Religious right attack on PA Pride Festival is laughably boring

Attempting to take part in the far-right sparked hysteria about drag queens, pride parades, and children, the American Family Association posted an article (via its 'news site' American Family News) about a Pride event in Pennsylvania entitled 'Family-friendly' pride festival was anything but'

There was just one problem with the article. In fact, a big one as far as I'm concerned. See if you can guess what it is.

From American Family News:

The American Family Association (AFA) of Pennsylvania recently addressed outgoing Governor Tom Wolf's "misguided" executive order banning so-called "conversion therapy" from the state. And last month, he fully supported and even gave $10,000 to fund a homosexual pride event in the central part of the state. He wrote a letter, specifically expressing support for the Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania, deeming it a time to "promote self-affirmation, dignity, and equality, and to minimize communities." 

 "As Governor, and on behalf of all the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am honored to offer my support for Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania’s thirtieth anniversary," Wolf wrote.

 "This is actually the first year for the PA Pride Community Grant Program," reports Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of Pennsylvania. "Other pride organizations have been helped along, shall we say, with our taxpayer dollars through the Department of Community and Economic Development." 

 The viral video, posted by Libs of TikTok, depicts a shirtless man instructing a child — who appears to be a boy — wearing a rainbow tutu and headband. He is seen climbing a dance pole and then spinning around to the applause and cheers of onlookers. 

 There were 17 recipients of the PA Pride Community Grant program, which "supports Pride festivals and events throughout the commonwealth through September 2022." The Central PA Pride Festival, where this video is believed to have been taken, was among them.

 "As I've gone to some of these gay pride events, I've seen increasingly they have family zones, where they want to normalize their lifestyle, want to make it appear as if this is a family-friendly event," the conservative activist relays. "It's not, not at all. It's the exact opposite."

 Breitbart reports Carrie Fischer Lepore of the state Marketing, Tourism, and Film Department described the festival as an "uplifting" event that celebrated "belonging, accessibility, and inclusion" and sent the message that in Pennsylvania, "all are welcome to pursue their happiness."

Where is the salacious content? Where is the shocking footage?  Not even one picture?

All we have are two things. One is a video from a Libs of Tik Tok , a twitter address which just came off of suspension after spreading the lie that children's hospitals are giving trans kids hysterectomies. Libs of Tik Tok isn't exactly a bastion of truth.

And the other thing is a quote from Diane Gramley, an ancient right-wing pundit who sounds like if she did truly go to Pride events, she would hide under a bush because she'd be scared that a drag queen would use her body as a costume drape.

Is that it? Seriously? Nothing about a drag queen? I know somebody was passing around condoms or something.  At least one person had to be wearing leather, no matter how hot it probably was. A harness maybe?  Anything? Anything at all?

 Not even a one butt-cheek twerk? 

Oh well.

Little advice, Diane. The next Pride event you attend, instead of looking for things to condemn,  have a drink. In fact have a couple of drinks, grab some drag queens, and have a good time for a change. And if by chance you see a genuine stripper pole, hop on for a twirl. It would probably do you some good.

'Best selling novelist donates $50k to library defunded over books with LGBTQ content' & other Tue midday news briefs

Best selling novelist donates $50k to library defunded over books with LGBTQ content​ - Thank you, Nora Roberts!

Internet services company Cloudflare blocks fringe message board Kiwi Farms, citing 'targeted threats' - A horrible message board which scares even me has been shut down thanks to the hard work of several activists. Especially one in particular. 

5 things older gay men need to talk about more to survive and thrive - These discussion help. Tremendously. 

Over half of LGBTQ Southerners say their parents tried to change or repress their identity, report finds - I am not shocked at all about this.

Melbourne police shut down false story of sexual assault by trans student in school bathroom

 

I envision the DeSantis Administration getting angry that this incident was exposed as false before they could exploit it as yet another reason to undermine the state's LGBTQ community. Knowing them however, it wouldn't be a surprise if they used it anyway. 

From Florida Today via Yahoo News:

After a nearly three-week long investigation, Melbourne Police said in a report finalized on Friday that allegations of a transgender student assaulting a girl in the bathroom at Johnson Middle School were unfounded. Over the course of the investigation, police spoke to administrators at Johnson Middle School, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, and the Department of Children and Families, all of whom said no reports regarding a sexual assaults at the school had been made. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, and the parents that police spoke with were unable to give specific information, saying that they had heard the story of the alleged assault from multiple sources, including other parents and an unnamed teacher who did not work at Johnson Middle School. 

 Brevard Public Schools vehemently denied that any incident occurred at the middle school after Fine publicly called for Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz to investigate a potential sexual assault at Johnson Middle School on Aug. 11. Fine did not have firsthand knowledge of any assault, but said parents had reached out to his office. He blamed BPS' practice of allowing transgender students to use bathrooms of the gender that they identify with for making such an incident possible. 

