'Moonlight' tells needs-to-be-seen story of young gay black men

The problem I have with African-American oriented movies is that the good ones are mostly historical and the comedic ones are too proud. And hardly any of them feature any lgbts of color.

Moonlight, a movie coming out in October looks like it's going to be good. It's a contemporary story about a young gay black man grappling with his orientation. The trailer is simply devastating. This movie looks like it could win some awards. That would be nice because then we could simultaneously start a conversation about lgbts of color in the black community and focus on the next step in motion pictures - featuring an lgbt of color ALREADY content with his or her sexuality.

'25 crazy reasons the religious right supports Trump' & other Wed. midday news briefs

‘God’s Guy’: 25 Religious Right Justifications For Supporting Donald Trump - It's like I said in my last post. Morality to the religious right gets turned on and off as quickly as a light bulb. 

 Expo, community picnic and more on tap at SC Black Pride Week in Columbia - A little bragging is in order. The organization I helped to start in South Carolina will be having its 11th annual Expo! Sweet! Pay attention to us Southern lgbts of color. 

  Directive to require trans bathroom access in federal buildings - Wonderful move by the Obama Administration. 

A Gay MP Was Questioned About Sharing A Bed With His Partner In A New York Hotel - I would have LOVED to have been asked the question. The snarkiness would be strong in me. 

 One of America's Least Gay-Friendly Universities Drops Its License to Discriminate (But Why?) - Fear of losing money has always been a great equalizer.

'Calm demeanor' article exposes religious right hypocrisy about Trump

Religious right willing to overlook things if Trump gets them power.

Ah yes, the religious right. So quick to condemn homosexuality for being an alleged sin. So quick to claim that they are working to preserve the idea of the pure American family and morality in general. So quick to claim that they are standing in the gap for "God's people" in a "God-less" world.

So what do some of these self-appointed saints think about Trump? Bear in mind that this man has attacked a gold star family, claimed that President Obama and Hillary Clinton helped found ISIS, and asked Russia to hack into Clinton's emails.

However, the American Family Association's fake news site, One News Now, just ran an article today kissing up to Trump so hard one would think that group was auditioning to be Trump's fourth wife. Here is a little snippet which will probably make you laugh:

In a 35-minute speech at a "Pastors and Pews" event in Orlando, Trump noted that evangelicals have been silenced by threats from the IRS to take away their churches' tax exempt status – something he said he'd change.

"We're going to get your voice back. We're going to get it back," he told the crowd. 

 . . . Pastor Bryan Schwartz attended the event and says he was impressed by Trump's poise. "His demeanor was calm. It was collected," the pastor says. "And what he was sharing was important to the faith community, really trying to encourage them to have the courage to lead in our community, in our congregations, and not be silenced."

Schwartz says he also embraced Trump's message of political involvement from the pulpit.

We've seen Trump and heard his speeches. The vast majority of us who oppose the idea of him as president do so because he doesn't have calm demeanor or poise. He can't concentrate on a single issue and is too concerned with settling grudges and throwing out outrageous snippets that he can't focus on simple policy.

He is, at the least, a more woefully inadequate presidential candidate than that Martin Sheen character in The Dead Zone movie, i.e. the one who would have blown up the planet.

 

This ass-kissing article says more about groups like AFA and pastors like Schwartz who support Trump than  it reveals anything noteworthy about Trump. Their lies about Trump's so-called calm demeanor isn't fooling anyone. They only want Trump, not because they feel he is the moral one to support, but because he has guaranteed that they will attain more power should he become president.   And they are willing to overlook all the times when Trump has acted, shall we say, less than morally fit.

There is nothing Christian or moral about their idea of "pragmatism." What would Jesus do, indeed?

Photo courtesy of Religious Dispatches.

