There is NO justifiable reason to keep LGBTQ people from adopting children

My dream for the LGBTQ community is simple - that we have the right to live our lives by our rights of self-determination instead of having other people - based on their ignorance and/or religious beliefs - decide what we can or cannot do.

And that includes the dream of raising a family if we so desire. A wonderful post by Ellen Kahn of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation accentuates this:

In the last year, Oklahoma and Kansas have enshrined anti-LGBT+ adoption measures into law, allowing child welfare organisations to turn away qualified parents, including same-sex and transgender couples, interfaith couples, and single parents. And politicians in the U.S. Congress last session unconscionably tried to pass a similar amendment that would allow this kind of “licence to discriminate” nationwide.

Meanwhile, experts across the country resoundingly agree – children in care need a larger pool of qualified prospective parents – not a smaller one.

We know that 2 million LGBT+ people are interested in becoming parents. We also know that children need families – and also succeed in families. It is ridiculous and inhumane to put up blatantly discriminatory hurdles for qualified adopters and to put prejudice over the wellbeing of the children we are all trying so hard to serve.

As a lesbian mother, I know that my ability to be a loving, supportive parent is not at all compromised by my identity. And as a social worker, who has counselled so many LGBT+ families through this process, I’ve seen the amazing, transformational results for both the children and parents. We bring wisdom, commitment, and compassion to our role as parents – we are good at this.

The entire post deserves a read and share. It's that good.

'FL school psychologist under fire for helping transgender kids' & other Thur midday news briefs

Pasco schools psychologist comes under fire in transgender flap - Anti-LGBTQ groups stand up for folks who won't do their jobs when it comes to the LGBTQ community because of the supposed grounds of "religious liberty." It's not surprising, but still ugly, how they are attacking a school psychologist in Florida  for going beyond the call of duty of her job in attempting to help transgender students. She doesn't deserve this attack

Faith Groups Call For Whitaker’s Resignation Over Apparent Preference For Christian Judges - Muslim, Christian, Jewish and secular groups issued a joint letter opposing acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. 

How a small community in Texas came together to help local trans women - Wonderful story about community. 

New web series spotlights activism of queer youth of color - About time. 

40 Years After The Assassination Of Harvey Milk, LGBTQ Candidates Find Success - Yep!

How 'Murphy Brown' helped break gay stereotypes over 25 years ago

I haven't done a "let's take our minds off of the struggle for a little while" post in a long time. So, enjoy this bit of LGBTQ television history, courtesy of the Huffington Post and my friend, Matt Baume.



From The Huffington Post:

When “Murphy Brown” premiered in 1988, the CBS series broke new ground in its portrayal of women in the workforce. The show gently pushed the envelope with regard to gay characters, too, according to Seattle-based writer Matt Baume.

In the latest installment of his “Culture Cruise” video series, Baume breaks down a 1992 episode of “Murphy Brown” titled “Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are.” In it, the character of Miles Silverberg (played by Grant Shaud) recalls a dream he had about touring the Washington Monument with a new colleague, Rick (Brian McNamara). After co-workers point out that Rick is gay, Miles begins to contemplate the dream’s arguably homoerotic undertone and, in turn, question his own sexuality.

'Homophobic conspiracy theorist caught up in Mueller investigation' & other Wed midday news briefs

Jerome Corsi, who falsely claimed that Obama is gay and promiscuous, has been caught up in Mueller's investigation of Trump.

Robert Mueller’s latest target is a nutty anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theorist - Ain't it amazing how folks making their money partly by denigrating the LGBTQ community is caught up in the Trump/Russia investigation. Thanks to LGBTQnation, we can remember just how homophobic Jerome Corsi is. Particularly when a conspiracy of his is that Obama is actually gay and was "popular" around Chicago bathhouses. Then there was the time when Corsi, while attacking marriage equality at a tea party rally, said that sex is not supposed to be fun. None of THOSE jokes, please . . . (oh who am I kidding?)

Some Libraries Are Facing Backlash Against LGBT Programs — And Holding Their Ground - Damn right! The backlash is only a sign that you are doing something right. It's what you when in the backlash that determines loss or victory.

Administration Officials ‘Deputized’ by Dominionists at Election-Themed Prayer Event - Oh no you don't!!

‘Boy Erased’ Author Garrard Conley: ‘I’m Saying The Stuff No One Wants To Say’ - And it NEEDS to be said. 'Ex-gay' therapy is a huge fraud. 

No, No, No: European Court Rules Russia Can’t Ban LGBTQ Events - Well alright!

Anti-LGBTQ news report accidentally gives positive view of 'Drag Queen Story Hour'

The video above is a shocker, but not for the reasons you think.

First, a little background. Drag Queen Story Hour is an innocent event held in libraries across the nation in which fully dressed drag queens read stories to children. One would think that such an event would be ripe for exploitation by the religious right/anti-LGBTQ industry.

But it isn't. Believe it or not, anti-LGBTQ organizations, fake news sites, and personalities have been steadily attacking the event in order to galvanize their supporters with yet another conspiracy theory about the so-called promotion of homosexuality to children. And it's been a failure.  The main reason behind this is the simple fact that Drag Queen Story Hour is a popular event with the children and their parents. In fact, the parents have to give approval for their children to attend. A lot of parents do such and attend the events themselves with their children.

