'The Owl House' makes history with Disney's first bisexual lead character' & other Tue midday news briefs

'The Owl House' character Luz Noceda makes history .

'The Owl House' makes history with Disney's first bisexual lead character - Good for Disney. Our LGBTQ children should never be ignored or pushed to the side.

Three gay Democratic “rising stars” to give joint keynote address at convention - Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention is going to be fierce.

Margaret Atwood, Ed Harris, Judith Butler and more call out Poland’s hateful homophobia in powerful open letter - A wonderful way to use their platform. Good for them. 

The Internet Responds After Hallmark Movie Debuts Its First LGBTQ Couple - So how did it go? What do you think?

Federal judge blocks Trump administration rule against trans health a day before it was to take effect

This just came in this afternoon and it proves how important the recent Bostock decision was.

From Buzzfeed:

A federal judge on Monday blocked a Trump administration rule that would allow healthcare providers to discriminate against transgender individuals, one day before the rule was set to take effect. 

US District Judge Frederic Block found that the landmark US Supreme Court ruling earlier this summer expanding workplace protections for LGBTQ individuals applied in a legal fight over anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act. It's one of the first cases to apply the Supreme Court's decision to other areas of federal law — in this case, healthcare. 

The Supreme Court ruled that workplace discrimination based on "sex" included discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Block, who sits in the federal district court in Brooklyn, found that the administration's plan to remove gender identity from the ACA's anti-discrimination provisions could not stand in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. 

"The Court reiterates the same practical concern it raised at oral argument: When the Supreme Court announces a major decision, it seems a sensible thing to pause and reflect on the decision’s impact," Block wrote. "Since HHS has been unwilling to take that path voluntarily, the Court now imposes it." 

The case before Block involves Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination in health programs that receive federal funding. Under the Obama administration, the Department of Health and Human Services adopted rules in 2016 that made clear that Section 1557 applied to discrimination based on gender identity. 

A federal judge previously blocked the Obama-era rules from being enforced and sent the matter back to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Trump administration moved to get rid of the gender identity protections altogether. On June 12, the administration announced a final rule that would strip away the gender identity language.

For more details, check out the Buzzfeed article in its entirety.

'DC Congresswoman demands feds prosecute anti-LGBTQ hate crimes they've been ignoring' & other Mon midday news briefs

Eleanor Holmes Norton

DC Congresswoman demands feds prosecute the dozens of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes they’ve been ignoring - Eleanor Holmes Norton has always been an ally.

I’m A Nurse Who Cares For Gender Surgery Patients. Here’s Why I Love It So Much. - About time we hear from more than fake experts getting paid by right-wing groups.

Ashlee Marie Preston on What’s Next for Black Trans Americans - A wonderful and fascinating interview. 

Rising LGBTQ stars, historic platform on deck for Democratic convention - It's coming.

Creepy but effective ad highlights homophobia of VP Mike Pence and 2nd Lady Karen Pence

I had trepidation about this newest Don Winslow ad because while it speaks truth, it is also probably the creepiest ad of the 2020 campaign. If it gives you a"Norman  Bates from 'Psycho' vibe, please know that it's neither accidental nor a coincidence.

  But then again I sometimes wish the LGBTQ community could be this unapologetically brutal when calling out those who oppose our basic rights and humanity.

'Ricky Martin feared he couldn't become a parent because of his sexual orientation' & other Fri midday news briefs

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin feared he couldn't become a parent because of his sexuality - I'm glad he realized that he could still be a parent. He now has four children.

A Christian troll wants to sue a lesbian baker after she made an antigay cake he ordered - When trolling fails.

Energizing the Black LGBTQ+ Vote in Swing State Michigan - Oh really? This sounds interesting.

Youth Ministry Accused Of Deceiving Queer Teens With ‘Bait And Switch’ - Messing with our kids again!

VP Mike Pence doesn't want Biden or Harris to cut America's meat (that's what he said)

Yes, Mike Pence. That was a dumb comment you made.

Dear Mike Pence, I know you were actually trying to attack Biden and Harris in terms of the US Dietary Guidelines when you said the following. I also know that in lieu of a doing a speech with substantial content,  you were trying to repeat the attacks the GOP made against former First Lady Michelle Obama when she was attempting to improve the health of our children

But, if you don't mind a little criticism, this line of attack backfired, especially when one takes into account your history of homophobia.

WTF? Are these fools even trying at this point?

"We're not gonna let @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris cut America's meat." --@Mike_Pence pic.twitter.com/dIOusQRAmf

— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) August 13, 2020

You definitely didn't mean this to have come out the way it did, but consider it as a metaphor for your aiding Trump's pathetic presidency.  I mean come on. You're talking about meat in the middle of a huge pandemic in which over five million Americans have been infected and over 170,00 have already died.

I am curious, though. Who would you let cut America's meat?

Or your meat . . .

I won't tell "Mother."

'An ugly plot to destroy the Congressional campaign of gay man' & other Thur midday news brief

Alex Morse

College Democrat chats reveal year-old plan to engineer and leak Alex Morse accusations - I despise The Intercept, but this is good journalism.

Antigay Dog Whistles Wrongly Insinuate Gay Mayor Engaged in Pedophilia - THIS is what it led to.
 

Black lesbian political powerhouse announced as Kamala Harris’s chief of staff - It keeps getting better for Biden and Harris.

The World Gay Boxing Championships look to ‘disrupt’ homophobia in sports - Oh? This sounds very interesting. 

Trump’s ambassador to Britain demanded auditors delete complaints about his racial and sexual remarks - Another day, another sh!tty Trump pick.