Two incidents put 'bathroom bill' nonsense in perspective

Last weekend put this "bathroom bill" junk in perspective.

We've had bizarros marching through Target screeching because of its trans-inclusive policy:

Believe it or not, she is probably the least controversial. And we've had defenders of these bills not even being able to defend them on national television:



The only folks who are maintaining a semblance of sanity, decorum, and dignity are the transgender community, i.e. the supposed freaks.

 So what exactly is the problem in the first place?

Obama's pro-transgender directive - How to defeat the backlash sure to follow

 Vigorous truth-telling can successfully combat anti-transgender lies.

Obama Administration Warns Schools To Allow Transgender Access To Bathrooms - Just in case you haven't heard about this wonderful news (and I am sure we have all heard about it.) BUT, you know what . . . 

Texas Superintendent Says Obama Directive on Transgender Students 'Going Straight to the Shredder' - There will be a backlash coming. It's already started.  And there will be more to come. While Trump - if he is the GOP presidential nominee - can't necessarily use Obama's directive against the Dem nominee, the religious right sure as hell will. And based on this article, they will have allies. Now is not the time to do what the lgbt community always seems to do when we get earth shaking positive developments, i.e. hug and weep about how monumental it is while being sitting targets for a religious right backlash which knocks us back to square one. We need to fight for this with all we have. 

One way is to vigorously and LOUDLY educate against the myths and the lies. There is no reason why we shouldn't demand that a more rounded view of the transgender community and issues be presented by the news media  (local and national, even Fox News). No more pundits who spew on the fly. And above all, there is nothing wrong with writing letters to the editor of your local newspapers: 

 11 myths about transgender people 

Understanding the Transgender Community

Transgender Children & Youth

 A Comprehensive Guide To The Debunked “Bathroom Predator” Myth


And most importantly, assertively engage the creators and exploiters of anti-transgender lies in debates, on twitter, etc.  But first, educate yourself regarding who they are. Don't paint them all with a broad brush. Know their nuances. Inform about their nuances:

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

A "Religious Freedom" Legal Powerhouse Is Leading The National Fight Against Transgender Student Rights

How Anti-Gay Talking Points Are Being Recycled For The Transgender Community

North Carolina's Anti-LGBT Law Borrows The Work Of An Extreme Legal Group

Samantha Bee 'has words with' HB2, Gov. McCrory, and mid-term election non-voters

Sock it to them, Samantha Bee! On her show, she not only rips NC Gov. Pat McCrory apart for that disastrous HB2, she also has something to say to those who don't think of mid-term elections as important as presidential elections.

In deed, not vote has consequences for us all:

'Lgbt community outlasts another enemy of equality' & other Thur midday news briefs

Anti-lgbt legislator Sally Kern retire

Watch: Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern Says Gays Are 'Worse Than Terrorism' – Again

LGBT group uses Sally Kern's exit from the Legislature to raise funds

Due to term limits, Oklahoma legislator and enemy of lgbt equality Sally Kern recently retired. She left kicking and screaming against the progress of the lgbt equality, something she was unable to stop no matter how many ugly things she said about us or nasty bills she pushed against us. Gone the way of Jesse Helms, Jerry Falwell, and so many others who have failed to keep us locked in the closet. I don't care how she raged. The important thing is we have outlasted yet another enemy.   

One GOP Senator Is Blocking the Historic Appointment of Gay Army Secretary Nominee Eric Fanning - Unfortunately, we have others willing to take her place. And the fight for lgbt dignity and equality continues.  

The Truth About Homophobia In The Black Community - Wonderful post. I'm including it in my news briefs and putting it up alone. This is what happens when you let folks you accuse of homophobia talk rather than rely on generalizations by think tanks or those black folks bought and paid for by said think tanks. The narrative of supposed high levels of homophobia in the black community is not as simple as folks think. It's a bit more complicated.  

Target CEO Says Company Won't Back Down on Trans Bathroom Policy - Good for Target. Don't you back down an inch to the liars, hysteria, and paranoia.  

Fight over trans restrooms erupts in North Georgia - This would be sad except for the fact that there may not be a policy because there may not be a trans child attending any school in the district. It simply becomes pathetic to see these parents flip out. And then infuriating to think of how the AFA is probably enjoying the chaos they have created.

  The Legal War Over North Carolina’s Bathrooms Takes A Bizarre New Twist - They are trying so hard to fight the Justice Department. Just ridiculous.

NC school board rethinking pepper spray issue, member apologizes for HB2 comment

No pepper spray for NC students

It's wonderful what a little attention will do to change the minds of the ignorant.

From Buzzfeed:

A school board in North Carolina, which voted to adopt a policy allowing pepper sprays in high schools, is now “rethinking” its decision after feedback from the community, a board member told BuzzFeed News Wednesday.The Rowan-Salisbury Board voted Monday to amend its policy prohibiting high school students from carrying pepper sprays on campus, the Salisbury Post first reported. However, Chuck Hughes, a board member who voted in favor of the policy, told BuzzFeed News he will personally vote against it in the next session on May 23, after he realized that the “cons far outweighed the pros.” He also said that “many board members” he had talked to “will think this over again.” 

Hughes also apologized for linking this issue to the controversial HB2 and the transgender community:

During Monday’s session, Hughes was reported to come out in favor of allowing sprays citing HB2 concerns. According to the Salisbury Post, he said, “Depending on how the courts rule on the bathroom issues, it may be a pretty valuable tool to have on the female students if they go to the bathroom, not knowing who may come in.”Hughes backtracked Wednesday, telling BuzzFeed News that his comments were “inappropriate” and that they had nothing do with the LGBT community.

“I was not thinking about the LGBT issue,” Hughes said. “Perverts and pedophiles taking advantage of this law in bathrooms was my major concern.” 

Have it your way, as long as you apologized. Score one for the side of decency and common sense. Now if Gov. McCrory would get his head out of his tookis, we can really have a victory.

'NC school board member suggests pepper spray to harm transgender kids in bathrooms' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Such is the way of hysteria.

N.C. School Board Member Encourages Students to Pepper Spray Trans Classmates - No fudging about it. He said this regarding the nonsense about fearing transgender folks using the bathrooms. 

 Anti-transgender law cited in allowing NC high schoolers to carry Mace, pepper spray on campus - More info about the situation.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article76923962.html#storylink=cpy

Lynch garners praise for defending transgender Americans - As well she should. Her speech was truly historic.

 Alabama drag queen is suspended chief justice’s worst nightmare - Girlfriend is giving Roy Moore all sorts of HELL. Damn, I am so jealous!!!

 A Timeline of (Nearly) Every LGBT Couple in TV History - Fascinating. Did they leave any out? 

 Gov. McCrory's HB2 Will Cost North Carolina $5 Billion a Year, New Study Finds - Siiigh! Some people have to learn fairness the HARD WAY.  

Major Counseling Organization Protests Tennessee’s Anti-LGBT Counseling Law - Meanwhile . . .

Pat Robertson - proof that the world is slowly leaving homophobes behind

I'm only posting this sad tirade by Pat Robertson as a reminder. Remember when statements like his were the norm? Granted, the lgbt community has a long way to go, but just watching this withered old man spout this nonsense in a croaky voice reminds me just how far we have come. We may not be where we want to be, but thank God we aren't where we once were:



Transcript:

 The truth is, from what we understand in history, there hasn’t been one nation in the history of the world that has openly embraced homosexual lifestyle and begun to practice the homosexual lifestyle that has endured. Every one of them has gone down. Every single one of them. Once rampant homosexuality takes place, then people don’t take care of their children, they aren’t concerned about the next generation, they’re concerned about physical pleasure and the activities surrounding this lifestyle, they aren’t planning for the future and the country goes to pot. Right now it it’s kind of in the balance, it’s kind of interesting, but the fact that the European Union and the U.S. is trying to impose this lifestyle on a little country like Georgia that wants to stay orthodox is incredible. You look at the Book of Revelation and it says, ‘Mystery Mother of Harlots, you have made the world drunk with the wine of your fornication.’ And you say, who is that ‘mystery woman?’ Well, more and more, this great nation of ours, the U.S. of A, is becoming — to take on that role. I don’t know if we intend to but that’s what’s happening. We’re making the nations drunk with the wine of our fornication and God brings judgment on a country that does that.