'Omaha school district has the 'bathroom battle' about transgender youth' & other Tue. midday news briefs

WATCH: Omaha schools meeting goes off rails as angry parents blame trans kids for destroying America - Fear and ignorance are the parents to the bastard children of hate and prejudice. It depresses me how folks will not educate themselves about our transgender kids. It puts me in the mind of a depressing video I saw last night in which someone said "this whole thing started with Caitlyn Jenner." Uh, no it didn't.

 Passions flare as OPS board considers policies regarding transgender students - The good news from the above item is that the school district is standing firm in the commitment of protecting transgender children. 

 It’s 2016, And 40% of Gay Kids Have Considered Suicide - Ugh! We need to do more!  

Theodore Shoebat Longs For Days When Marco Rubio Would Be Hung From The Gallows - Leave it to that nasty Shoebat boy to make me feel a bit sorry for Rubio. And I despise Rubio.

 12 Adorable Photos from Gay Uncles Day - If you don't think that this is adorable, you have no soul. Seriously.

Anti-lgbt hate group extends to next generation of vile leadership

When it comes to the anti-lgbt hate group the American Family Association and its leaders, Donald Wildmon and his son Tim Wildmon, it's sadly easy to see how lying about the lgbt community becomes a family business.

Unfortunately, that extends to a new generation, Walker Wildmon, the son of Tim. He sent the following nonsense via twitter:

The Wildmons prove that those of us dedicated to lgbt equality and safety must not slack off in our fight. We would like to think that the day will come when hypocrites and homophobes like this family aren't attempting to defame us, but I doubt there will be a day when we are completely free from lies told in the name of God trumpeted by those who have no shame in telling them.

But that doesn't mean we should stop fighting.  Nor does it mean we should yield and allow them to steal the narrative. The rainbow belongs to us because we, just like heterosexuals, are as God has made us.

And marriage belongs to us because we earned it.

And little Mr. Wildmon nor anyone else can take either away from us.

Hat tip to  Hemant Mehta

'Trump, Pence demonstrate hypocrisy over lgbt equality, safety' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Trump claims to want to protect lgbts from terrorists.

But his vice presidential pick can't answer a simple question about equality

Trump To Float Ideological Test For Immigrants: Must Agree With Religious Freedom And LGBT Rights - Don't even TRY it, Trump. You may be fooling SOME folks, but this queen and so many others aren't fooled. You claim to want to protect us from ISIS, but what about the homophobes in America, particularly your vice presidential pick, Mike Pence. 

Pence gives non-answer on allowing anti-gay discrimination - Speaking of which, one would think Pence learned something from the meltdown regarding the "religious liberty" law in his state. 

 No, Marco Rubio Did Not Just Preach Tolerance For LGBT People - Speaking of folks trying to fool the lgbt community, very few of us is falling for Sen. Marco Rubio's fake mea culpa from last Friday.  

The Mainstreaming of Gay Culture - Wonderful article. For the record, however, I am very resentful when these type of discussions come up. I am a Southern black gay male, born and raised. I've never been to the Castro, nor any other places that some folks consider to be the lgbt meccas. I don't like lgbt history and culture being defined solely by those places and the folks who lived there or are there now. There should be more of an appreciation of our diversity.

 Poll: Young Americans overwhelmingly favor LGBT rights - I just looove the young folks. Now if we can get more of them to vote, particularly in mid-year elections.

Pastors suing for 'religious exemption' to ex-gay therapy ban

And yet another example of how "religious liberty" is being manipulated against the lgbt community. In this case, our lgbt kids could be put at risk.

From The Washington Post:

A group of Illinois pastors filed suit against the state Thursday, arguing that clergy should be exempt from a law banning counselors from trying to change a minor’s sexual orientation because it violates their constitutional right to free speech and exercise of religion.

The law, which went into effect in January, bans licensed counselors and mental health professionals from practicing “conversion therapy” — counseling designed to make gay, lesbian, bisexual or queer people become straight — on minors. While religious leaders don’t fall under this category, the suit says pastors could be held liable for consumer fraud under a section of the law that says “no person or entity” may advertise or practice conversion therapy that “represents homosexuality as a mental disease, disorder or illness.”

