Transphobia FAILS in Minnesota

In spite of this ad, Minnesota schools struck a blow for fairness for our transgender children.

In spite of the efforts of  some folks to confuse the issue by appealing to fear, Minnesota schools struck an excellent blow for our transgender children yesterday.

From Buzzfeed:

Amidst a week of victories for transgender rights activists, transgender high school students in Minnesota can play on boys’ or girls’ sports teams “consistent with the student’s gender-related identification,” according to a policy passed today by the state’s High School League. The policy, which will go into effect with the 2015–2016 academic year, also applies to certain extracurricular activities. 

Overcoming fierce opposition from critics, the league voted 18-1 on the policy that “allows participation for all students regardless of their gender identity or expression in an environment free from discrimination with an equal opportunity for participation in athletics and fine arts.” The policy outlines a process for transgender students to apply to a team, including providing evidence of their gender identity and a “written statement from an appropriate health-care professional.” The greatest point of contention in a packed hearing today was male-to-female athletes playing on girls’ teams. Critics warned that transgender girls could use their XY genetics, having developed larger muscles and bones, to give them a competitive edge in strength and speed over cisgender athletes.

In that vein, the Minnesota Child Protection League took out a full-page ad in the Minneapolis Star Tribune in November. The ad questioned if the policy would cause “the end of girls’ sports?” Featuring a photo of a girl with a baseball bat, the ad included text suggesting her dreams of a sports scholarship could be dashed after being displaced by a transgender female player, which the ad calls a “male,” and then adds, “and now she may have to shower with him.”

 . . .   A 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association report responds to beliefs that female transgender athletes pretend to be women or have a physical edge. “These assumptions are not well founded,” says the NCAA report. This is particularly true for transgender girls who start medically transitioning during adolescence. The report explains that “their participation in athletics as girls does not raise the same equity concerns that arise when transgender women transition after puberty.”
Minnesota is the 33rd state to approve a transgender-inclusive policy for high school athletes, according to MPR News.

Will Black heterosexuals PLEASE STOP omitting LGBTs of Color from Black history!

I love my heterosexual African-American brothers and sisters but why is it so hard for some of them to acknowledge the existence of lgbt of color throughout black history?

What set me off? This:

Michigan House stalls gay rights bill after pastor testifies there are no ‘LGBT water fountains’

The gist of the story is that an African-American pastor in Michigan by the name of Stacy Swimp played the "you can't compare the black civil rights movement to the gay rights movement" game in front of the Michigan State House in order to stop an equality bill. The bill stalled because of lack of support in the Republican-led House, but even if it had passed, I would still be pissed.

Why? Because crap like what came from Swimp's mouth:

“There’s a comparison between the homosexual allegation of gay rights and black civil rights,” he continued. “And as a minister of the Gospel, and as a black American whose parents participated in the Freedom Rides — my ancestors were slaves in plantations in the state of South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana and Mississippi — I stand here today rather offended.”

It pains me that a supposed intelligent man of the cloth can be so ignorant. But I have to wonder if Swimp is as ignorant as I think he is. Unfortunately there does seem to be an unspoken conspiracy amongst some heterosexuals in the black community to omit just what racism and segregation did to lgbts of color. However, in spite of attempts at reckless omission, lgbts of color existed all through black history. We lived through slavery and segregation, got raped, lynched, called "boy" and "gal," been lied to and spat upon, subjected by hoses and dogs, put on jail, and murdered just like heterosexual African-Americans.

Why is there is this intent to omit us, eradicate our presence, erase our existence.  Well Swimp and the others need to know they can't succeed, no matter how much they try. The video below, which I am posting in an attempt to soothe my nerves, makes my point better than I can. And less profane too because if I continue to express my anger, I am going to collapse in a word salad of choice profanity I haven't used in YEARS:

'Why Ferguson matters for the lgbt community' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Why Ferguson matters for the LGBT community - As an lgbt of color, I have been trying to put this into words. For those who are so quick in the lgbt community to decry the feeling of rage and helplessness in the black community when it comes to situations like Ferguson and Eric Garner, etc., I have three words for you - "White Night Riots."

The greatest of hypocrisies: Gays condemn black riots over racism, forget our movement started with one - And a good friend of mine, Matt Comer, puts in some more emphasis on that point. Remember Stonewall? 

Read: 11th Circuit denies Florida stay extension; freedom to marry should arrive first week of January - Just in case you didn't hear, progress in the form of marriage equality is coming to Florida in January.

Republicans Defeat Bill Securing Employment Protections For LGBTs Without Debate - ENDA may be dead . . . at least for now.

 Mat Staver To Headline Jamaica Conference Hosted By Group Defending Anti-Sodomy Laws - Lovely! At the same time while members of the religious right falsely claim that lgbts are holding them under siege in America, they are doing exactly that to us in countries like Jamaica.

'I Am Santa Claus' Documentary Slammed On Social Media For Featuring Gay Man Who Plays St. Nicholas - And just what is wrong with a gay Santa Claus? I'm all for it. Maybe he can hook me up with a nice elf. (That was a joke. These days, you have to always clarify these things.)

Prominent black conservatives are the puppets of white conservatives

When I look at this video of Ben Carson denigrating gays and pro-choice activists, it captures the problems I have with the black conservatives I see in the media. I just don't think they have integrity. Allow me to explain what I mean. From time to time, black liberals, progressives, Democrats, etc. will challenge members of their party if they do not agree with the position taken. They make a point to show their independence.

 I have never seen a prominent black conservative openly challenge other conservatives, particularly white conservatives when it comes to things said about African-Americans, lgbts, or even President Obama. But I have seen these black conservatives get on television and publish pieces spouting homophobia, attacks on Obama and even on their own people with more fiendish glee than a wolf caught up in a sheep pin.  Or even more vigor than white conservatives.  One could say that this is a matter of having a difference of opinion. I disagree. It's about the money.

Look really close behind a black conservative and you will almost always find white conservative hands stuffing money deep in their pockets, via think tanks, "wingnut welfare," or "donations" to their one-man or one-woman organization.

Not that I mind folks making money to pay their bills, but I do have a problem with folks who allow themselves to be puppets for the almighty dollar. And to me, I have yet to see a black conservative who doesn't fit this description.

Pastor talks about killing gays for Christmas, religious right drama queens conveniently silent

It's both hilarious and sad that the American Family Association will raise holy hell against businesses for allegedly not saying Merry Christmas, Fox News personality Todd Starnes will write about almost every contrived and stupid incident involving alleged anti-Christian persecution, and the Family Research Council will defend a city employee who implies that his fellow employees are not better than those who engage in bestiality and pedophilia, but all will be silent about the following, which is, if you ask me, the real problem with Christianity in America:

For the record, I don't think that Christians are under attack in this country, but I do think that the religion is getting a lot of bad press. But what else can you expect when on one side, you have folks playing the "religious liberty" card to excuse all sorts of homophobic behavior and you have kooks like Faithful Word Baptist Church Pastor and hate group leader. Steve Anderson ( who apparently got his doctorate from the back of a bubblegum card) spewing crazy nonsense on the other.

You can't blame this one on lgbts or anyone else, my Christian Americans. Either your tacit agreement or convenient silence is toblame.

'SC attorney general won't admit he lost fight against marriage equality' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Alan Wilson files another motion against same-sex marriage in SC - Oh for crying out loud, Attorney General Alan Wilson. I've heard the phrase "goonies never say die" but this is ridiculous. Plus I am getting very tired of saying "give it up, turn it loose." I mean come on! You lost! Live with it! 

Breaking: 10th Circuit Slaps Down State Of Kansas On Marriage - Speaking of someone else who needs to just give it up.

 D.C. Council bans ‘conversion therapy’ - And another one bites the dust. How sweet it is! 

Why A Transgender-Inclusive Athletic Policy For Minnesota Schools Should Be A No-Brainer - Cause it's the right thing to do. However, let my friend Zack Ford from ThinkProgress further elucidate.

Miami-Dade County adds gender identity to human rights ordinance - A VERY hard fought victory for some friends of mine.  

Todd Starnes: Wrong Again - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se but as evil as Fox News personality Todd Starnes has been to the lgbt community, I enjoy watching him get spanked . . . then again, perish the thought.

Family Research Council hypocritically defends anti-gay ramblings of Atlanta fire chief

Cochran

Earlier this week, Fox News personality Erick Erickson attempted to distort an incident in which Atlanta, GA fire chief Kelvin Cochran was suspended pending investigation after allegedly passing out self-published book to his subordinates which partly attacked gays.

Now Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council have decided to put their two cents in with breathtaking audacity and hypocrisy:

Chief Cochran is at the center of an explosive debate over free speech on the job after the city suspended him for allegedly handing out copies of a book he wrote and self-published on biblical morality.

Atlanta officials claim Cochran somehow violated workplace policy by openly discussing his Christian views on sexuality. In the book, Who Told You That You Are Naked?, Cochran explains the nature of sin, which affects us all. Included in the book is an unapologetic description of homosexuality as “perversion” -- a reference Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed took personal offense to. “I profoundly disagree with and am deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed in the paperback regarding the LGBT community. I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration.
”
In addition to being suspended, Cochran has to forfeit a month’s worth of pay and undergo “sensitivity training.” Although the section of the book dealing with homosexuality was only one part of the discussion, it was the sole focus of the city’s inquiry. While a number of public interest law firms are reviewing Cochran’s legal options, the immediate effect is clear: a further stripping of Christian faith from the public square.

Obviously, Mayor Reed’s message is that city employees have to check their beliefs -- and specifically, their religious beliefs -- at the door of public service. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where this persecution will lead: to a country where no evidence of biblical morality will be tolerated. Christians who want to serve in a public capacity will have to go underground spiritually -- or steer clear of those careers altogether. 

The Family Research Council is being highly deceptive. According to The Washington Post, Cochran didn't simply discuss his religious views on sexuality.  His employees complained because he passed out  copies of his self-published book, which included portions denigrating gays.

Also, notice how FRC attempts to downplay the portion which got Cochran into trouble,  i.e. what the book said about gays:

 Although the section of the book dealing with homosexuality was only one part of the discussion, it was the sole focus of the city’s inquiry. 

It's not by accident that FRC conveniently omitted what exactly Cochran's book:

Among other things, the book calls “homosexuality” and “lesbianism” a “sexual perversion” morally equivalent to “pederasty” and “bestiality.”

 . . .   In one (section of his book), Cochran wrote: “Uncleanness — whatever is opposite of purity; including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, all other forms of sexual perversion.” In another section, Cochran wrote that “naked men refuse to give in, so they pursue sexual fulfillment through multiple partners, with the opposite sex, the same sex and sex outside of marriage and many other vile, vulgar and inappropriate ways which defile their body-temple and dishonor God.”

So to the Family Research Council, the organization who rings the alarms about supposed Christian persecution at the drop of hat, comparing homosexuality to bestiality and pederasty (a form of pedophilia) is no big deal. 

The point here is not just FRC's blatant two-faced attempts to defend Cochran (although that is worthy to point out), but the question of just what should be covered under the idea of religious liberty. Some of Cochran's employees are lgbts or either at least lgbt-supportive. What about their rights? What about their beliefs? Is it fair that they should check their beliefs at the door because Cochran can play the "religious freedom" card in order to denigrate them? And what about members of the lgbt community he is supposed to serve and whose tax dollars most likely pays his salary.

Mark my words when I say that FRC and fellow organizations are overplaying the "religious liberty" card so much so that they will render it unusable when a true case of religious discrimination comes up.

Religious liberty should never be an excuse to attack, denigrate, or stigmatize anyone.

However, I think we should be thankful about one thing. Had Cochran somehow attacked Christians in the eyes of FRC, we would have been subjected to another one of those God-awful public psychological masturbatory functions disguised as religious rallies.