'LGBTQ seniors in CA gain victory in spite of Fox News' & other Thur midday news briefs

In spite of the lies of Tucker Carlson, LGBTQ seniors in CA, especially members of the trans community, are now protected from abuse.

California Legislature Approves 'Bill Of Rights' For LGBT Seniors -In spite of Tucker Carlson, the Fox News Network cadre of lies, and distortions about free speech, LGBTQ seniors, particularly transgender seniors, are now protected in California.

Linda Harvey: Criticism of The Nashville Statement Is A Precursor To Persecution Of Conservative Christians - Linda pines for the time when the LGBTQ community would simply take abuse. Sorry, girlfriend. Those days are way in the past. 

After death of LGBTQ rights activist Edith Windsor, community thanks her - Damn right. We owe Ms. Windsor the world. 

Ted Cruz's Pollster Is Flooding Australians With Antigay Robocalls - Why the hell are these jokers interfering with another country's decision about marriage equality?

Just A Bunch Of Tweets Searching For The True Definition Of Gay Culture - These tweets are very astute.

A short, delightful history of homosexuality on film

I'm not always gunning for the jugular of religious right groups. There are times in which I enjoy glimpses of LGBTQ history, such as the video below.

It was created in 2015, right after marriage equality became legal. I found it to be quite astute and a very good history lesson about how we have been portrayed on film. How many of these movies have you seen?

Alabama's largest paper issues warning about anti-LGBTQ activist Roy Moore' & other Wed midday news briefs

Alabama’s Largest Paper Issues Blistering Attack On Roy Moore: Look At How Much He Hates LGBTs [VIDEO] - The above video and accompanying post (hat tip to Joe Jervis) doesn't come as a caution but a severe warning. Moore, who was removed from the Alabama's Supreme Court for attempting to circumvent the SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality, is the front runner for the Alabama US Senate seat. And should he win, count on him causing havoc for the LGBTQ community. Don't wait for the inevitable. Don't wait until the last minute and then attempt to stuff all of your anger in a march. Start planning now. We have allies in Congress. But this man will be an enemy. A dangerous one. 

 LGBT Rights Pioneer Edith Windsor Has Died At 88 - Yesterday, one of the greatest heroes of our community met her reward. Ms. Windsor proved you are never too old to fight for your rights and maintain your dignity. We are a much better people for her presence and grace. 

It’s Official: Donald Trump Is The Most Anti-LGBTQ President In U.S. History - That doesn't mean we are going to lose to this turkey, though. The LGBTQ community has faced larger obstacles and won. Trump will be no different.

51 Of The Most Hilarious Signs From Marriage Equality Rallies Around Australia - They are still fighting for marriage equality in Australia and the folks there know how to do it.

Family Research Council's newest symbol of SPLC persecution is yet another fraud

Carol Swain, FRC's fake symbol of 'SPLC persecution'

In the mind of the Family Research Council, there is a huge rebellion of credibility against the Southern Poverty Law Center, For those who don't know, FRC has been feuding with SPLC ever since the organization called out its deliberate lies about the LGBTQ community by giving it the label of a hate group in 2010.

Since then, FRC has been taking potshots at SPLC, even falsely connecting it with a near shooting at  FRC headquarters in 2012 and the shooting in DC earlier this year which saw member of the House of Representatives hospitalized.

But try as it may, and even with the help of other anti-LGBTQ hate groups and like minded conservative groups, the only thing FRC is doing is making a complete fool of itself.

Take today's Washington Update for example:.

Retired Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain explains "What It's Like to Be Smeared by the Southern Poverty Law Center" in a strong column for the Journal, which hasn't exactly been holding back its skepticism of Richard Cohen's group. For Dr. Swain, institutionalized prejudice is nothing new. As an African-American woman, she's been threatened, protested, and verbally abused for exposing students to other views in one of academia's elite laboratories of radicalism. Now, she can add "targeted by the SPLC" to her long list of distinctions, which among other things, accuses Carol of expressing hatred toward minorities – which is ridiculous since she is a minority! 

Still, Swain insists, she "wears the SPLC's mud as a badge of honor because I know I am in the company of many good men and women who have been similarly vilified for standing for righteousness and truth." But, Carol writes soberly, the SPLC's labeling has had "has had a lasting impact on my life and career. Offers from other universities ended and speaking opportunities declined. Once you've been smeared in this way, mainstream news outlets are less likely to cite you as an expert of any kind." 