'LGBTQ equality could face bumpier road at the Supreme Court' & other Tue midday news briefs

Supreme Court poised to drastically reverse LGBTQ equality - There are six cases in front of SCOTUS. The court has yet to hear any of them but even one loss could devastate the LGBTQ community. Could be. Maybe or maybe not. I was reluctant to post this because some in our community have a tendency of shrieking and pulling their hair out at the slightest bit of opposition or setback while others wag the finger at those of us who feel that we need to be poised to fight. "Don't tone-police," they say. Screw that. This negative future of the LGBTQ community at SCOTUS is a spooky possibility and we need to be ready for it with our fists up and our determination unwavering. SCOTUS is simply one avenue, win or lose. Above all, remember one things - the LGBTQ community always know how to ultimately win the hard way. 

A trans asylum seeker was beaten & died of severe dehydration in ICE custody - The nonsense Trump is inflicting on migrants is claiming lives, including those in the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ Advocates File Wrongful Death Suit On Behalf of ICE Detainee Roxsana Hernandez - And something IS being done about it. 

Trump just did 2 major things to set back trans rights nationwide - And Trump is also causing problems for the transgender community in America. 

Today, I am a proud son of Harvey Milk and his message of hope for the LGBTQ community - 40 years ago, we lost an LGBTQ hero to an assassin's bullet. But not his heart nor his spirit.

I am overjoyed with the anger & controversy about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade kiss

A simple kiss during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is worth a million.

By now, we have all heard about the same-sex kiss during the recent Macy's  Thanksgiving Day Parade. Unfortunately, I missed it. Equally as unfortunate, I did not miss the negative reaction some people had because of the kiss.

Or maybe it wasn't as unfortunate as I am implying.

 I hope I don't come across as gloating, but I get a wonderful charge when people get all up in arms about such things as us gay folks daring to kiss in public.  There is nothing wrong with us kissing or holding hands in public. And the discussions about it always reveal to some how homophobic they actually are.

You know the type I'm talking about - those folks who claim that they don't have a problem with the LGBTQ community, but seem to think that we shouldn't kiss in public, hold hands in public, raise children, or do anything to wreck their mindset that we are not normal human beings or that the normal processes of life such as dating, marrying, having a family, etc doesn't apply to us, Apparently in exchange for their "tolerance," we are supposed to stand perfectly still in a corner and simply be a prop to demonstrate how "open minded" they are for supposedly accepting us. . .  with extenuating conditions of course.  These supposed allies learn the needed lesson that we are not commodities nor are we props. And, to paraphrase gay writer Harvey Firestein, we shouldn't have to edit parts of our lives that don't appeal to them. If they are going to be allies, it's either all the way or forget it.

Bursting that bubble of imagined superiority is always fun. Still, there is nothing like the hysterical reactions of those who, while claiming to oppose us because they "love" us, proceed to call us everything but the proverbial "child of God." One can always count on them to drop conspiracy theories of gay subterfuge and invasion. Take "former advertising executive who found Jesus and determined to uncover the Gay Mafia Syndicate" Linda Harvey for example:

Linda Harvey

How many times have you heard activists scoff, denying there’s a “gay agenda”?

 . . .  This agenda is like an airborne infection that’s suddenly everywhere. From “LGBT” affirming church youth groups, to “gay”-affirming anti-bullying school lessons, to rainbow “pride” apparel sold at Target and Walmart during the spring and summer, to the obligatory pro-homosexual article in the daily newspaper, to disturbed transvestites reading to preschoolers in libraries. It seems to be critically important to stick it to our children, all in the name of phony “tolerance” and “acceptance,” embracing sins leading to personal disaster, societal destruction and spiritual death.

 . . .   I am grieved for America and all the lost people, especially the young. I mourn the simple sweetness of mom/dad families and uncomplicated friendships, of holidays that cultivated wholesome childhood unmarred by the shadow of hateful, sexual fascism. Despite the victory that is in Jesus Christ and our ultimate destiny, before that glorious appearing, the night is coming. 

Harvey is on to us. Thank God she doesn't know about our plan to block out the sun unless the birthdays of Cher, Beyonce, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Judy Garland are made national holidays. I would mention the required viewing of RuPaul's Drag Race in our nation's elementary schools, but the committee is still working on that and will have the final plans ready by the next meeting of the Gay Mafia.

On one hand, these conspiracies are hilarious. But on the other, they make me sad because I'm always wishing the LGBTQ community was as organized, disciplined, and ruthless as folks like Harvey make us out to be.

Still, the kiss during Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was a wonderful thing. A lot of us can remember a time when even a notion of a televised same-sex kiss would have caused serious problems. There would be fines, endless words of condemnations from people equally homophobic as Harvey but with more power to cause havoc for the LGBTQ community. The backlash would have been immense.

 Instead there are the delightful grumblings of a group of folks, Harvey included, who are slowly but surely losing power. Meanwhile the rest of us have gone on with our lives, punctuated by short bursts of glee and happiness at the latest much needed dose of visibility. And the latest much needed reminder that every fear, lie, and horror about the LGBTQ community are simply sad illusions.

Take it in, y'all. It's what winning feels like.