And that’s exactly what the five Christian pastors think, according to their lawsuit filed in federal court. “These pastors teach that homosexual conduct is contrary to God’s purpose for humanity and a disorder of God’s creation which can be resisted or overcome by those who seek to be faithful to God and His Word. This is what they say to those who seek their counsel — including minors,” according to the lawsuit, posted online by the law firm representing the pastors.

Supposedly these pastors don't want to change the law. They just want to be exempted from following it.

The idea that homosexuality is a sin is merely an opinion. However, the facts are that any therapy which attempts to alter sexual orientation can be detrimental and for that reason is opposed by several mainstream  health organizations such as the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association.

Religious liberty entails the right to worship as one pleases. This does not and never should include subjecting children to harm by fraudulent medical practices.

photo courtesy of Truth Wins Out.

Rubio talks about 'Christian' love for lgbts at conference he lied about

A water bottle won't save Rubio from facing his lies this time.

While I am happy that Sen. Marco Rubio and GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump are catching flack for their attendance at an anti-lgbt conference in Orlando, there is one portion of the story I feel should get a little more emphasis.

Rubio was initially evasive about the conference. When first confronted about it, he said the following:

"The event I will be speaking at in Orlando is a gathering of local pastors and faith leaders. Leave it to the media and liberal activists to label a gathering of faith leaders as an anti-LGBT event. It is nothing of the sort. It is a celebration of faith," he said.

"Because I believe that a strong America is not possible without strong families and strong values, for years now I have participated in events hosted by faith leaders to speak about the cultural and social issues before America, including the importance of parents and families, religious liberties and combatting poverty.

"I have always supported a traditional definition of marriage. But I recognize that a significant number of Americans hold a different view. Because marriage is regulated by the individual states, they have the right to petition their state legislature to change the law. And those of us who support traditional marriage also have a right to oppose those efforts.

"This debate should be conducted in a way that is respectful of the views and the dignity of those on both sides. That is the way I have expressed myself each time I have been asked to opine on this issue. And that is how I intend to continue to do so."

He said this in spite of the fact that other attendees and speakers at the same conference have an extensive  paper trail of comparing lgbts to pedophiles, claiming that we are tools of Satan, and all-around demonizing us.

And Rubio's speech at the conference should raise more eyebrows regarding his initial evasion. He is being portrayed as taking a stand against anti-lgbt intolerance:

Using the shorthand “L.G.B.T.” several times, Mr. Rubio told the group that the perception that many Christians are anti-gay is harming their faith. He urged them to resist passing judgment on gays. “Do not judge, or you will be judged,” he said, echoing a verse from the Bible.

 “To love our neighbors we must recognize that many have experienced sometimes severe condemnation and judgment from some Christians,” he said. “They have heard some say that the reason God will bring condemnation on America is because of them — as if somehow God was willing to put up with adultery and gluttony and greed and pride, but now this is the last straw.” While he repeated his belief that marriage should not be redefined to include same-sex couples, his speech touched on the history of discrimination against gays, which he asked his audience to consider.

“When it comes to our brothers and our sisters, our fellow Americans, our neighbors in the L.G.B.T. community, we should recognize,” he said, that American history “has been marred by discrimination against and rejection of gays and lesbians.” 

Personally, I'm not impressed. And I strongly believe that Rubio's tone has less to do with concern for the lgbt community and more to do with the fact that the challenger to his Senate seat, Patrick Murphy,  is gaining in the polls.

Rubio isn't doing me or any other lgbt any favors by supposedly defending us. I learned all I need to know about his aims when he lied about the conference in the first place.

And him giving a speech decrying homophobia at a conference which he claimed wasn't anti-lgbt in the first place is merely gravy.

