Franklin Graham spews homophobic foolishness over 'Beauty and the Beast'

Franklin Graham

The news that there was will be a gay character in Disney's upcoming live action depiction of 'Beauty and the Beast' has gotten the "usual suspects" up in arms with their Helen Lovejoyish cries of "won't someone think of the children."

And none of them seem to be louder than evangelist Franklin Graham.

According to the Huffington Post:

In a Facebook post shared this week, Graham wrote that the company is “trying to push the LGBT agenda into the hearts and minds of your children — watch out!” Then, acknowledging that “Disney has the right to make their cartoons” because “it’s a free country,” the evangelist went on to state, “as Christians we also have the right not to support their company. I hope Christians everywhere will say no to Disney.” 

So it's the old "gays want your children" fear tactic. Granted, it's several steps above the Anita Bryant cry of how we supposedly want to "recruit children to refreshen our ranks," but the same meaning still applies. The Huffington Post also added this about Graham's tendency to be public about certain issues:

Graham has previously made his thoughts on other non– straight, white, Christian groups clear with comments about President Trump’s ban on Syrian immigrants (“not a Bible issue”), Islam (“evil”) . . .

It's unfortunate that Graham's interpretation of Christianity includes attacking a different religion with lies and opposing the tenet Jesus put forth in his parable of The Good Samaritan while railing against a fairy tale simply because a depiction of it includes a gay character. One wonders how he feels about 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' i.e a teenage girl living in the forest with seven unmarried men.

I honestly wasn't planning to see 'Beauty and the Beast,' but thanks to Graham, I'll probably go to see it. Twice.

'Christian conservative TX mom becomes 'accidental activist' after child comes out as transgender' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Christian, Conservative And Parenting A Transgender Child In Texas - I read this story this morning a few minutes after I woke up. It's easily the most poignant thing I've read in a while. When someone comes at you about how transgender children" make other children feel uncomfortable and pushing the "bathroom predator" nonsense, send them this piece. Kimberly Shappley is a self-described Christian and conservative. Then her six-year-old child came out as transgender and she had to decide what was more important. Luckily, as the video above shows, she made the right choice.

 Transgender Conservatives Speak Out: Trump ‘Failed’ The Test Of Equality - No shit! 

 When We Rise Falls Again in Ratings; Eyewitness Canceled - There seems to be a problem with viewers not flocking to lgbt-themed shows and such. The religious right, if they begin to brag about this, will claim that America is getting tired of having the so-called lgbt agenda supposedly thrust in its face. I personally think the problem is more complex. There needs to be a focus on the wide diversity of the lgbt community in both who represents us and region of the country where this representation comes from. Not all of us have history in California.

 Secretive Council For National Policy Pushing Trump To Sign ‘Religious Liberty’ Order - Yeah Trump. Go ahead and sign that executive order and see what happens . . .

This Far-Right Tweet About "The Future That Liberals Want" Backfired Into A Huge Meme - HEHEHEHE!

Anti-transgender 'bathroom bills' keep no one safe except the politicians pushing them

Has the indispensable video journalist Matt Baume been reading my blog? Probably so, but I doubt as much as I would like for me to take credit for this wonderful video he just completed.  Baume proves that politicians pushing "bathroom bills" do so because they are more concerned about their re-election chances than protecting the public. Then he compares the rhetoric used to justify these bills to the rhetoric used to justify banning marriage equality. In doing this, Baume proves a point I've made repeatedly - that the religious right and their allies exploit people's fear about children in danger to hinder lgbt equality. Outstanding!

'NPR doing awful job covering lgbt issues' & other Thur midday news briefs

NPR doing bad job on lgbt issues

NPR demonstrates how not to report on LGBT issues — four different times - It is crucial, particularly during the Trump Administration era, that our community demand fair coverage of issues involving us. When noted media sources like NPR get crucial facts wrong AND allow anti-lgbt hate and religious right groups to dictate the terms of the conversation, we have a SERIOUS problem. 

The Epidemic of Gay Loneliness - While we fight for equality, the lgbt community cannot forget that there are other internal issues which laws can't take care of. This is a huge one.

 12 Transgender People React to Trump's Order on Their Civil Rights - Thank you, Teen Vogue for focusing on the important part of this issues, i.e. the rights and voices of transgender people.  

DOJ lets stand court order against transgender health care - Disgraceful! 

 Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire says he’d avoid gay teammate - Don't nobody want you!

