'Senate won't extend veteran benefits to married gay couples and their children' & other Friday midday news briefs

 
Senate Rejects Extending Veterans Benefits To Married Gay Couples And Their Kids - This here is some @!%$! Don't tell our fighting men and woman that you appreciate their service and then refuse to give them fair compensation.

‘Transgender, at War and in Love’ - Before anyone succumbs to nonsensical fears regarding transgender men and women in our Armed Forces, they really should see this documentary. Hat tip to my buddy John Becker. 

Air Force Takes A Big Step Toward Allowing Transgender Service - Speaking of which.  

Federal Judge Strikes Down Guam's Gay Marriage Ban - Awesome!!  

Five Insights From A 1961 Documentary On Gay Men That Still Resonate Today - Because lies never die. They just take different forms.  

Alan Keyes: Voting For Gay Marriage Like Voting For The Holocaust - I KNOW that there some sane black conservatives out there somewhere . . . somewhere over the rainbow cause they sure aren't showing themselves.  

Sandy Rios: Duggar And Hastert Are Victims Of 'Systematic Targeting' Of Conservatives - When you see the people that the religious right are propping up as spokespersons . . .

Family Research Council still exploiting actual anti-Christian persecution overseas to fundraise

In an Iranian prison, a man is praying . . . for Christians in America.

In a hidden location in North Korea, a kneeling circle of believers cry out to God . . . for Christians in America.

I know of no stronger evidence of the connection between the persecuted church overseas and the persecuted church in America than this: they are praying for us!

That's why I urge you to allow me to send you a Nasrani Pin as my thank you for your gift to help FRC stand for religious freedom in America as Christian faith comes under growing attack -- and also speak out for the persecuted Christians overseas.

- - Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in a sleazy fundraising pitch conflating actual incidents of anti-Christian persecution overseas to evangelical Christians in America being told to follow the law like everyone else and serve all customers, gay and straight.

'Negative fall out from Duggars interview, HRC having problems' & other Thursday midday news briefs

The fall out from the Duggars interview is not pretty (as many of knew it wouldn't be) and there is a LOT of criticism thrown around:

CNN's Chris Cuomo: Megyn Kelly's Duggar Interview Was "A Conversation Among Friends" - Even though I still think Kelly got lucky with the way this interview turned out, Cuomo makes an EXCELLENT point. 

The Duggars totally misrepresented their anti-LGBT robocall in Fox News interview - As I predicted, the robocall question was a KILLER to the Duggars. 

 In Fox Interview Duggar Dad Falsely Describes Michelle's Anti-Trans Robocall To Cover Up Hypocrisy - Etc.

Fox News fans defend Duggars the only way they know how — by blaming Bill Clinton and black people - But the Duggars had their defenders . . . but they were NOT helpful. 

 In other news: 

 Internal Report: Major Diversity, Organizational Problems At Human Rights Campaign - Having an "outsider" status in the lgbt equality movement, I've never been one for the internal squabbles and the name-calling (such as the "Gay,Inc" label), but this internal report about HRC gave even me spooky pause. Whether some of us like the group or not, HRC is a powerful and much needed organization when it comes attaining lgbt equality. I hope it takes this report to heart and makes the necessary changes (particularly getting more people of color in visual and leadership positions).  

Gender Transition Tougher than Caitlyn Makes It Look - WONDERFUL article which includes my very good friend Dayna Smith who reminds us that while yes we should praise Caitlyn Jenner, let's not forget the larger picture. Gender transition is not easy for those who undergo it because of a number of reasons, financial and otherwise. 

Religious Right Angry At Business Support For Marriage Equality - Gasp! How DARE those awful, awful, equality-loving businesses.

Michelle Duggar reduced to awkward silence when confronted by her transphobic hypocrisy

Well the Duggars interview with Megyn Kelly of Fox News is over and here are my thoughts.

