LGBT Throw Back Thursday - Jesse Helms

I was thinking about the Republican debate last night the notion ran through my mind  - "these suckers aren't anything but cocktail canape. If you wanna talk about an elected official who inspired fury, hate, and love, let's talk Jesse Helms."

A lot of the younger lgbt folks don't remember the five-term Senator from North Carolina and it's just as well. He was a nasty vicious racist, and above all, homophobic. In fact, his homophobia was so extreme, he would make Peter LaBarbera a gay icon. He has a certain place in history via his fight against AIDS funding in the 80s (amongst other things, i.e. the "damn lesbian" comment during the 1993 confirmation hearing of Roberta Achtenberg.)

The following video below is a trailer from Dear Jesse, a documentary which came out in 2007, a year before Helms died. It was created by gay filmmaker Tim Kirkman. Just imagine someone like Helms in the Senate today:

On second thought instead of imagining a senator like Helms in Congress today, check out this adoring testimonial of Helms by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. It certainly gives one something to think about (or have nightmares over) seeing that Cruz is presently running for president.

'GOP candidates stupidly making Kim Davis a campaign issue' & other Thur midday news briefs

GOP presidential candidates make Kim Davis a campaign issue. Please proceed . . .

Mike Huckabee Says Kim Davis Case Shows We Should Ignore The Supreme Court - The saving grace with bombarding us with Kim Davis is that it is steadily a losing issue for the anti-gay right. 

Jeb Bush Agrees With Mike Huckabee: All You Need to Know About GOP Anti-Gay Bigotry for 2016 - Of course the anti-gay right and their supporters do have a history of being extremely tone deaf.  

GOP Candidates Say Jailing Of Kim Davis Is Worse Than Ahmed Mohamed's Arrest - I mean we are talking EXTREEEEMELY tone deaf. 

 How A Survey Is Bringing Hope To The Transgender Community’s Most Vulnerable - Wonderful idea reaping many positives.

 Insurance company reject a man’s application because he takes PrEP - This here is some @%!$
Gay man shuts down younger sister’s homophobic bully with one fantastic Facebook post - "Handle yo' bizness!"

The best of anti-gay rants at council meetings

Have you all ever noticed that when there are public testimony at meetings regarding lgbt-inclusive ordinances, those supporting the ordinances are always on their best behavior while the other side have at least one, two, (or three) folks who are - for the lack of a better word - way out there?

That thought ran through my mind when I read about the following via Raw Story:

A failed U.S. Senate candidate known for speaking in tongues spoke out against LGBT rights in a wacky, tampon-waving address to city officials in Anchorage. Kathleen Tonn, the former Republican candidate, carried a briefcase stuffed with props and wore a wool hat and flannel sweatshirt Tuesday night to the meeting of the Anchorage assembly, which is considering an LGBT rights ordinance, reported the Joe My God blog.

Eh, I'm not impressed. I personally think some of the below rank higher on the weirdoshitometer

'Christian baker has NO PROBLEM serving gay couples' & other Wed midday news briefs

Not all Christian bakers have a problem with serving gay couples.

 
 Christian Baker Serves Gay Couples Because “If They Want to Get Married, More Power to Them” - More proof that the anti-gay right has bogarted the discussion of faith and religion when it comes to the lgbt community.   

Houston is next battle in LGBT non-discrimination fight - Alright all you lgbt warriors. I think it's safe to say that we won in Kentucky. Next stop is Houston and it's going to be a doozy with the trans-inclusive legislation. 

Why Doesn't Fox News Host Transgender Guests? - Do you know what's so sad about this? Not only the fact that Fox News gets away with this but still is considered by some to be a news channel, but also we are so desensitized by this nasty treatment that folks reading this are already shrugging their shoulders. Imagine if Fox News did this to African-Americans.

South Carolina School Suspends Student For ‘Nobody Knows I’m A Lesbian’ T-Shirt; Now Everyone Knows - Go for it, little sister! 

 Michael Sam Says He's Returning To The University Of Missouri For Graduate School - Good for him. It's never a bad idea to go back to school.

 Linda Harvey: US Must Fight Gay Rights, Not Climate Change - Because gays control climate change?

Roy Moore channels Nazi oppression in defense of Kim Davis

Really, Roy Moore?

It never ceases to amaze me how when anti-gay groups and personalities find a nice meme or trope, they repeat it continuously or bend and twist it to make it fit the point they are attempting to make.

Even if it ends up not making sense or sounding downright idiotic

Take the famous poem by Martin Niemoller for example. Niemoller was a Protestant pastor and an outspoken opponent of the Nazi party. He wrote the following:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Wonderful poem about the those who watch tyranny and do nothing and then reap the unfortunate benefits of their silence.

However, in the hands of someone like Alabama judge and renowned anti-gay activist Roy Moore, the poem becomes bastardized into something ludicrous:



And here I thought gays came after children first.  At least that's one anti-gay meme seemingly abandoned here.

How to spot tops and bottoms via church denominations

I am so going to get in trouble for this but what the heck. A small change of pace from the seriousness of lgbt equality featuring an online buddy of mine and a very talented comedian, Sampson.

In his very hilarious fashion, Sampson talks about the obvious prevalence of gay men in black church and how they act how to recognize each denomination by their "sexual" likes and dislikes. (i.e. tops or bottoms).

And please, folks. No expository about homophobia in the black church, etc. The whole purpose of this video is to laugh yourself silly while noting the truth in Sampson's words. Definitely NSFW:

'Caitlyn Jenner pens wonderful letter on lessons learned' & other Tue midday news briefs

It's the commercial everyone is talking about, so naturally I'm including it in my news briefs:

Lessons I've Learned Since Coming Out - This wonderful piece by Caitlyn Jenner epitomizes something I've felt for a long time. She has been catching a lot of flack because of her opinions and such and personally I think the lgbt community has been too rough on her. It all goes back to our expectations when a celebrity comes out as an lgbt. Some of us automatically anoint them as our leaders and spokespeople and expect them to be perfect when such an idea is simply impossible. Just because Caitlyn is a transgender woman doesn't mean her opinions automatically and magically change from what they were before she came out.  And it doesn't mean that they are positively conducive to the community. As we all should remember and attest to, coming out as an lgbt is a educational process. I can tell you that once upon a time, I had negative opinions about the transgender community (20 years ago) that I no longer have. At the end of the day we need to listen and learn from each other. And most of all, give each other trust.

Mississippi’s Indefensible Campaign To Save Its Uniquely Anti-Gay Law - Mississippi is attempting to keep its ban on gay couples adopting children. I don't think it's going to be successful.

  Vast Majority Of Americans Across Nearly Every Demographic Think Kim Davis Is Wrong - Oh come on. Just one more Kim Davis post. 

 South Carolina paying $215K to gay marriage plaintiffs - Give it up! Turn it loose!  

Jindal: Gays Pushing 'Discrimination Against Christians' - We are? Doggone it! That's another memo I didn't get!