Hitler-quoting hate group Moms for Liberty says 'health care has no place in public schools'

Alleged "parents' rights" group Moms for Liberty just showed its true colors yet again with the recent tweet:

Mental health care is health care Mr. President.

That’s why it has NO place in public schools. #ParentalRights https://t.co/a1uF6NV7Ec

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) July 25, 2023

 

And the group doubled down on the statement:

Yes. Health care has no place in public schools.

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) July 26, 2023

 

Moms for Liberty is a rapidly growing conservative group claiming to be for the rights of parents. In actuality, it is an astroturfed group created to undermine inclusive school curriculums and the rights and safety of LGBTQ students. The SPLC has designated Moms for Liberty as a hate group because of its ugly tactics and its desired goals:

Moms for Liberty and its nationwide chapters combat what they consider the “woke indoctrination” of children by advocating for book bans in school libraries and endorsing candidates for public office that align with the group's views. They also use their multiple social media platforms to target teachers and school officials, advocate for the abolition of the Department of Education, advance a conspiracy propaganda, and spread hateful imagery and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.

 . . .Moms for Liberty is an anti-student inclusion group that presents itself as a modern parents’ rights organization that seeks to “unify, educate, and empower parents to defend and protect their parental rights at every level of government.” The group’s website appears to align with this mission, featuring general information about the organization and its chapters, resources for parents, and links to press skewed in the group’s favor. The social media accounts and real-world activity of the national organization and its chapters reflect views and actions that are antigovernment and conspiracy propagandist, anti-LGBTQ and anti-gender identity, and anti-inclusive curriculum.

Those of us who stand against Moms for Liberty call them "Klanned Karenhood." And the name is definitely appropriate.  

While claiming to stand for "parental rights," the group has:

 Helped state legislators pass hateful anti-LGBTQ laws across the country,

Partnered with violent far right extremist groups such as The Proud Boys,

Been linked to several incidents of threats and harassment on school officials across the country, including:

The chairperson of the Monroe County, Pennsylvania, chapter was arrested on a “summary charge of harassment” after allegedly repeatedly harassing an individual with messages. 

The head of communications of the Lonoke County, Arkansas, chapter threatened gun violence against librarians. In audio obtained by Media Matters, the chapter’s head of communications and media, Melissa “Missy” Bosch, threatened librarians in the district, saying, “I’m telling you, if I was -- any mental issues, they would all be plowed down with a freaking gun by now.”

And then there was the "Hitler-quoting incident in June. According to VICE:

In the first ever edition of the Hamilton County, Indiana, Moms for Liberty newsletter, published on Wednesday, the group’s co-founders Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice blasted the Southern Poverty Law Center’s recent decision to label the group a far-right extremist organization.

 That statement might have carried more weight if the top of the very same newsletter wasn’t adorned with a quote from Adolf Hitler. The quote used in the newsletter was taken from a speech Hitler gave during a 1935 rally: “He alone, who OWNS the youth, GAINS the future.” It appeared just under the masthead for the “Parent Brigade” newsletter published on the group’s Facebook page on Wednesday night. It was first reported by the Indianapolis Star.

At the time, VICE called the Hitler quoting incident:

 . . . the latest evidence that Moms for Liberty’s pretense of being a wholesome, grassroots movement focused on protecting students is slipping.

Last month, CNN said Moms for Liberty was rapidly gaining influence in the Republican party by pointing out how GOP presidential candidates such as Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley all attended its summit in Philadelphia in attempts to garner support.

One can only hope that these candidates will be asked about Moms for Liberty's opinion concerning health care in public schools. If there is any place healthcare should be, it would be in the public schools.

Any group actually concerned about the welfare of kids would know this.

'Another lie from anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court wedding case has been exposed' & other Wed midday news briefs

'This was a lie': Another fact in the anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court wedding website case was false - So many lies in God's name.

Parents protest school district’s no opt-out policy for LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum​ - See this is moronic. And before some folks willfully distort the issues, we are not talking about sex education. We are talking about curriculum which simply acknowledges the existence of LGBTQ+ people. THAT is simply not right and it's a deliberate distortion of the parents' rights argument. If you don't want your kids to acknowledge the existence of certain people, then you home school them. You don't get to erase the existence of groups of people. 

Gay Chechen Singer Killed on Order of Strongman Ramzan Kadyrov: Report - He was angry that he shook hands with a gay guy so he had him tortured and murdered. 

Booksellers sue over Texas law requiring them to rate books for appropriateness - And I hope that they win.

Congressional Republicans to hold transphobic, distortion-filled hearing on gender-affirming care (with no medical experts testifying)

I do not apologize for the headline. It is truth. Imagine holding hearings pushing the ideas that pedophilia and homosexuality are linked, or that gay men are so promiscuous that they stuff gerbils up their rectums. Those were false ideas once pushed by Republicans and conservatives.  That should give you an indication of the type of lies to expect Thursday when they attack gender-affirming medical care and trans people in their sham hearing.

 From The Advocate: 

 The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Consitution and Limited Government has scheduled a hearing this week ostensibly to discuss gender-affirming medical care. No doctors will testify. 

 Instead, during Thursday morning’s hearing titled “The Dangers and Due Process Violations of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Children,” lawmakers will hear from a former college athlete who took issue with a transgender team member’s participation, an anti-LGBTQ+ advocate from a conservative interest group, a member of the Federalist Society, and a person who had access to gender-affirming care, decided to detransition, and now advocates against the care for youth. 

 Republicans invited former University of Pennsylvania swimmer (and Lia Thomas critic) Paula Scanlan, detransitioner Chloe Cole, Director for Family Studies at the far-right anti-LGBTQ+ group Family Research Council Jennifer Bauwens, and Federalist Society member May Mailman, who is also a senior fellow at the conservative Independent Women’s Law Center, to testify. 

 Democrats, already frustrated with Republican efforts to strip funding from all bills benefiting the LGBTQ+ community, called the hearing a sham. "The upcoming House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee hearing is the latest attempt by extremist Republicans to weaponize Congress and inject their culture wars into families’ private health care decisions,” Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, tells The Advocate. “Gender-affirming care is safe, effective, medically necessary, and supported by every major reputable medical association. The science is not up for debate. This hearing is nothing more than a concerted effort to cultivate fear and stigmatize vulnerable communities in order to pursue an extremist agenda and political power."

 . . . “This Congress, extreme MAGA Republicans are using the appropriations process to further their radical agenda and attack the LGBTQI+ community,” said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan of Wisconsin in a press release. “Motivated by bigotry and the desire to appeal to the GOP extremist base, more than 40 anti-equality provisions across the 12 appropriations bills were passed. Last week, they went even further and cut millions of dollars in funding for members’ community projects that would have tackled LGBTQI+ homelessness and housing insecurity. I condemn these discriminatory attacks and remain committed to ensuring none of these awful provisions make it into the final funding bill that becomes law.”

'Conservatives tried to hold LGBTQ+ books hostage. Accidentally raises $45,000 for library' & other Tue midday news briefs

Conservatives threatened to hold LGBTQ+ library books hostage. The plan blew up in their faces. - They ended up raising $45,00 for the library to expand LGBTQ+ programming and materials. Love it!

Arlington Schools Chief Rejects Youngkin’s ‘Discriminatory’ Transgender Student Policies - THIS is going to get interesting. 

OutKick hosts call Outsports, ESPN and others ‘homophobic’ for sharing Kevin Maxen’s coming out story - Isn't Outkick Rupert Murodch bought-and-paid-for trash?

Russian president signs legislation outlawing gender-affirming procedures - A quicker method than bigots are trying in America. But still the goals are the same.

Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign is shaping up to be a #DeSaster

 

This couldn't be happening to a more deserving son-of-a-bit . . .  I mean person.

From The Orlando Sentinel (by way of Yahoo News):

Gov. Ron DeSantis had a difficult weekend on the culture war front, re-doubling his defense of the state’s controversial new Black history standards as a new report revealed a now-infamous anti-LGBTQ ad was actually made within the campaign itself. A pro-DeSantis account also tweeted a video that included alleged imagery of a Nazi symbol. Though reports that it had been retweeted by a DeSantis campaign staffer before it was deleted were unconfirmed, Florida Democrats pounced. DeSantis’ continuing cultural battles come amid reports that his presidential bid is planning a “reboot” following worsening poll numbers and a major shedding of cash.

 . . . “What’s happened is what might be expected, and I did expect,” said Mac Stipanovich, a former Tallahassee Republican consultant who has been a frequent critic of DeSantis. “The campaign is proving to be a clown car. Malevolent clowns, but clowns just the same.” 

 And this is just a small portion of a wonderful article chock full of DeSantis campaign missteps, blatant lies, and pitiful evasions, all of which gives us a front row seat of what happens when an empty suit decides to run for president without any integrity or substance to back up his verbal bravado. The DeSantis campaign is so bad, one has to wonder if it is a victim of deliberate internal sabotage.

DeSantis is also facing negative press in other areas which are not included in the article, such as his threat to sue Bud Light over its partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney and a leaked transcript from a canceled Showtime documentary about his time as a junior Navy officer at the Guantánamo ​prison camp. The transcript alleges that he was present at force feedings and tortures of prisoners.

'DeSantis campaign WAS behind insane anti-LGBTQ video attacking Trump' & other Mon midday news briefs

Maggie Haberman Source Says Bonkers Anti-LGBTQ Attack On Trump Was Made By DeSantis Camp — And ‘Passed Off’ To a Supporter - I don't like Trump and I don't like DeSantis. But this is DELICIOUS. 

California school district adopts textbook it rejected for covering LGBTQ+ figures after Newsom threat - Handle your business, Governor Newsom. 

Florida Board of Education OK's Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies, Sanitized View of Slavery - In case you haven't heard (and I hope you have because folks have been torching DeSantis's ass all weekend over it.

300 protest YMCA after teen lies about naked trans woman in locker room - Yet another lie denigrating trans female athletes. You can practically set your watch by them.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Arizona law banning trans athletes from competing in female-designated sports

 I know how some folks feel about trans women and girls (strangely the concern hardly ever touches trans men and boys) competing in sports, but here is something to consider. In spite of all of the preconceived notions fueling opposition to trans female athletes, maybe there is simply no concrete evidence that trans females have an unfair advantage over cis female athletes.

From Metro Weekly: 

A federal judge has blocked Arizona from enforcing a law prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in female-designated sports. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Zipps, of the District of Arizona, granted a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing the Save Women’s Sports Act. The law prohibits transgender female athletes from competing in sports matching their gender identity and allows cisgender students to sue for damages if they believe they have lost out on an athletic opportunity after being forced to compete against a transgender athlete.

 The ban on transgender athletes was challenged by a 15-year-old volleyball player, referred to as Megan Roe, and an 11-year-old, referred to as Jane Doe, who wishes to play girls’ soccer, basketball and cross-country. Because neither has yet undergone male puberty, and both are on puberty blockers, they argue they don’t have a physical or physiological advantage and should be allowed to compete on teams matching their gender identity.

 In her order granting the injunction, Zipps found that the law is “overly broad” because it bans transgender female athletes, including those at the elementary school level, from girls’ sports teams, despite the lack of evidence proving that pre-pubertal athletes hold some physiological or unfair competitive advantage over other children based solely on their assigned sex at birth. She also noted that the ban treats transgender boys and transgender girls differently, noting that transgender boys — whom the state and proponents of the ban refer to as “biological girls” — are permitted to play on male-designated teams, despite the alleged physical risks that they would presumably face by competing against “biological male” athletes. 

 Zipps also noted that, under the law, even cisgender female athletes can be investigated and forced to submit to genetic testing to “prove” their biological sex.