Franklin Graham's abusive definition of 'love' is something we can do without

This is the commercial which has led Franklin Graham to pull his ministry's finances from Wells Fargo  and suggest  that other "Christians" begin boycotting the bank. And by the way, via email, the Family Research Council supports his sentiments.

Wells Fargo may be the first American bank to feature a lesbian ad -- but it may also be the last. The outrage over these in-your-face commercials is finally reaching a boiling point with consumers, who are sick and tired of watching companies pitch agendas over products. American powerhouses like General Mills, Tiffany & Co., Amazon, Starbucks, Tylenol, Target, Nabisco, Alaska Airlines, and even Betty Crocker are tripping over themselves to pander to 2.3% of the buying public with intense LGBT advocacy. Like us, Rev. Franklin Graham has had enough. In response to Wells Fargo's new ad, the son of evangelist Billy Graham is making an enormous withdrawal: his ministry's accounts. On Facebook, Franklin challenged Christians to take a long, hard look at where their money is going.

Mr. Franklin Graham,  just what is the problem with this ad?  Are you claiming that the commercial celebrates sin? If so, who are you to dictate what sin is? And that's not even the point. You seem to be saying that it is wrong for Wells Fargo to even acknowledge the fact that same-sex families exist. You seem to demanding that facet of American society, who has done you NO harm, shouldn't be acknowledged; that they should be erased, omitted, yanked from the view of the American public simply because YOU think they are sinful.

You are certainly free to bank where you wish, but the larger message you are sending is simply un-Christian. And you have the temerity to do these things cause you say you love us?

If I wanted love like that, I would go to jail cells of all of the men locked up for domestic violence and pick out four or five to date.

Lgbts should exploit the religious right because it's so easy to do

LaBarbera

When it comes to good old fashioned strategic warfare, the lgbt community stinks. We really do.

How is it that we can allow anti-gay figures to falsely claim that they have no animus against us, no ignorance against us when we have so much ammunition to choose from?  How is it that folks like Tony Perkins and organizations such as the Family Research Council can even begin an attempt to control the argument in this so-called culture war when at the very least, all we need to do is to raise a stink by making conversations like the following (an old "friend" of ours, Peter LaBarbera being interviewed by VCY America's Crosstalk call-in show) go viral:





Why do we go out of our way to either minimize this as simple ignorance or do something needless such as speculate whether or not LaBarbera is secretly gay when we could be using this conversation to prove animus. Wouldn't it be wonderful to make someone like Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation or even Perkins himself address this junk. But as it is, it is our silence which is preventing us from moving faster in our struggle for equality than we should.

And it's not just LaBarbera. Day in and day out, we are inundated with religious right members, conservative politicians and think-tank minions who say outlandish things about the lgbt community and we hardly ever use their words to rightfully demonstrate their animus.

Perhaps we should get less desensitized to homophobic words and more willing to exploit them.

'Franklin Graham calls for boycott of Wells Fargo for featuring same-sex family in ad' & other Monday midday news briefs

Franklin Graham

Billy Graham's Church Calls For Christians To Boycott Wells Fargo Bank Over Same-Sex Adoption Ad - So ads showing same-sex couples and their children should be considered as anti-Christian persecution now? THIS is the very reason why these claims about anti-Christian persecution in America will be treated like the "boy who cried wolf." 

Huckabee Stands By 'Commonsense' Transgender Locker Room Joke - Apparently to folks like Mike Huckabee, common sense means being bullheaded, ignorant, refusing to educate yourself on things you know nothing about and putting it all on "Jesus."

Scott Walker Backs Constitutional Amendment Allowing States To Ban Same-Sex Marriage - That headline should read 'Scott Walker ain't ever gonna be president (hopefully).  

Beck: We Have 10,000 Pastors Who Are Willing To Die Resisting Anti-Christian Persecution In America - Which is news to everyone, ESPECIALLY those 10,000 pastors.

Bill Maher 'declares war' against false cries of anti-Christian persecution

Say what you will about Bill Maher, in this case about those constantly whining about Christian persecution in America, he is on point:

'Senate won't extend veteran benefits to married gay couples and their children' & other Friday midday news briefs

 
Senate Rejects Extending Veterans Benefits To Married Gay Couples And Their Kids - This here is some @!%$! Don't tell our fighting men and woman that you appreciate their service and then refuse to give them fair compensation.

‘Transgender, at War and in Love’ - Before anyone succumbs to nonsensical fears regarding transgender men and women in our Armed Forces, they really should see this documentary. Hat tip to my buddy John Becker. 

Air Force Takes A Big Step Toward Allowing Transgender Service - Speaking of which.  

Federal Judge Strikes Down Guam's Gay Marriage Ban - Awesome!!  

Five Insights From A 1961 Documentary On Gay Men That Still Resonate Today - Because lies never die. They just take different forms.  

Alan Keyes: Voting For Gay Marriage Like Voting For The Holocaust - I KNOW that there some sane black conservatives out there somewhere . . . somewhere over the rainbow cause they sure aren't showing themselves.  

Sandy Rios: Duggar And Hastert Are Victims Of 'Systematic Targeting' Of Conservatives - When you see the people that the religious right are propping up as spokespersons . . .

Family Research Council still exploiting actual anti-Christian persecution overseas to fundraise

In an Iranian prison, a man is praying . . . for Christians in America.

In a hidden location in North Korea, a kneeling circle of believers cry out to God . . . for Christians in America.

I know of no stronger evidence of the connection between the persecuted church overseas and the persecuted church in America than this: they are praying for us!

That's why I urge you to allow me to send you a Nasrani Pin as my thank you for your gift to help FRC stand for religious freedom in America as Christian faith comes under growing attack -- and also speak out for the persecuted Christians overseas.

- - Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in a sleazy fundraising pitch conflating actual incidents of anti-Christian persecution overseas to evangelical Christians in America being told to follow the law like everyone else and serve all customers, gay and straight.

'Negative fall out from Duggars interview, HRC having problems' & other Thursday midday news briefs

The fall out from the Duggars interview is not pretty (as many of knew it wouldn't be) and there is a LOT of criticism thrown around:

CNN's Chris Cuomo: Megyn Kelly's Duggar Interview Was "A Conversation Among Friends" - Even though I still think Kelly got lucky with the way this interview turned out, Cuomo makes an EXCELLENT point. 

The Duggars totally misrepresented their anti-LGBT robocall in Fox News interview - As I predicted, the robocall question was a KILLER to the Duggars. 

 In Fox Interview Duggar Dad Falsely Describes Michelle's Anti-Trans Robocall To Cover Up Hypocrisy - Etc.

Fox News fans defend Duggars the only way they know how — by blaming Bill Clinton and black people - But the Duggars had their defenders . . . but they were NOT helpful. 

 In other news: 

 Internal Report: Major Diversity, Organizational Problems At Human Rights Campaign - Having an "outsider" status in the lgbt equality movement, I've never been one for the internal squabbles and the name-calling (such as the "Gay,Inc" label), but this internal report about HRC gave even me spooky pause. Whether some of us like the group or not, HRC is a powerful and much needed organization when it comes attaining lgbt equality. I hope it takes this report to heart and makes the necessary changes (particularly getting more people of color in visual and leadership positions).  

Gender Transition Tougher than Caitlyn Makes It Look - WONDERFUL article which includes my very good friend Dayna Smith who reminds us that while yes we should praise Caitlyn Jenner, let's not forget the larger picture. Gender transition is not easy for those who undergo it because of a number of reasons, financial and otherwise. 

Religious Right Angry At Business Support For Marriage Equality - Gasp! How DARE those awful, awful, equality-loving businesses.