'Daily Beast dealing with fall out from gay-shaming article' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Daily Beast: 'We were wrong' to publish article nearly outing gay Olympians - Yesterday, the Daily Beast published a highly irresponsible article which put lgbt Olympic athletes at risk. Even though the article was yanked, the publication is still dealing with the fall out, fueled by a righteously indignant lgbt community. Haven't folks learned not to cross the lgbt community?  

Grindr is not a gay sex peep show for straight people - The Daily Beast WILL learn today.

 Uganda’s LGBT Community Is Facing A New Wave Of Government Oppression - Speaking of oppression . . .  

New CDC Report: LGB Youth Face 'Heartbreaking' Level of Risk for Violence, Suicide Attempt, Bullying - We have to do more for our lgbt youths.

  LGBT Rights Opponent Newt Gingrich To Address Log Cabin Republicans - For Pete's sake, guys . . .

Family Rearch Council bragging about Trump speaking at its event

Does any of the recent controversies with Donald Trump (such as falsely claiming that Hillary Clinton and President Obama founded the terrorist group ISIS, attacking a Gold Star family, telling Russia to hack Clinton's email, implying to his supporters that Clinton should be assassinated should she be elected, etc. etc.) minimize his standing in any way with the "Christian" group the Family Research Council?

Of course not:

It's not surprising to a lot of us that FRC , in spite of its constant spin about morality and values, have remained pretty much silent throughout the ado about Trump's inability to show the poise and discipline one would expect from a presidential candidate.

The only value FRC is concerned about is power and the organization doesn't seem to care whose coat tails it rides upon to get that power.

The next thing you know, FRC will be praying to God that Voter ID laws be passed even though it's been proven that those laws unfairly target African-American voters.

My mistake. The organization already has.

'Equality Florida calls out Trump, Rubio for their homophobia' & other Thur. afternoon news briefs

Equality Florida rally calls out Trump, Rubio for anti-lgbt conference attendance.

Trump and Rubio Attend Florida Rally That Mocks LGBT Pain - Even though it may not be on the top of the news, the appearance of Trump and Rubio at an anti-lgbt conference in Orlando is causing people to stop and notice, as this piece in Time Magazine proves.

  WATCH: Equality Florida #ForThe49 Rally Protests Trump and Rubio Headlining an Anti-Gay Conference - And this rally generated lots of attention.

 ‘I’ll Go To My Grave With This’: Why Bi Men Still Fear Coming Out - We do need more of a focus on our bisexual brothers and sisters.

  This Is How Transgender Teenagers Get The Right To Medical Treatment - This is a wonderful tool.

Donald Trump no friend to lgbt community, Marco Rubio an unmitigated liar

Editor's note - There were no news briefs today because the public libary's internet was down. I simply have to get a tablet one of these days.

Thanks to profiles courtesy of Right Wing Watch of a few participants of Thursday's conference to be attended by both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, we have more proof of two things:

Donald Trump is NO friend of the lgbt community in spite of he and other folks,  such as Chris Barron and Milo Yiannopoulos, have said.

Trump comes under fire for anti-lgbt conference

How will Trump explain attending anti-lgbt conference?

Aside from his absolutely clueless comments yesterday implying that Hillary Clinton needs to be assassinated, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has also come under fire for a decision to attend an anti-lgbt conference in Orlando held tomorrow.

According to the Miami Herald:

Liberal and LGBT activists are condemning Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his former adversary, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, for planning to speak at an “anti-LGBTQ” conference of 700 conservative pastors and spouses later this week in Orlando — exactly two months after the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

Equality Florida and several other organizations will have a peaceful rally and press conference in protest of the conference. The organization put out the following statement:

On the two-month anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, we are outraged that Donald Trump and Senator Rubio have the audacity to headline an extremist anti-LGBTQ event in Orlando. In the midst of our grief, we demand an end to hatred and bigotry of all kinds, call for the passage of fully inclusive anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, and urge our elected officials to support common sense gun violence prevention measures to honor the 49 lives cut short by hatred.

Initially, it was Rubio who was being criticized for his decision to attend. But when it was learned that Trump would be there, the controversy increased. In a statement last week, Rubio defended the conference, claiming that it is merely a meeting of religious leaders:

“The event I will be speaking at in Orlando is a gathering of local pastors and faith leaders. Leave it to the media and liberal activists to label a gathering of faith leaders as an anti-LGBT event. It is nothing of the sort. It is a celebration of faith."

However, it should be pointed out that Rubio's statement was highly deceptive.  The conference is being sponsored by the American Renewal Project. According to People for the American Way's Right-Wing Watch:

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article94716822.html#storylink=cpy

Self-described “political operative” David Lane founded the American Renewal Project as a way to mobilize conservative Christian voters and inspire right-wing pastors to run for elected office. He told (Jennifer) Jacobs (of Bloomberg News)  that he intends to quiz Trump on how he plans to fight “homosexual totalitarianism” and the gay rights “militants.” Lane, a vocal opponent of LGBT equality, has said that “homosexuals praying at the Inauguration” in 2012 would cause “car bombs in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Des Moines, Iowa” as a sign of God’s judgment and that the “pagan onslaught” of the LGBT rights movement will lead to the destruction of America.

In addition, the speakers at this conference will include:

Mat Staver, whose Liberty Counsel Action sent out the invitation to the event and who is scheduled to speak, has gained a national reputation by representing Kim Davis and Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore through the affiliated Liberty Counsel. Last month, Staver denounced memorial gatherings for the victims of the Orlando nightclub attack as “homosexual love fests.” Staver has claimed that gay people are “demonic,” seek to abuse children and are similar to terrorists, and has warned that gay rights victories could lead to “forced homosexuality” and “another civil war.” At the same time, he has praised countries that outlaw same-sex relationships.

David Barton, a Republican Party activist who styles himself as a historian, thinks that God is justly preventing a cure for HIV/AIDS because it is a divine “penalty” for homosexuality, and has lamented that public schools try to “force” students “to be homosexual” when homosexuality really should be regulated by the government.

Maine pastor Ken Graves preaches against “militant homofascism” that he says “seeks to take over our land and make it Sodom” and argues that gay people cannot build happy families because they are “depressed.”

 Bill Federer, a Religious Right activist and conspiracy theorist, believes that gay rights are bringing about the Islamist takeover of America.  

 
 Trump's attendance contradicts his earlier statements that he is an lgbt ally.

'Trump to address anti-lgbt conference in Orlando' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Donald Trump To Address Extremist Anti-LGBT Summit In Orlando - It looks like Trump will addressing the same anti-lgbt event which has gotten Marco Rubio into trouble. Tell me again how he is better for the lgbt community, Caitlyn Jenner and Milo Yiannopulos. I bet you he won't be rebuking the lies told by attendees of this conference. 

Related post - This is a perfect time to remind folks about the Trump's "Evangelical Advisory Board" or as I call them, "The Legion of Homophobia" (please copy the graphic below and send it out to as many folks as you can, particularly those lgbts who are still thinking that Trump will be their best friend) 

 After Same-Sex Marriage Victory, Jim Obergefell Looks Ahead To Remaining LGBT Battles - Obergefell reminds us that attaining marriage equality is simply ONE victory in the battle for complete lgbt equality. 

 Landlord Allegedly Says She Shouldn’t Rent To ‘Faggots’ Before Evicting Tenants - This right here is a hot mess made worse by the fact that the landlord is a city council member. 

 Ugandan government defends Pride pageant raid - Just a nasty mess. How folks from America infected other countries with their homophobia and it still lingers.

'Bloodshed' & 'invading homosexuals' - Two reasons why Christianity is losing followers

Last year there was an ado about Christianity losing followers, particularly among younger folks.  A lot of reasons were given, but one reason has to be emphasized.

Perhaps a lot of the faces we see and the voices we hear seem to be less concerned with the tenets of Christian love for one's follow man and instead more concerned with figuratively raining fire and brimstone against the lgbt community. Even if that fire and brimstone is rooted in demonization and inaccurate smears.

Case in point are these two videos courtesy of Right Wing Watch which show ministers Flip Benham and Otis Kenner working themselves into a froth and throwing out absolutely inane opinions against the LGBT community. I continue to be amazed how people who claim to be of God get so rooted in lies and hate. They can claim not to hate lgbts all they want, but words like these only come from hate.

The point is how in the world can Christianity retain any credibility, particularly with the younger crowd, when some ministers spend more time picking on the lgbt community and less time on speaking about more important issues such as poverty and inequality?



In this video, Kenner actually attempts to cite research about lgbts. But the research is over 50 years old. Of course for the rest of his rambling sermon - the part involving "invading homosexuals" - he offers no citations

'Rubio defends attendance at anti-lgbt Orlando event' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Rubio is pushing the 'tolerance' con job again

Marco Rubio Defends Radical Anti-LGBT Orlando Event - Marco Rubio thinks that lgbts are the bad guys because we don't "tolerate" the opinions of those who would smear us as oversexed, diseased pedophiles who don't deserve equality. Oh I weep for his concern. 

Related post - Don't fall for Marco Rubio's phony fear of so-called 'intolerant' gays  

Many Americans Hear Politics From the Pulpit - Our equality continues to be a hot political issue, but we don't seem to have a good way to change the narrative.

 Restroom battle may head to the Texas Legislature - Case in point . . .  

Trans People Open Up About What It’s Like To Transition In The Workplace - I never really thought about this issue.

Misinformation & lies are what Trump and anti-lgbt right have in common

The press is making a huge issue how Donald Trump lies with impunity and his supporters don't seem to care. I'm glad that they are realizing this sort of thing, but it's not necessarily indicative of just Trump.

In the nine and a half plus years I've tracked the anti-lgbt right, I've seen the same thing happen continuously. Only hardly anyone in the mainstream seemed to have cared how so-called religious right groups distort science and truth to demonize lgbts and spread all sorts of bad information to their supporters and the public. Maybe this emphasis on Trump will bleed down to them. But I doubt it.

Case in point, this lovely "poll question" courtesy of the American Family Association's One News Now with regards to gender and sexual orientation. It makes no sense whatsoever, but I don't think One News Now cares about making sense or spreading truth:

Wanda Sykes on being black and gay

Editor's note - Today's news briefs will be postponed due to a personal matter

Donald Trump is like a blob creature from a science fiction movie. He has overwhelmed all of the press and media attention. In times like this, I like to sit back and reflect. And comedy is a big help in this department.

The clip below is comedian Wanda Sykes talking about being black and gay. Whether you agree with her or not, she is hilarious and on point:

'Grindr scandal hits Catholic Church in Ireland' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Grindr scandal rocks Catholic Church

Bishop Removes Priests From Irish Seminary Over Grindr Claims - I  think that the Pope needs to stop attacking transgender men and women and tend to his own garden. Just a personal observation there. 

The Stunning Hypocrisy of Marco Rubio - Talk about "tolerance" all you want, but don't expect lgbts to tolerate fake people such as Marco Rubio. Don't give sympathy for crimes committed against us and then align yourself with anti-lgbt hate groups.

  Log Cabin continues to mull Trump endorsement - Uh . . y'all . . . I'm just saying . . .  

Michigan Supreme Court denies lesbians parental rights - Ugly bit of business. More complicated than the headline makes it seem.

 Asian-American LGBT Groups Find Support in Growing Community Giving Circles - This is a group I've yet to feature (Apologies).

Is Donald Trump a friend of the lgbt community? #@&* NO!

Just a reminder from my friend, Matt Baume. No matter what some badly processed skunk haired individual (who shall remain nameless) and other, shall we say, financially well placed individuals may think, Donald Trump is no friend to the lgbt community: