'Why are anti-gay hate groups held to a different standard of legitimacy' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Why Does The New York Times Give Equal Time to a Hate Group? - An excellent question and an excellent argument. However, allow me to throw in an opinion. Anti-gay hate groups are treated differently from religious and racial hate groups because I don't think the lgbt community has made a strong enough case to bring these groups out from the aura of legitimacy which they don't deserve. The Southern Poverty Law Center did the important groundwork.  However, that groundwork is not enough. It is up to the lgbt community via our blogs, our news sources, and our journalists to dig deep and bring a lot of things to light. The actions and tactics of groups like the Family Research Council, the American Family Association, etc. go back over 30 years. Subsequently, we are going to have to overturn every stone - the junk science studies, the false testimonies in front of congressional bodies, the distortion of legitimate research, the constant lie after lie which brazenly conjured up false images of gay men dragging innocent children into bathrooms or deliberately infecting folks with AIDS.  All of these things were done, said, or implied by these so-called morality groups, their spokespeople, and  their supporters.  But as long as our community allows this stuff to stay buried, we will never make the media hold these groups accountable.

Ted Cruz: Courts shouldn’t overturn gay marriage bans - Unbelievable. Why are people ignorant of the Constitution elected to public office? If you think the headline is bad, wait until you read what Cruz is going to attempt in order to "remedy" the situation. 

Starkville aldermen vote to rescind equality resolution - Pay attention to this madness, folks. As we slowly and steadily win the marriage equality fight, our opponents are going to attempt to strip us of basic rights.  

Sponsor Of Most Ridiculous Anti-Trans Legislation In America Tries To Justify It, Hilarity Ensues - I absolutely never thought I would be on the same side as that South Park television show on this issue.

Mike Huckabee & Jim Bakker: Christians Are Second Class Citizens In America - Excuse me but doesn't the majority of Americans consider themselves Christians? Doesn't the majority members of Congress consider themselves Christians? If, taking those two facts into account, Christians are "second class citizens" in America, it's obviously because they are a bunch of wimps.

Bobby Jindal wants you to pray with THIS MAN

Jindal

Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal's little prayer thing is coming up this weekend, so I thought I would remind folks just who Jindal is teaming up with in this little venture of his.

I'm doing this particularly because according to Right Wing Watch, the conservative magazine National Review is deliberately distorting the situation when it comes to the sponsors of this event, the anti-gay hate group American Family Association:

The National Review’s Eliana Johnson has taken note of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s hosting of this weekend’s “Response” prayer rally as well as the protests it has sparked on the campus of Louisiana State University. Johnson’s article accurately portrays the rally as part of presidential hopeful Jindal’s political outreach to evangelical voters, but it mischaracterizes the reason for the protests:

The event has already sparked controversy because the group underwriting it, the American Family Association, has organized boycotts against companies that do not use the word “Christmas” in their holiday advertising and communications as well as those that participate in gay-rights events or donate to gay-rights causes. That included a one-month boycott of PetSmart last November and a three-year boycott of Home Depot that ended in 2013. 

People aren’t protesting Jindal’s partnership with the American Family Association because it has organized boycotts. Boycotts are the least of the problems with the intensely anti-gay AFA, whose chief spokesperson Bryan Fischer is a font of broadcast bigotry and has argued that only Christians — and certainly not Muslims, Hindus or Mormons (whom he does not consider Christian) — are covered by the First Amendment’s religious liberty guarantees.

In other words, roll the video footage of Fischer's "greatest hits and while viewing it, ask yourself, "Would you pray with this man?"

Or better yet, "Would you want the person who sees nothing wrong with praying with this man anywhere near the White House?":

'Mike Huckabee - states can ignore SCOTUS on marriage equality' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Mike Huckabee: States Can Ignore Supreme Court On Gay Marriage - Huckabee needs to check himself. The states CANNOT ignore the Supreme Court on marriage equality. And broadly speaking, Huckabee is a perfect reason why EVERY lgbt who is of the voting age should be registered and ready to cast their ballot. We are winning but people like him are going to make sure we can't secure what we win.

Wedding Planner Goes Out Of Her Way To Tell Couple She Does ‘Not Feel Comfortable’ Helping Them - The Family Research Council is trying to make this wedding planner seem like a victim. However, one should read the entire story, PARTICULARLY the part which details why the gay couple has no legal case against her. 

 Pennsylvania governor-elect names transgender woman as Physician General - Wonderful news indeed!

 In Wake Of Controversial 'Ex-Gay' Billboard Lawmakers Introduce Ban On Conversion Therapy - Sweeeet!

 Ben Carson: Congress Should Oust Judges Who Rule For Marriage Equality - Because . . . . I guess he doesn't need a reason. 

And finally . . . . 

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for a 2015 GLAAD Media Award, including THIS BLOG in the category of Outstanding Blog. It was a delightful shock to wake up to the news that I received my second consecutive nomination and it is certainly an honor. I am in good company with The Art of Transliness, Autostraddle, Box Turtle Bulletin, and My Fabulous Disease. 

And allow me to be honest. I am hoping to win. However, even if I don't win, I am so overwhelmed by the honor and very thankful to everyone who have supported Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters over the years. 

You all are the best supporters anyone can have.

Obama leaving silly anti-gay right behind to wallow in self-righteous madness

Obama

Last night, President Obama's State of the Union speech was groundbreaking in so many ways, particularly when he praised marriage equality and pushed for the rights of the lgbt community in general. It was the first time our community had been directly mentioned in a State of the Union address:

"As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened, which is why I've prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained," said Obama, adding, "That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they're right, but because they make us safer."

Meanwhile, poor Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association sits in front of his lonely microphone and pretends that he is God's appointed judge in terms of who is or isn't a Christian:



Fischer is indicative of the anti-gay right - deliberately using semantics, talking points, and dodgy terms to avoid treating lgbts as human beings, something which Jesus would do.

Pathetic self-righteous trash, but so indicative of a group of people who can't seem to understand that they are losing the fight.

Conservative gay author has interesting story to tell about working with religious right

A very good friend of mine has just published a book which should be of much interest to us all:

Ever wonder what it is like to be a longtime member of the Christian Right and a married gay man? Ever believe that such a combo would make Ozzie & Harriet look like Oscar & Felix?

Joe Murray was a longtime cadet of the Christian Right and spent the early years of his life building a resume that might make Goldwater envious. He served as a member of Pat Buchanan's Presidential campaign staff in 1999 and was appointed to the Alliance Defending Freedom's prestigious Blackstone Fellowship for budding Christian attorneys in 2000. He spent a number years working on the front lines of the "Culture War" as a Staff Attorney for the American Family Association. He worked with the Pennsylvania Pastor's Network and was a columnist for the conservative Philadelphia Bulletin. Murray, a Conservative Catholic, also happens to be gay.

In his new book, Odd Man Out, Murray tackles the misconception that one's identity should predetermine one's politics. Murray's background has provided an excellent opportunity for a frank discussion on a number of social policy issues that are presently dividing the nation. Building upon his experiences working deep inside the Christian Right, Murray discusses how public interest politics has led to a perverse politics in which profit overtakes principle. He shines a light on some of the not-so-Christian events he witnessed while working for the Christian Right and he talks about some of the rivalries that existed (and continue to exist) on the Right. Murray uses his personal story to take the reader behind the scenes of Christian and gay politics and, in doing so, offers new insights on how to frame the controversial discussion.

Though a piece of political nonfiction, Murray's new book is also intimately personal. Murray shares a number of stories that have molded his life and shaped how he sees the world. He opens the door for readers to see how a Catholic, Libertarian-leaning, Irish-American, gay attorney is able to fully operate in society, despite the political perception that he is an ideological inconsistency. Murray uses his personal experiences to argue that people should use their identity to expand their ideas, not limit them.

You can buy a copy here or at Joe Murray Enterprises

'TV show will blow the lid off of homophobia in African-American community' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Gay Couple, Second to Marry in Florida, to Attend Tonight's State of the Union Address - Sweeeet! 

Lee Daniels Is Using 'Empire' To 'Blow The Lid Off' Homophobia In The Black Community - Oh this is going to be gooooood! And it's a perfect example of why there needs to be some representation of the lgbt community when it comes to the television and movie industry. Do you really think a heterosexual white guy would be able to do this?

 Gay Marriage Foe Calls For Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan To Quit Marriage Case - While I am not counting my chickens before they hatch with regards to how the Supreme Court will rule on marriage equality later this year, I must say that the smell of anti-gay desperation is mighty intoxicating.  

University bathroom posters claim transgender people ‘rape women every 9 minutes’ - Uh excuse the heck out of me!  

This Is What Transgender Locker Room Harassment Looks Like - The true story behind transgender locker room harassment. The wrong folks are being "protected." 

Finally, some great news. I have been tinkering with new ways to make it easier for folks to download or read my booklet How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America (even on their mobile phones) with much success. Clicking the link below will give you direct access to How They See Us as a google document when you can read, save, or download. Please take advantage. Let's educate and arm our community with knowledge because knowledge is the only thing which can defeat the religious right as well as their attempts at an oncoming backlash:

How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America

HERO signature controversy could sink 'religious liberty' argument in Houston

Image from last year's anti-gay rally in Houston may come back to haunt supporters.

Remember last year when the controversy over a trans-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance in Houston led the press to label the city as "ground zero" in the so-called war over religious liberty?

Remember when the Family Research Council, Fox News personality Todd Starnes, Mike Huckabee  and that man from the television show Duck Dynasty (whose name I am deliberately forgetting) rallied a throng of folks in a huge televised rally which called attention to the supposed persecution of Christians and the so-called encroachment of the vicious "gay agenda."

Remember the portents of doom and fear which came from the rally ; the horror stories of Christians being put into jail for professing their faith, being forced to (gasp and swoon) serve gay customers at their places of business, of men being legally allowed to go into women's restrooms and locker rooms and sexually harass at their leisure.

Surely you do. And if you don't, you should dig into archives for these memories. Savor and cherish them because, it's beginning to look like those folks responsible for these lies and moral panics are about to get a huge goose egg on their faces.