'New ad urges lgbtq community to 'hold tight' to one another' & other Tue midday news briefs

 Heartfelt New Ad Urges LGBTQ People To ‘Hold Tight’ To One Another - "LGBTQ people of all ages are encouraged to hold their loved ones close in a heartwarming new ad campaign for the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) Released Feb. 9, the “Hold Tight” clip is intended to commemorate Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which kicks off Friday Feb. 17, and the Auckland Pride Festival (Feb. 10 ― 26). ANZ is a sponsor of both celebrations."  

Anti-LGBTQ activists to Trump: Be Our Valentine - A special return from my friend, Jeremy Hooper. Trump doesn't have to worry about facing criticism from religious right groups for his incompetence. But he will if he doesn't grant them more power to make churches political tools and stamp down on lgbt equality. 

Arkansas Will Hear Bill To Dismantle Marriage Equality On Valentine’s Day - Some people are determined to try and ice skate uphill.  

Bryan Fischer: ‘The Real Brownshirts Are In The Homosexual Movement’ - Sigh! Bryan Fischer is calling us Nazis again, y'all. That's why ads like in the first news brief are important. Fighting evil rhetoric with true faces of love means a lot, particularly to impressionable lgbt kids. Remember that they are watching and listening. Always.

Sorry religious right, the Special US LGBT Envoy is staying at the State Department

Berry

The Family Research Council wanted Special LGBT Envoy Randy Berry gone, but he's staying.

From The Washington Blade:

The Trump administration will allow the position of special U.S. envoy to promote LGBT and intersex rights abroad to remain in place at the State Department. A State Department spokesperson told Foreign Policy on Monday that Randy Berry is continuing “in his role under the current administration.” A State Department spokesperson reiterated this statement to the Washington Blade.

“Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Randy Berry, a career Foreign Service officer, continues in his role under the current administration,” the spokesperson told the Blade.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry in 2015 announced the creation of the position within the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

 . . .  Monday’s statement comes against the backdrop of concerns over whether President Trump would eliminate the special LGBT envoy position. Advocates have also urged the new administration to continue U.S. efforts to promote LGBT and intersex issues around the world that the Obama administration began.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins asked Trump late last year to remove “activists” from the State Department who promote LGBT and reproductive rights abroad. A spokesperson for the president’s then-transition team told the Blade that any suggestion “that discrimination of any kind will be condoned or tolerated in a Trump administration is simply absurd.”

Don't think for a moment that this decision means the lgbt community shouldn't be wary of the Trump Administration. He still has a vice president and a host of anti-lgbt groups and personalities supporting him.

'Ex-gay ministries lose their 'father,' gays still here & intact' & other Mon midday news briefs

Frank Worthen, the 'father' of ex-gay ministries, dies.  Lgbts reportedly still here.

The ‘Father’ of Ex-gay Ministry Dies - Never met this guy. I don't think I ever wrote about him. But it is important to note the harm that he did and that while he is gone, WE are still here and mostly intact. 

This Supreme Court Case Could Affect Trans Lives for Generations - Laverne Cox mentioned the name "Gavin Grimm" last night during the Grammys. This is the story of that brave young man.

 The U.S. Department of Justice Just Rolled Back Protections for Trans Students - Don't even THINK that we aren't noticing this quiet but deadly movement against our transgender children. 

 New studies show how discrimination harms people with same-sex orientations - Of course when and IF the religious right cites these studies, they will naturally omit the part about discrimination.  

Price confirmation to HHS dismays LGBT advocates - Just in case you missed it, we got another one to be wary of besides DeVos and Sessions.

Everything about Adele's tribute to George Michael, including the start over, was legendary

Editor's note - This site can't be political all the time. It would drive you all crazy.

Adele's tribute to George Michael at the Grammys last night was very appropriate, particularly the part when she stopped the performance and began again. When a gay singing idol is paying tribute to a gay icon,  there was too much power in the air.

'Statewide bills aim to impede lgbt rights' & other Fri. midday news briefs

First, a little levity.  Compare the two.  A positive rap song about the lgbt community

vs. a negative rap song. And yes, I am biased so guess who I think wins.



In other news: 

 Betsy DeVos Poses Immediate Danger To LGBT Students - Yes she does, so that's another thing we have to be vigilant about. 

Deluge of new state bills would curtail LGBT rights - Siiiiigh! Bring them on, suckas! 

 Your religious liberty doesn’t give you the right to steal my queer tax dollars - Speaking of which, a semi-original piece in the Huffington Post by moi emphasizing the fact that lgbts pay taxes and will not disrespected by "religious liberty" laws. And I'm going to keep stressing this point repeatedly.

 A School Cancelled A Visit From A Transgender Author Because It Was "Inappropriate" - It's nasty junk like this which sends a subtle but deadly message to our lgbt children that they are not welcomed in today's society. I hate this #@!&!

Religious right group allowing anti-Semitic comments to slip in 'news' site

Unbelievable.

Maybe the American Family Association is so desperate for Trump to sign an anti-lgbt "religious freedom" executive order that the organization is slipping in monitoring the comments on its One News Now site.

Whatever the case may be, I'm more amazed than shocked that whoever monitors the comments on that site let the following slip through under one of its "articles," AFA: Time is now for EO on religious freedom:
:

I assume Kushner is Jewish and Ivanka converted? There's your answer. There is a huge Jewish backing to the LGBT agenda. And an almost inherent suspicion and hatred of anything Christian in the public forum.

That's why his Jewish relatives are urging him to NOT do what he promised. Jews don't have to read or adhere to the Christian bible. They merely need to read their OWN on that subject. It's quite clear in the Torah what God thinks of homosexuality. But then, like many Christian churches, Jewish synagogues are less about DOING what their Torah says from the heart, and more about DOING the social gospel thing - "good works" weighing more than a heart turned to God. The Jewish community has taken the "works" aspect of their religion to the extreme and to the point of anti-Christian activity, and anti-American subversion for decades. It's true. Even if ONN is too afraid to admit it. Heck, American JEWS are more often against Israel itself and apologists for Palestinian terrorism.

So much for Judeo-Christian values.

Related post - Your religious liberty doesn’t give you the right to steal my queer tax dollars

'Trump caught between religious right, lgbt communities' & other Thur. midday news briefs



Conservative Christian organizations are getting impatient with Trump - Hardly noticed by the media is the conundrum facing Donald Trump when it comes to the religious right and the lgbt community. Allow me to break it down in my inimitable style. It's all figurative but I think you will get the point: Behind Donald Trump is the religious right roughly shoving him forward saying "we got you the White House so now you need to do what we demand. Sign that executive order and push hard for other things which would make discrimination against 'homosexuals' legal on a religious basis. OR ELSE!" In front of Trump stands the lgbt community wearing bathrobes and curlers, one hand on hip and the other hand holding either thick rolling pins or pots of boiling hot grits. And they are saying "yeah Donald, you go ahead and do that."
 

Texas lawmaker mocks ‘dudes in dresses getting beat up’ - Dear Texas lawmaker, making fun of the transgender community does NOTHING to quell rumors that you yourself are gay. So perhaps you stop doing it.

Incredible 50-Part Docuseries Explores The Lives Of Queer Men Of Color In NYC - I love it! BUT if I can be just a tad picky, let's not focus too much on just on NYC. People tend to forget the culture of gay men of color down South.

This Man Wants Gay Sikhs To Know It’s OK To Come Out - This is wonderful!

Democrats propose new bills to repeal HB2, extend LGBT protections - Keep your fingers crossed.