’s school experience and installing more strict regulation of LGBTQ instruction for younger students received its first committee nod Thursday. The meeting featured strenuous objections from those who worry it will make teachers fearful of some topics and chill schoolhouse conversations, especially those regarding LGBTQ issues. 

 The House Education and Employment Committee approved Republican Rep. Joe Harding’s Parental Rights in Education bill (HB 1557) largely along party lines, with Democrats opposed. It is legislation some see as part of the culture wars shaping this Session’s priorities. “This bill is about defending the most awesome responsibility a person can have: being a parent,” Harding said. “That job can only be given to you by above.” .

 . . The bill prohibits schools from encouraging classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate. That clause drew particular concern Thursday. Critics noted some students may have parents who are hostile to the news their child is a member of the LBGTQ community and might want to confide in a teacher.

 Children from LBGTQ families might also innocently discuss their families in a way other parents would find objectionable, critics of the bill said. Harding said he understood conversations would happen, but he wanted to make sure there was no policy encouraging it. Todd Delmay, who is running for a House seat, said the way the bill is written could prevent his 11-year-old son from discussing his family at school. Delmay and his husband, Jeff, were the first gay men ever married in Florida.

According to the article, the bill is conveniently vague on the definition of what constitutes an 'age appropriate' or 'developmental appropriate' discussion.  No doubt this lack of clarification would most likely encourage confusion and discourage any discussion at all.

A bill like this is dangerous on so many levels, but most specifically, the narrative it spews should be noted. By its very nature, it pinpoints LGBTQ people as outsiders to the concept of families. It has nothing to do with parental rights. Instead it sends of message to LGBTQ parents and kids that they are to be erased and to children in same-sex households that their families are something to be ashamed of.

And no one should be fooled by anyone claiming that these bills weren't intended to send that message because they are lying to you. Telling LGBTQ families and people that they are unacceptable is exactly the message Florida's bill is meant to send.

'Danger: These groups are pushing an anti-LGBTQ agenda disguised as health care' & other Thur midday news briefs

These groups are pushing an anti-LGBTQ agenda disguised as health care ​- Yep. And we had better recognize. This is war.

2022 GLAAD Media Awards Nominations: The Complete List - Congratulations to all of the nominees, including THIS BLOG with its fifth nomination in the category of Outstanding Blog. Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters previously won in 2017. And I am grateful for the nomination and very thankful to you all, my readers, for your continued support over these past 15 plus years. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Here’s A Look At The Gay Dad’s On ‘The Proud Family’ Reboot - Same sex families are real and its about time that this fact is reflected in every form of our media including children's shows. 

Mexico soccer fans who chant anti-gay slurs will be banned from matches for 5 years - Thank you!!

'Gays recruit children' - The intricate networking behind a simple but ugly lie - Reposting my piece from last night.

'Gays recruit children' - The intricate networking behind a simple but ugly lie

Bigotry will never go away. It's probably as old as the Earth itself and will remain here even when those of us reading this blog have long since passed away. The key is not eradicating bigotry, but recognizing it in all of its forms. And also the fact that those who push bigotry have innocuous ways of going about their nefarious business.

When it comes to opposition to the LGBTQ community, said bigotry seems to be always wrapped up in deceitful phrases and soundbites which designate us as a people seeking to cause harm. Especially to children. 

“Gaining access to children has been a long-term goal of the homosexual movement.” — Robert Knight, Family Research Council director of cultural studies, and Frank York, 1999 

 One of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order." — Family Research Council publication, "Homosexual Behavior and Pedophilia," Robert Knight and Frank York, 1999 

 “While activists like to claim that pedophilia is a completely distinct orientation from homosexuality, evidence shows a disproportionate overlap between the two. … It is a homosexual problem.” —  Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, FRC website, 2010

Back in the day when they had more power and we had less visibility, there was no second guessing what groups like the Family Research Council and their spokespeople were saying about LGBTQ people. They could just outright say that we want children for sexual activity and then leave it to the fear and ignorance of their audience to paint the disgusting picture.

 However as things have shifted in our favor in terms of visibility and education, they use more skillful ways of pushing that false argument. At times, they rely on an intricate network of dark money and media slick spokespeople fronting astroturfed groups and amplified by biased media entities. The ugly connotation remains the same, but the pattern it pushes is more intricate.

 Check out the following excerpt from a recent Family Research Council post:

 . . . In Saint Paul, Minnesota, moms and dads are furious about the district's "Office of Equity" foisting transgenderism on pre-schoolers. Thanks to a quiet partnership with radical groups like OutFront Minnesota, even toddlers are being exposed to messages that the American College of Pediatricians calls "child abuse." Books like When Aidan Became a Brother and I Love My Colorful Nails started trickling into local districts, aimed at children as young as three. One handout tells teachers to "Ask Students for Name and Pronouns" and to "Refer students to the Name/Gender Change Request Form."

Sounds scary, doesn't it? Except for the fact that this claim by FRC about 'transgenderism being forced on toddlers' comes from an article pushed by The Daily Signal,  an extension of  The Heritage Foundation which a conservative think tank. The purpose of The Daily Signal is to amplify conservative claims and causes under the guise of objective journalism.

And the specific claim in the article comes from a group called Parents Defending Education which, according to the National Education Association, claims to be a grassroots group but isn't:

An investigation conducted by NBC News in June identified at least 165 local and national groups across the U.S. working to turn disagreements over COVID mandates and lessons on race and gender into divisive wedge issues that can be manipulated for political purposes. Many of these groups are directly or indirectly supported by larger conservative think tanks, media outlets, and organizations that amplify cultural grievances around education to galvanize voters. The outrage machine surrounding CRT, public schools, and local school boards has already led to legislative responses. Education news outlet Chalkbeat identified 28 states that have attempted to “restrict education on racism, bias, the contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to U.S. history, or related topics.”

And according to Media Matters:

A recently released IRS filing for the right-wing activist group Parents Defending Education (PDE), which was founded to promote the ongoing scare campaign against the supposed teaching of “critical race theory” in schools, reveals the symbiotic relationship between the right-wing media echo chamber and conservative political activists stoking a cultural panic. 

 The group’s president, Nicki Neily, has appeared on Fox News as part of the network’s dishonest coverage of efforts by school board officials and the FBI to respond to threats and harassment. But Neily is not just a parent defending education, as she has a long history of managing right-wing organizations funded by the Koch brothers and Bradley Foundation networks. .

 . . Another director of PDE is Edward Blum who has a long association with right-wing funding networks that have backed his challenges to civil rights laws. These challenges include a successful case in 2013 in which the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key protections of the Voting Rights Act. 

'Virginia bill seeks to restrict trans students' restroom access' & other Wed midday news briefs

Virginia Bill Seeks to Restrict Trans Students' Restroom Access - And they are going to start this mess again. Game on.

Andrew Blaser makes U.S. Olympic history as the first out gay man in this super fast ice sport - Keep making that history!

Jim Obergefell, namesake of landmark Supreme Court case, to run for Ohio House - Good for him! 

Jessica Watkins, Trans Jan 6 Insurrectionist, Faces Decades in Jail​- Girlfriend, you KNOW you were wrong.