I was disappointed in how Kelly glossed over several details regarding the type of counseling the Duggars claimed their son, Josh, went through after admitting he inappropriately touched several underage girls, including his sisters. To say that Kelly was on their side is an understatement. Several invectives and tones in her voice when she mentioned "the tabloids" or when she implied how the family was being targeted bothered me.

However, all in all, I view Kelly like a football team who won a crucial game because the other team played worse. She actually stumbled her way through a very good interview and I only say that because of one moment.

Aside from the molestation charges, many folks have called out the Duggars for anti-gay campaigning they have done on several occasions. Josh was a member of the Family Research Council and spoke several times against lgbt equality including marriage equality while claiming it was for the sake of the children.

Last year, Michelle Duggar made a robocall to residents in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a part of a successful attempt to defeat a pro-lgbt ordinance. Her robocall implied that transgender men and women were predators who will harm children in public restrooms.

During the interview, Kelly asked her specifically about the hypocrisy of her robocall in light of knowing what her son had done.  Michelle Duggar began a rambling answer which descended to uncomfortable silence.

To me, that moment was the pivotal part of the interview and speaks for itself as a very important part of this entire mess. The line of questioning begins at 5:05:

Anyone wishing to view the entire interview can do so at Mediaite.

Preview of Duggars interview - I am NOT impressed

Bill Gates doesn't have enough money nor does Rob Kardashian have enough tush to make me watch the nauseating Fox News channel for any reason.

However, with that in mind, I am showcasing this preview of tonight's Megyn Kelly interview with Michelle and Jim Bob Duggars regarding the child molestation scandal with their son, Josh. I don't do this with any type of glee. My heart goes out to all of the victims - definitely the little girls who were molested and let's not forget members of the lgbt community (particularly our transgender brothers and sisters) who were made the victims of lies and propaganda because this family had the audacity to claim that we are a harm to children even after the situation with their son, Josh. Take the following for what you will:

My opinion? Kelly needs to ask questions about why they made public stances and accusations about the lgbt community harming children even after they knew what they knew about their son. If she bungles that part in any shape or form, it will haunt her career.

Lastly, that was an awful preview to show.  Already it is getting criticism in the comments section of Mediaite.

Somebody better squeeze out some tears during this interview. I'm talking Noah's flood, here.  This could be a potential disaster in the making for ALL parties involved.

'Conservative magazine busy with pseudo-intellectual attack on lgbt equality' & other Wed midday news briefs

Conservative magazine The Federalist is attacking Caitlyn Jenner

What The Media Should Know About Walt Heyer And "Transition Regrets" - Not only that it's the latest attempt to undermine lgbt progress via junk science and lies (this time attacking Caitlyn Jenner) but it is the latest attempt to do so by the conservative magazine The Federalist. The Federalist helped push the "stories" of the adults who regret being "raised in a gay household," as well as pushing other outrageously homophobic pieces. It would seem to me that The Federalist is attempting to push a pseudo-intellectual objection to lgbt equality. HEAVY on the pseudo. 

Everything That’s Wrong With Huckabee’s Transgender Bathroom Remarks - You got a week to do nothing but listen to me count the ways?  

Jindal: Left Trying To 'Outlaw Firmly Held Religious Beliefs That They Do Not Agree With' - Forget it, Bobby. You simply ARE NOT going to get that nomination.  

Mary Cheney shames anti-gay GOPers: ‘For years I have listened to them talk about importance of family’ - She makes a good point (and none of that "where has she been talk. In her defense, her sister, Liz, is simply a monster).

 A Trial In New Jersey: One Man's Religious Freedom Is Another Man's Torture - Pay attention to this trial. The outcome, if it happens as I hope it will, could potential destroy ex-gay therapy.

Anti-gay spokesman says gays recruit children because 'adults don't go there'

David Barton

After hearing this bizarre rambling from popular religious right "historian" David Barton (in which he attacks the transgender community, claims that gays are "evangelizing" to children, and that gays have to recruit children because we can't "recruit" adults), one has to wonder do we have spies who are deliberately causing the other side to lose this "so-called" culture war: