Federal judge keeps ban against Montana anti-drag law in place while harshly criticizing it

 

Editor's note - It's sad when there is so much misery and chaos in the world that you miss positive news. This took place last week and I'm just getting news about it.

Last week, a federal judge kept in place a ban on enforcing Montana's anti-drag law. What makes this ruling significant was how harshly he criticized the law.

From The Advocate (with me highlighting the crucial part of the article):

A federal judge on Friday extended his stay on Montana’s controversial ban on drag queen story hours in schools and libraries. H.B. 359 was passed earlier this year and bans minors from attending all drag performances. The law was challenged in court by a collection of performers, activists, and businesses who claimed they had been harmed by the ban, which they believe is unconstitutional. 

 U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris on Friday continued his stay, finding the state had presented no evidence to show that children would be harmed by watching a drag show. The stay only prevents the law from taking effect as the case continues in court, but Morris harshly H.B. 359 and its backers in his decision, in effect calling their case baseless and highlighting how the law negatively impacts the greater LGBTQ+ community. 

 “State Defendants presented no evidence before the Court to indicate that limiting children’s exposure to speech and expression critical of gender norms or by gender non-conforming people bears any relationship to promoting children’s welfare,” Morris wrote in his 54-page ruling, but instead relied “largely on statements by members of the Montana legislature and witnesses at the hearings on H.B. 359.”

 . . .Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 359 into law in May. The law took effect immediately and was the first state law to ban drag queen story hours entirely. The stay was first granted in July after the plaintiffs complained it would force the cancellation of the upcoming Helena Pride celebration. The stay allowed the annual event to continue. 

Judge Morris' brutal statement against Montana's drag ban law underscores that this hysteria against drag queens is a con by wannabe social media influencers and pathetically bigoted sad sacks with nothing substantial going on in their lives. All they did was rage post and lie about drag queens, thereby creating a frenzy fueled by ignorance about drag culture, the fear of children being harmed, and hidden prejudices against LGBTQ people. 

Please note how these losers are conveniently absent when their whipped-up hysteria has to be defended in a court of law.

The gayest horror movie of the 1980s : A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 vs. Fright Night

 Being that it is October, and I was trying to work in a post about two of my most favorite subtextual gay horror movies, I figure why not now. Usually, my blog focuses on the anti-LGBTQ industry, but there are times in which I feel we need a break. Also, I love sneaking little bits of LGBTQ culture in from time to time.

Others may disagree but, in my opinion the two most subtextual gay horror movies of the 80s were A Nightmare on Elm Street Two: Freddy's Revenge (1985) and Fright Night (1985). They come from way back in the day in which openly gay characters weren't dared to be shown on screen, so there were a lot of implications and homoerotic undertones. 

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2 is considered by many to be a very subversively gay horror movie. Of course, when I watched it, I was surprised and pleasantly pleased by the amount of male nudity is showed. Now, as our community has moved out of the closet and into the warm glow of sunshine, it turns out that the undercurrent of homosexuality in this movie was in fact intentional.

As further proof of this, you can either watch my friend Matt Baume espouse about it:

 

 

Or just skip to the good stuff: 

    

 And then there was Fright Night which I absolutely adored. This movie was about a young man (Williams Ragsdale) who discovered that his next-door neighbor (Chris Sarandon) was a vampire and rather than simply ignore it (which the vampire actually told him to do), he decides to save the day. 

Unlike Nightmare on Elm Street 2, the gay undertones weren't as blatant. But they were there:

 

 There was one specific scene which I watched repeatedly. It's when the vampire corners the young man's friend (Stephen Geoffreys) in an alleyway. Instead of simply attacking him, he seduces him in a nonsexual (but highly sexually hinted) way:

 

Many of Fright Night's cast members have places in LGBTQ cinema history.

Chris Sarandon (the vampire) received an Oscar nomination for his motion picture debut as Al Pacino's pre-op transgender boyfriend in Dog Day Afternoon. Amanda Bearse (Charley's girlfriend and the damsel in distress) became an LGBTQ icon when she came out while starring in the long running television show Married With Children.

Jonathan Stark (who played the vampire's attendant) later became a television writer and shared an Emmy award for co-writing the landmark episode of Ellen in which Ellen DeGeneres's character came out. Roddy McDowall (Peter Vincent) had been dogged for years about rumors of his sexual orientation. And even Stephen Geoffreys cemented a dubious place in LGBTQ film history by starring in several gay pornographic movies. He has since made a comeback to horror movies.

'Anti-trans 'whistleblower' Jamie Reed called out for another lie' & other Mon news briefs

Jamie Reed

Family Of Missouri Trans Kid: Jamie Reed Lied About Liver Damage, Caused By COVID Drug And Not HRT - Anti-trans 'whistleblower' Jamie Reed has been called out numerous times for lies in her story of alleged bad practices by a gender-affirming care clinic in Missouri. This one is the latest time and also the latest time in which a press - who went all bonkers for Reed - seem to be ignoring the bigger story that there is something really not right here about Reed, her claims, and who she has aligned herself with. 

Extreme anti-LGBTQ+ mayoral candidate won’t apologize for inviting Nazis to candidate forum - This woman should not win her election. 

Meet the Dragon Dads: The Mormon Fathers Fighting for Their LGBTQ+ Kids - We need more like these fathers. 

After years of erasure, Black queer leaders rise to prominence in Congress and activism - And it's about damn time, too. Of course, folks are always willing to omit those like me who may not be as loud but are working to build the framework. 

Muslim parents objecting to LGBTQ picture books used at Ham Lake charter school - This is a really sad situation because none of the books have anything to do with being sexually explicit. These parents simply don't want books with LGBTQ people in them and that is awful. It's an openly blatant attempt at erasure. And it's simply not right to erase people and families even your reasoning is religious.

San Jose leaders condemn anti-LGBTQ group - Glad to see elected officials fighting back.

'New book debunks the 'ex-gay' industry as SCOTUS considers weighing in on conversion therapy bans' & other Thur midday news briefs

New Book Debunks the ‘Ex-Gay’ Industry As Supreme Court Considers Weighing in on Conversion Therapy Bans​ - Okay, I am very biased in amplifying this book. Over 17 years ago, Wayne Besen was one of the inspirations for my blog Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters with his legendary book, 'Anything But Straight' in which he dismantled the 'ex-gay' industry. I'm honored to be able to vouch for this long-awaited follow-up, 'Lies With A Straight Face.' 

 And here is an excerpt courtesy of LGBTQ Nation - Glittering promises laced with lies: A chilling glimpse into the so-called “ex-gay” industry

The Kentucky Gentlemen: New Voices in Country Music - A queer country group of color. Oh I am very interested. 

Transgender Boy's Family Sues North Carolina Officials Over Ban On Gender-Affirming Care For Minors - And I hope he and his family wins.

Drag queens defeat DeSantis again - Appeals court won't lift block on Florida anti-drag law

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

The drag queens beat DeSantis again. 

From News 10 Tampa Bay:

A federal appeals court Wednesday refused to put on hold a ruling that blocked a Florida law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, rejected a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to place a partial stay on a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell. 

 The request, if granted, would have allowed the law to be enforced against almost all venues in the state while an underlying appeal of Presnell’s ruling played out. Presnell issued the injunction in a lawsuit filed by the Orlando restaurant Hamburger Mary’s — but also applied the injunction to venues statewide.

 In seeking the partial stay, lawyers for the DeSantis administration argued that the injunction should only apply to Hamburger Mary’s. 

 “An injunction preventing enforcement of the statute against HM (Hamburger Mary’s) fully protects HM from any … harm,” the state’s lawyers argued in a July motion. “In granting broader relief, the district court irreparably harmed the state by ordering it to refrain from enforcing a duly enacted law designed to protect children from exposure to age-inappropriate, sexually explicit live performances.” 

 In Wednesday’s majority opinion, Judges Adalberto Jordan and Robin Rosenbaum said Presnell ruled that the law was likely overbroad and unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Jordan and Rosenbaum pointed to legal precedents and said, for example, that in “other cases where a law has been found to be overbroad in violation of the First Amendment, we have affirmed injunctions preventing enforcement of a law or ordinance against nonparties as well as parties.”

'Parents in swing suburban district are fighting back against Moms for Liberty' & other Wed midday news briefs

Moms for Liberty meets its match: Parents in this swing suburban district are fighting back - And it's about time, too. 

Ron DeSantis lies to Fox News about Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws​ - When does this man NOT lie? 

George Santos Slapped With 23-Count Superseding Indictment - Gurl bye. 

At least two transgender women will compete in the Miss Universe pageant - Some people are going to HATE this. Oh well.

Video flashback - The Oprah Winfrey Show celebrates the first annual National Coming Out Day

 

 Wednesday is National Coming Out Day or, as I like to think of it, another day when we can remind the haters that we aren't going anywhere, especially not back into the closet. To commemorate this occasion, I am featuring a snippet of The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1988 during the first National Coming Out Day. It's interesting to note how so many things have changed while others unfortunately remain the same. But still nothing should take away the fact that National Coming Out Day is our day and one we have collectively worked hard to get to. We've certainly coming a long way.

 Come out at your own time and on your own pace. Celebrate yourself and your community. And above all, love yourself. You have nothing to be ashamed of.