'Bogus religious liberty argument could harm our military men and women' & other Friday midday news briefs

How Marriage Equality Opponents’ Arguments Are Getting Turned Against Them - Really, it was bound to happen. In all of the chaos and anger in the early years of the fighting for marriage equality, it's not difficult to see that we never considered this possibility. 

Jindal, Huckabee And Santorum To Join Far-Right Activists At Liberty Counsel's 'The Awakening' - Just think. These three guys are most likely going to be running for president. Take a look at who they consort with and if it doesn't creep you out, YOU creep ME out. 

 After Shaming Gay And Unmarried Female Sailors, Navy Chaplain Wants To Keep At It - Another example of how the bogus argument of religious liberty goes to far. It can put our service men and women in harms way.  

Ala. House approves bill allowing judges, ministers to refuse to marry gay couples - Let's not lose our heads over these ridiculous laws. I know that there are some lgbt-affirming judges and ministers out there. 

 I'm An 18-Year-Old Boy Who Wears Blue Nail Polish -- Get Over It - Fascinating article.

So . . . when exactly did you decide to become gay?

In a tribute to Ben Carson, the site Funny or Die decided do a man on the street interview and ask folks when exactly did they decide to become gay?

Just in case you are wondering about me, I decided somewhere between the seventh episode of the Wonder Woman television series, Diana Ross's Caesar's Palace Concert, or when I really wanted to be one of those teenaged back-up singers in the Tempted video by that group Squeeze.

Gay People Tell Us When They Chose To Be Gay from Dan Abramson

'Lgbts, allies think of awesome ideas to combat homophobia' & other Thursday midday news briefs

This is a WONDERFUL media campaign. It educates folks about the transgender community and turns an anti-gay lie on its head:

Hey @TX_Republicans. Are you sure that is is what you want? pic.twitter.com/6zzsjkxEvp
— transadvocate (@transadvocate) March 11, 2015

 
Buzzfeed goes into more detail about this campaign, which as you can tell, I support big time.

In other news:

Oklahoma Dem amendment: Christian businesses must post notice of anti-gay discrimination - Another wonderful idea. Why not? If you don't want to serve lgbts, then why should we find out when we come to your business. That's just wasting OUR time. Really though, I think this brings home just how devastating these bogus arguments of "religious liberty" are. It's easy to talk about hypothetical situations, but put it in real-life demonstrations and see what happens.  I wonder if these folks talking about their "religious liberties" have the guts to do this.

Anti-Gay Pundits: Ignoring 'Disgusting' Homosexuality Is 'Like Trying To Talk About The Holocaust Without Showing Pictures' - I hate to be the one to point it out, but it's a surfeit homophobic craziness on Religious Right Watch today. This is just one of the least crazy items.

 Christian College Tried To Stop Bake Sale For Homeless LGBT Youth, But They Raised Thousands Anyway - A happy ending for some of our lgbt children.  

Utah Legislature Passes Extraordinary LGBT Nondiscrimination Bill By Huge Margin - Forgive my cynicism but what's the catch?

Idea of full marriage equality scares the #&@! out of the anti-gay right.

I think its downright hilarious just how the idea of gays having the right to marry in all 50 states scare  the anti-gay right and their supporters.

Just how scared do they get? Allow me to show you with the help of my good friends at Right Wing Watch:

Roy Moore

Cruz: Marriage Equality Decisions 'A Real Danger To Our Liberty'

Right-Wing Activist: Flee America Before Gay Marriage Causes God To Destroy Us

Matthew Hagee: Gay Marriage 'Is Taking Away The Ability Of ... Society To Survive' End Times 

Preacher: Gay Marriage Victory Will Lead To God's Wrath 

Roy Moore: SCOTUS Gay Marriage Ruling Paves Way For Government To 'Take Your Children' 

Scott Lively

Lively: America Will Face 'Calamity And Judgment' If Gay Marriage Is Legalized 

Matt Barber

Barber: Gay Marriage Will Be 'The Sledgehammer Used To Crush The Church'

Brian Brown: Gay Marriage Victory Threatens Gun Rights, Future Of The Republic

 Roy Moore: Ban Gay Marriage To Keep Bisexuals And 'Transgendered' From Marrying Multiple People
 

Scott Lively Warns That SCOTUS Could Unleash The Antichrist By September 2015  

Mat Staver: Marriage Equality Might Turn Kids Gay

I've got a prediction. The idea that gays can freely marry in all 50 states will transform the anti-gay right and their supporters into simpering "drama queens."

Oh look. It's already happened.

'Bathroom bill' bounties, Fake anti-Christian panics & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Texas Bill Would Create $2,000 Bounty for Turning in Transgender Students Found in Bathrooms - Oh mercy! If it hasn't already been declared official, then I hereby declare the ridiculous fear of transgender men and women using restrooms and the "moral panic" of the year. 

 Senate GOP Invites FRC's Tony Perkins To Politicize Hearing On 'Religious Freedom Abroad' - This is happening today and it is why I get angry when folks refuse to take folks like Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council seriously. I doubt that any US senator would invite Peter LaBarbera or Linda Harvey to testify in front of any committee. But they invited Perkins because FRC has credibility, no matter how much the organization lies and distorts.  

Anti-gay Family Research Council still can't prove accuracy of alleged Feldblum quote - Speaking of Perkins and the FRC, it is that time again when I put a past post in the news briefs because I feel that it is an important post for us to read, pass around, and publicize. In a nutshell, it is how the Family Research Council spread a faked quote from an Obama appointee and is presently using it as a part of its "religious liberty" narrative. FRC was caught in the middle of its subterfuge, but more people NEED to know about the situation because it's a guide to how anti-gay groups create false panics about so-called anti-Christian persecution in America. 

 Fox News Defends Navy Chaplain Who Allegedly Discriminated Against Gays, Women - Speaking of fake panics about so-called anti-Christian persecution . . .  

Allowing Transgender Youth To Transition Improves Their Mental Health, Study Finds - Pay attention because this is important to cite later on numerous occasions.

Anti-gay Family Research Council still can't prove accuracy of alleged Feldblum quote

Feldblum wins. FRC loses

Hold on to your horses.

The Family Research Council has answered my question regarding a quote it attributed to the EEOC's Chai Feldblum.

First a little background.

Last week, I wrote how the Family Research Council falsely attributed a quote to EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) member Feldblum to further a narrative that the rights of evangelical Christians would be hindered because of lgbt equality.

The alleged quote, "Gays win. Christians lose" was supposedly an answer to a question posed to Feldblum years ago when she was asked about dynamic of religious beliefs vs. lgbt equality. And it was a quote which traveled through right wing circles for a number of years.

I sent a tweet to the Family Research Council asking that they correct the assertion that Feldblum made the statement. The organization said it would get back with me. Today it sent the following tweet:

@holybullies Here you go: http://t.co/5jSMGSWIUy
— FRC (@FRCdc) March 10, 2015

That tweet was a link to a" fact sheet" (a better word would be a smear sheet) on Feldblum and why FRC felt she shouldn't serve as an EEOC commissioner. On page two of the sheet was the following:

Was the lead drafter for ENDA, which she would be responsible for enforcing if she is confirmed to the EEOC. When questioned on the rights of Christians hiring employees of their choice, Feldblum stated “Gays win; Christians lose.” Thomas Peters, “Chai’s ENDA vs. Religious Liberty,” American Principles Project, October 26, 2009.
http://www.americanprinciplesproject.org/blogs/chais-enda-vs-religious-liberty.html.

However that link is dead. When you click on it or type it in, you will see that the article no longer exists.

Still, it would appear that the Family Research Council has, at least, a little bit of justification in citing the false "Gays Win. Christians Lose" quote.

Not so fast.

'Silly overreaction over transgender woman in gym sparks unnecessary controversy' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Gym Stands Up For Trans Woman, Kicks Out Member Who Wouldn’t Stop Complaining - The anti-gay right has been attempting to exploit this story to show the so-called dangers of pro-transgender inclusive anti-discrimination laws. But as Zack Ford from Think Progress clarifies, this is really an example of an extremely silly overreaction of one former gym member and an example of the nonsense that our transgender sisters have to go through. Much props for Planet Fitness for standing its ground and the transgender sister for coming public to demand her respect.

A Record Number Of Voters Support Gay Marriage, New Poll Finds - This DID NOT happen overnight. We fought tooth and nail for this. 

 Christian University Forbids Fundraiser Benefiting LGBT Homeless youth - Because apparently Jesus told an alternative story of  'The Good Samaritan' where everyone left the robbed traveler on the road to die.  

Matt Barber's overcompensating bravado again helps our side more than his own - In which the anti-gay spokesman Matt Barber provides proof of anti-gay animus against marriage equality (which of course never helps his side in the courts) and auditions to be a low-budget (and I am talking extremely low-budget) Dr. Seuss.  

More gay black characters on TV series these days: 'Empire,' 'Being Mary Jane,' 'The Haves & The Have Nots' - It's about time. NOW let's talk about a J.R. Ewing/Alexis Carrington Colby gay character. And call me for auditions when there is one to be created.

  LaBarbera: GOP Will Fall If It Stops Talking About Gay Kisses On TV - Now what are my news briefs without a little bit of "crazy?"