But, she continues, "Some of those vilified by the SPLC have been subjected to even worse treatment. The Family Research Council and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise have been violently attacked by individuals inspired by the propaganda the SPLC regularly dishes out -- which is often accepted without criticism and passed on by media, law-enforcement agencies and universities." Like others at the Wall Street Journal who think SPLC's "hate list" feeds the polarization it claims to be fighting, Carol knows Cohen's group has one goal (articulated, conveniently, by former staffer Mark Potok): "destroying" the groups it opposes.

First of all, the man who shot Scalise, James Hodgkinson, was not inspired by SPLC. He once "liked" SPLC's facebook page, a far cry from being inspired. So, pardon me for saying so, but Swain is a liar.

Sen Al Franken blasts Trump nominee on ties to anti-LGBTQ hate group, triggers right-wing snowflakes

This is wonderful.

 Last week, Senator Al Franken calls out Trump's judiciary nominee, Amy Barrett, on her links to anti-LGBTQ hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom. His astute series of questions sent the religious right and their allies into fits as evidenced by these headlines via conservative news sources:

Senator Franken Smears Alliance Defending Freedom with ‘Hate Group’ Label

Citing the SPLC, Sen. Al Franken Compares Alliance Defending Freedom to Pol Pot

Franken charges Trump judicial nominee with hate group ties

No matter how triggered these right-wing snowflakes became, Franken was correct in every statement he made about ADF. And it's not the first time Franken has taken religious right groups and their supporters to the "woodshed." In 2011, during another Congressional hearing, he called out Focus on the Family's Tom Minnery for misrepresenting a study.

The LGBTQ community should copy Franken's behavior in warring against these hate groups who seek to take away our equality.

1. Call these anti-LGBTQ groups exactly what they are - hate groups. DO NOT give an quarter or an inch based upon their claims about merely defending religious freedom or "personally held beliefs.

2. Educate yourselves on WHY these organizations are hate groups. In the video above, Franken broke down the nefarious activities of ADF in detail. Nothing can refute generic claims about "religious liberty" more effectively than specific details contradicting the claims.

3. Be firm and unyielding. Control the narrative always. These groups and individuals are always putting us on the defensive. Based upon their actions, they have questions to answer. Demand that they do. Turn the narrative from us to them. Every time.

The central reason why the LGBTQ community lost the Prop 8 vote (and other referendums)

Last week, I hinted on a new project about the religious right's demonization of the LGBTQ community. At the time, I wasn't ready to give complete details. However, right now, I am ready to drop a small hint as to what that project will be.

It's a simple hint because the project (provisionally named HELL) is a simple, but effective one which I hope will bring a much needed degree of seriousness and examination of history when it comes to how anti-LGBTQ groups and personalities have spent countless years dehumanizing us.

There has been lots said about the initial losses we suffered in our fight for marriage equality; the constant defeats we endured in referendum after referendum, which culminated in the shocking loss regarding Prop 8 in 2008 ; the loss which, for the time being, banned marriage equality in the state of California. Supposedly we were supposed to win that won, so when we loss, fingers were pointed, ugly things were said, and unspoken divisions were put out in the open.

However, the Prop 8 loss shared a similarity (which for the purpose of my upcoming project) like so many other referendum fights. Unfortunately, it was a similarity which very few brought up.

In the future, it shall be.  But for now, enjoy the truth of the meme (click on it if you want to enlarge it.). It will be a sign of things to come:

'Steve Bannon trying to get anti-LGBTQ former judge elected to Senate' & other Fri midday news briefs

Roy Moore

Why Steve Bannon’s Next Act Revolves Around Alabama And The Religious Right - Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon and his propaganda site, Breitbart, are working in Alabama to get Roy Moore elected to the United States Senate. This akin to Darth Vader teaming up Aliens to get them more food sources, but without the humor of the situation. If Moore gets to the US Senate, the LGBTQ community will have a new problem. 

DACA Reversal Could Be ‘Death Sentence’ for LGBTQ Immigrants - I repeat - Trump's awful move on DACA affects us too. 

Russia Isn’t Happy About Canada Secretly Helping LGBTQ Refugees Escape Violence in Chechnya - They can go to hell. Russia that is. 

Back-to-School Worries for Gay Parents- Glad this is getting noticed.

Trump DOJ To Supreme Court: Making Gay Wedding Cake Would Violate Baker’s Rights - By the way, this shit happened. I don't care how many people criticize Hillary Clinton. All I know is that HER justice department wouldn't be doing this crap. Let's get a little selfish, folks and think of our concerns too while some of us try to save the entire world. 

The First White President - Not necessarily an LGBTQ issue per se, but the piece is so smoking, so on-point that it needs to be read by ALL OF US.