Will the Family Research Council ever stop distorting the Sweet Cakes bakery case?

Religious right groups portray the Kleins as victims.  Don't be fooled. They aren't.

One thing which is absolutely aggravating about religious right groups like the Family Research Council is not just how they lie, but how they will repeat the lie in spite of it being refuted.

For groups who claim to speak about upholding values and Christians ethics, organizations like FRC seem to have no problem playing fast and loose with the truth whenever it suits them. Take the situation about Sweet Cakes bakery for example. FRC just sent out a Washington Update pushing the usual nonsense about how supposed Christians, like the owners of Sweet Cakes bakery, are being "persecuted" by the lgbt community:

There has to be space in our society for people who hold differing views. Isn't that what liberals meant by tolerance? Apparently not, as Aaron and Melissa Klein know all too well. Like dozens of other family businesses, the Kleins never thought that their faith would be a liability to their booming bakery business. They were wrong. In a politically correct world, thy found out that costs of running a business are a lot more than dollars and cents. For these bakers, it was their First Amendment rights.

Their dream of opening a dessert shop near Portland, Oregon turned into a nightmare when two lesbians refused to take "no" for an answer on their request for a same-sex "wedding" cake. As FRC's Travis Weber points out, the Kleins were happy to provide any item from their shop to gay and straight customers alike. They welcomed everyone to come and shop at Sweet Cakes by Melissa. The only thing the Kleins declined to do was become part of a same-sex wedding ceremony; they didn't want to be forced -- by any customer -- to create a cake that violated their beliefs. The same was true of any event contradicting their faith -- like a celebration of divorce, an order they would also decline.

Still, liberals in the state hounded the Kleins with a ferocity that ultimately forced their store to close. Now, facing a $135,000 fine, the parents of five will finally have their day in court. Until now, they've been at the mercy of a biased administrative body in Oregon that even went so far as to impose a gag order on the couple. 

FRC is being highly deceptive. No one put a gag order on the Kleins.

'Marriage equality attacked on two fronts' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Conservatives & religious right just can't leave this issue alone.

In two states, marriage equality is being attacked via legislative and judicial means. Some conservatives and members of the religious right seem to be determined to overturn the SCOTUS decision. The attempts are long shots but they also prove how deeply entrenched the other side is in not letting this issue go. All I have to say is don't laugh it off and don't let your guards down. The surest way to lost marriage equality is to assume that you can't lose it. It's not the belief that they can take away marriage equality which bothers me. It's that they think they can. You've been warned.

 Texas Conservatives Are Still Fighting Marriage Equality 

Arkansas voted for a federal constitutional convention to ban marriage equality 

Derby district rolls back bathroom access for transgender students - Awful and yet there is a kernel in this article which may blossom into something big. According to some, the students don't care about the issue either way. That is to say they aren't getting spooked by the 'bathroom/lockerroom' predator myth. The adults are. Keep your ears open on how students actually feel about this issue in general.

10-Year-Old Busts Myth About Trans People With Powerful Sign - I'm convinced that in the long run, it will be the young ones which will show us the way.  

Yet Even More Proof That Religious Right Myths Never Die - Well when you don't have enough people calling them out, they don't die. You get worn down by the power of repetition.  

The Israeli Air Force Celebrated ‘Family Day’ by Posting a Pic of This Gay Officer’s Family - NICE!

Transgender teen turns 'bathroom predator' myth on its head by putting simple truth in the mix

The issue of transgender equality has become, unfortunately, yet another situation about lgbt rights in which religious right groups seem to be defining the terms of argument, i.e. reducing the argument to an inaccurate, attention-catching point which exploits fear and subsequently finds the lgbt community playing defense.

In this case, religious right groups and spokespeople have pushed everyone's attention on bathrooms and the fear of not being safe in that very private and vulnerable space. While I despise the fact that the lgbt community finds ourselves yet again in another position of playing defense, I am happy with the fact that we are getting rather skilled at fighting from that position.

Buzzfeed proves this point in by spotlighting a drawing created by a transgender teen which turns the bathroom predator myth on its head by adding a little truth to the formula:

According to Buzzfeed,the drawing, which 22-year-old writer Jason Gross created in 2012, has become "a symbol in the fight for trans bathroom rights."

Gross told Buzzfeed:

"It’s good to know that this isn’t just me being a baby and actually resonates with others,” he said. “So if it can help further the movement the way it seems to be doing I’m happy to let it go.”