 . . . Police traced the story of the Johnson Middle School assault to a conversation between retired BPS teacher Karen Parrish and a teacher who did not work at Johnson, then closed the case as unfounded when Parrish did not provide the name of the current teacher and no witnesses came forward.

 

 If the story had turned out to be true, we would be hearing about it all over social media and in the cable news media. But since it turns out to not be true, the vultures who exploit stuff like this are slinking away, hoping that it will be forgotten.

Video - Me and Lucile Bluth for Labor Day

It's the start of the Labor Day weekend holiday, so I am not posting anything serious (although with my luck, I bet something good is going to happen and I will probably miss out).

Barring anything interesting happening, this will be my last post until Monday evening. Those who keep up with this blog will agree with me that I need a break. It's been a turbulent year highlighted by the death of my mother a month ago. In tribute to her and the gift of laughter, I am posting video of quotes from probably one of the worst, but funniest, mothers of all time - Lucille Bluth from  Arrested Development. Lucille is the EXACT opposite of what my mother was.  These clips recently made me laugh at moments when I needed something to lift me up. I hope they have that effect on you, also.

'25 LGBTQ+ Coming-of-Age Films' & other Thur midday news briefs

'Moonlight' is the only LGBTQ+ Coming-of-Age movie to win the Oscar for 'Best Picture'

25 LGBTQ+ Coming-of-Age Films​ - One even won an Oscar for 'Best Picture.' 

First monkeypox-related death reported in US - We got a situation. 

Carl Nassib met the media and most of the questions were about football, not being gay. Hooray for that. - Thank you!! 

U.S. sees progress on LGBTQ rights but equality is lacking, U.N. expert says - THIS is depressing.

As anti-LGBTQ legislation proliferates, some Iowans depart - As well as this.

Report - TX governor's order to investigate the parents of transgender kids could put state agency 'on brink of collapse'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's order to investigate the parents of trans kids is wrecking the state's child protection agency.

From the Dallas Morning News:

Continuing to investigate the parents of transgender youth could put Texas’ child protection agency over the brink of collapse, a group of its staffers said in a new court filing. In an Aug. 25 brief filed with the Austin appeals court, 16 current and former employees at the Department of Family and Protective Services said there has been an exodus from the agency that could hamper its ability to perform basic and necessary functions. They urged the court to keep the abuse investigations on hold while the policy continues to be litigated.

“As career DFPS employees,” they wrote to “respectfully advise the Court that DFPS is on the brink of collapse, and that the politically motivated decision to compel DFPS employees like themselves to investigate nonabusive loving and supportive families who merely rely in good faith on their doctor’s advice would put DFPS over that brink.” 

 They noted that age appropriate and individualized gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, are supported by the state and nation’s largest medical organizations. These treatments are meant to help treat gender dysphoria, the feeling of discomfort or distress that can occur for those who identify as a gender different from the gender or sex assigned at birth.

 “The great mass of DFPS employees did not choose the child welfare profession to break up loving families who, with no ill motive, malice, or negligence toward their child, are simply following medical advice and administering medicine under a doctor’s supervision,” they added. 

 The staff warnings underscores the chaos that the controversial policy change has created. It was filed less than two weeks after The Dallas Morning News first wrote that internal documents revealed confusion and secrecy marked the decision’s rollout in February. More than 2,000 employees have left the agency this year, The Houston Chronicle reported this month.

Abbott's order to investigate the parents of trans kids was considered a touchstone in this so-called culture war about trans issues. Now that it all seems to be falling apart for him, where is all of the attention? This article is infuriating on so many levels, but one of the main issues why is that very few people in the media seem to be paying attention.

It says lot about they think about LGBTQ people and our issues.

'VA school board adopts anti-LGBTQ hate group's policy for trans students' & other Wed midday news briefs

Virginia school board votes 5-2 to adopt hate group ADF’s policy​ - The Alliance Defending Freedom again. They got their hateful hands in everything.

California may act as U.S. refuge for transgender youth​ - It's terrible that we have to even talk about refuges for our kids, but still I support the idea. 

Yeshiva University petitions Supreme Court in bid to prohibit official LGBTQ club - If you get tax dollars, then forget it. Although I think our SCOTUS may be more inclined to disagree seeing that it is religiously biased. 

How Tobacco Companies Harm the LGBTQ+ Community - Needs to be told. 

Virginia Court Blocks Republican Attempt To Criminalize LGBTQ Books - Nice try but you failed.

LGBTQ teachers open up as their schools -- and identities -- become next front in the culture war - It's on. Stay strong.