'Anti-gay attempt to silence Dan Savage comedy FAILS miserably' & other Friday midday news briefs

Bad news, religious right: ‘Pro-gay bully’ Dan Savage’s new sitcom is pretty hilarious - While a certain back-stabbing manipulator of the lgbt community is trolling the right-wing circuit advertising her sloppy book on how "liberals and gays are trying to silence people," an actual attempt at silencing has failed miserably. I think this show will be a smash. The preview is hilarious:

In other news:  

Unprecedented anti-gay marriage bill dies in Texas House - Well that explains my inexplicable good mood today. 

 What The Nation’s Doctors Say About Transgender Rights And Marriage Equality - This post underlines the problem when pundits begin talking about lgbt issues, particularly transgender issues. I could care less about what some shrewy pundit who has NO BACKGROUND in the issue has to say. Journalists owe it to the public to give us intelligent and informed opinions on these issues, such as what this post has done.  

Here's the latest conservative outlet equating gay rights with slavery; yes, slavery, and yes, literally - And the other side is constantly whining that lgbts don't want to debate the issues. How can you debate someone whose ideas sounds as if they come from a mental asylum? 

 Anti-LGBT Groups: Girls Scouts Running A 'Dangerous' 'Social Engineering Experiment On Children' - They are picking on the Girl Scouts again, y'all.  

Conservative Host Sandy Rios Thinks Amtrak Engineer's Sexuality Is 'A Factor' In Crash - But . . but. . . but if you challenged her by demonstrating how basically idiotic her claim is, you are "silencing" her!

Anti-gay Missouri state House Speaker resigns after affair revealed

The text messages which led to the downfall of an anti-gay legislator.

 

And part two of the incident regarding married and "righteous" Missouri state Speaker of the House (or should I say former) John Diehl has unfolded with the confession, apology, and resignation:

Diehl, 49, announced Thursday that he was resigning both the speakership and his legislative seat, a day after the Kansas City Star’s website reported that he had exchanged sexually charged messages with a college freshman who worked as a legislative intern. Calling the messages “a serious error in judgment,” Diehl, R-Town and Country, said in a statement that he was “willing to face the consequences” and leave public office.

 . . . The intern involved in the texting, Katie Graham, 19, of Joplin, released a statement Thursday evening identifying herself, thanking her supporters and expressing hope that the internship program would survive. “I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me during this difficult time,” Graham said. “Your support means a lot. This is extremely difficult for both families, and I hope everyone can begin the healing process. I strongly support the Missouri Capitol internship program, and hope it remains a positive experience for other students in the future.”

Far be it from me to pick or gloat, but as I said earlier this week when posting on this issue, according to Right Wing Watch:

Earlier this year, Diehl and the president pro-tempore of the state Senate filed an amicus brief in defense of the state’s anti-gay-marriage amendment, leading the Missouri Family Policy Council, the state affiliate of the Family Research Council, to praise the speaker “for demonstrating moral leadership and true integrity in standing up for the sacred institution of marriage and the family values of the people of Missouri.” The state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention thanked him for “fighting to defend biblical marriage.”

 . . .  Diehl also co-sponsored a 2012 bill to ban Gay-Straight Alliances in public schools, which read: “Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no instruction, material, or extracurricular activity sponsored by a public school that discusses sexual orientation other than in scientific instruction concerning human reproduction shall be provided in any public school.” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch at the time called it a “hateful and unconstitutional attack on individual rights” and slammed Diehl for backing “a loathsome bill in a cynical attempt to garner support from the right wing.”

 

#TBT - Can anyone tell me about this 70s Australian tv drama called 'The Box'

I was trolling around youtube and found a clip from this Australian 70s drama called 'The Box.'  I know nothing about this show, but all I can say is that even in the 70s, America was beat out by other countries when it comes to depictions of gays:

'Bubbles and racism in the lgbt community' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Now Is the Time to Start Talking About Racism in the LGBT Community - WONDERFUL piece, which I have a small disagreement with. It's not so much as racism than it is bubbles. Unfortunately, large segments of my lgbt community live in bubbles which unfortunately insulates them from the fact that our struggle is multicultural and other voices and people need to be heard, celebrated and lifted up as leaders. Think of this from the perspective of a gay man. We have folks like Larry Kramer, Michelangelo Signorile, Vito Russo, Harvey Milk, Evan Wolfson. I refuse to believe that out there aren't gay men of color out there who we can see as reaching the same status in the lgbt community as these wonderful leaders have. They are out there, but do they get attention or time to shine? And do their opinions get as much respect as the folks mentioned? Or their contributions to the totality of the lgbt struggle for equality? I ask this question as a person who has wondered about this regarding the projects I have created and the posts I have written. 

Okay, let's talk about 'silencing' - And before folks accuse me of whining in the news item above, this wonderful post by Jeremy Hooper serves a dual purpose. It outlines just how the game is run on lgbts regarding "professional victimhood" and so-called censorship by the anti-gay right and their collaborators. Insulting a community and then pulling the "stop trying to silence me" card when you get responses for your comment is yet another way of "gaming the referee." It's an ugly tactic, but thanks to certain degrees of laziness by folks who should know better, it generally works.  

Gambian Dictator On LGBT People: ‘If You Do It Here, I Will Slit Your Throat’ - Remember what I said about the "multicultural struggle."  

Texas Bill Could Protect Welfare Providers Who Force Kids Into Gay Conversion Therapy - I won't "mess with Texas." I will just throw some holy water and anointing oil at the state.  

Marriage protection bill passes another hurdle in Alabama Legislature - You know, folks used to wait until AFTER the Supreme Court ruled in a way they didn't agree with before showing their proverbial asses.

Another anti-gay, oversexed, heterosexual hypocrite done caught, y'all

The above "sexually charged text messages" are from Missouri Speaker of the House John Diehl to a college intern. Diehl is married with three children. Naturally, the intern he traded messages with is NOT his wife.

It's certainly a juicy scandal, made more apropo to the lgbt community because according to Right Wing Watch:

Earlier this year, Diehl and the president pro-tempore of the state Senate filed an amicus brief in defense of the state’s anti-gay-marriage amendment, leading the Missouri Family Policy Council, the state affiliate of the Family Research Council, to praise the speaker “for demonstrating moral leadership and true integrity in standing up for the sacred institution of marriage and the family values of the people of Missouri.” The state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention thanked him for “fighting to defend biblical marriage.”

 . . .  Diehl also co-sponsored a 2012 bill to ban Gay-Straight Alliances in public schools, which read: “Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no instruction, material, or extracurricular activity sponsored by a public school that discusses sexual orientation other than in scientific instruction concerning human reproduction shall be provided in any public school.” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch at the time called it a “hateful and unconstitutional attack on individual rights” and slammed Diehl for backing “a loathsome bill in a cynical attempt to garner support from the right wing.”

As with the case of SC Rep. Mark Sanford, LA Senator David Vitter, etc., etc., perhaps some folks need to stop accusing gays of attempting to ruin marriage and instead focus on those who claim to be defending it.

'Should Tim Cook hold Texas accountable for its homophobia?' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Tim Cook

Why Tim Cook Should Threaten to Shut Down Apple Campus Amid Texas Anti-Gay Crusade - Texas has gone anti-gay crazy. Michelangelo Signorile thinks Apple CEO and out gay man Tim Cook can do something about it. What do you think? 

FDA releases plan to end lifetime ban on gay, bisexual blood donors - Wonderful idea. The only downside is envisioning Porno Pete LaBarbera going insane and posting dirty pics of gay men. Where does he get those anyway?  

How The FDA’s Revised Blood Ban Caters To Religious Anti-Gay Beliefs - Then again . . .  

Michigan ‘Death Star’ Bill Would Override Local Employment Laws, Including LGBT Protections - "Death Star" bill? I say we use that name. 

 Eureka Springs Upholds LGBT Protections; Anti-Gay Leader Blames Threats Against Christian Voters: VIDEO - THIS has been the talk of the morning. BTW I don't buy the claim that "Christians were scared to vote." 

 Fischer: Support For Gay Rights Is 'Evidence That Satan Exists' - No, honey. The fact that you have a job shows that Satan has an evil sense of humor.

Dear Phyllis Schafly, a lady always knows when to leave. Take the hint.

Phyllis Schafly

I know that conservatives assume that Phyllis Schafly is some type of arch-goddess of their movement, but there comes a time when some folks just need to be put out in the pasture.

The legendary Lena Horne is reputed to have once said "A lady always knows when to leave the room."

Ms. Schafly, take the hint. Or at least remember your gay son when you spin such trash as below:

In an interview with conservative radio host Chuck Wilder on Monday, Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly said that lawsuits against business owners who violate nondiscrimination measures by refusing service to gay and lesbian customers show that marriage equality advocates ultimately seek “to wipe out the Christian religion.” “Have you noticed that only Christian small-businesspeople have been harassed and sued for refusing to participate in same-sex marriages even though our fast-growing immigrant populations, you know of Muslims, Hindus and other faiths are also opposed to that concept?” Wilder asked. “The use of same-sex marriage to attack Christian businesses but not businesses run by members of other religions demonstrates what is really driving the demand for the new constitutional right to same-sex marriage.” “Well, that is right,” Schlafly responded. “They want to wipe out the Christian religion. And most of these other religions do not recognize same-sex marriage. I assume there are some Muslim bakers and photographers and other people who have been harassed, but they’re not being attacked and they’re not being criticized.”