James Dobson's 'fun' conversation about gays and stoning

Nothing says "vile conversation" more than being the subject of a condescending conversation held by James Dobson about being stoned - and not the good kind of stoned.

But it helps to keep perspective. Ten years ago, Dobson was an unstoppable "kingmaker" in the Republican party who led the then successful charge against marriage equality. And look at him now. Defeated and stumbling through a silly conversation with some no-name televangelist about "stoning gays." He is against it, by the way.

It just goes to show you that the lgbt community seems to have more enemies than James Bond. But like James Bond, we have defeated them all.

'GOP candidates cozying up to anti-gay hate group' & other Tue. midday news briefs

This Hate Group Leader Has Hosted Most Of The Republican Presidential Candidates - This news brief is dedicated to the "why do you give them so much press. if you ignore them, they will go away" crowd. Here's a news item for folks - according to Media Matters, Tony Perkins of the anti-gay hate group the Family Research Council has hosted most of the Republican presidential candidates on his radio show or at FRC-sponsored events. Ignore the Family Research Council like you would a shark when you decide to go swimming and see what happens . . . 

Remembering Mike Sisco & Oprah on World AIDS Day - My post from this morning. I didn't get a chance to send it out to as many folks as I would like. As we recognize today as World AIDS Day, let's take an uncomfortable but necessary look at the past so we don't forget not only how views of HIV/AIDS have changed but also how some views may not have changed. The clips in the post is from the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1987. It centered around a controversy in Williamson, WVA when Mike Sisco, a man living with AIDS, took a dip in the community pool. The ignorance and fear will simply make you sad.

 'A Day With HIV' Campaign Recognizes World AIDS Day - Because of people like Mike Sisco, we are more educated. We have a long way to go, but let's never forget those who endured so all of us don't have to.

  Judge: Fired Trans Woman Doesn't Have to Reveal What's Between Her Legs - You damn right she doesn't! What kind of creepy, humiliating mess is that?

 Anti-Gay Jacksonville Pastor Drops Plan To Dress In Drag To Protest Human Rights Ordinance - At first glance, I thought this story was funny, but then I saw the flyer he was passing out. It's so disgusting that I REFUSE to put it on my blog, but if folks want to see the stereotypes and hate the transgender community has to fight, feel free to look, unless your tolerance for bull@^!$ is very low.  

Maddow: Cruz Must Answer For Appearance At 'Kill-The-Gays' Conference - Go get 'em, Rachel!

Remembering Mike Sisco & Oprah on World AIDS Day

As we recognize today as World AIDS Day, let's take an uncomfortable but necessary look at the past so we don't forget not only how views of HIV/AIDS have changed but also how some views may not have changed.

The clip is from the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1987. It centered around a controversy in Williamson, WVA when Mike Sisco, a man living with AIDS, took a dip in the community pool. The ignorance and fear will simply make you sad.

Oprah returned to the town 23 years later:

Beware The Lesbian!!

The scariest thing about this Buzzfeed parody is that there was a time which such claims were taken serious. And to a degree they still are. The religious right merely shifts them to another lgbt group:

'Ted Cruz, anti-gay lies, & the 'sweater from hell'' & other Monday midday news briefs

I wish this was a joke, but it's not

Ted Cruz's 'Transgendered Leftist' Claim About Planned Parenthood Shooter Emerged From Far-Right Web - Aside from ruining everyone's Christmas with an UGLY sweater, Cruz has topped all of the news cycles with this mess about the Planned Parenthood shooter being transgender. Some of his defenders said he only uttered this to make a point about jumping to conclusions when it comes to violent acts. Funny how that only makes it worse because of the conclusions he jumped to with regards to the Syrian refugees after the violence in Paris.

 Kids At This School Will No Longer Be Allowed To Read A Book About Trans People - The part about this situation which should spook us all is that the principal offered an "opt-out" for students if they didn't want to read this book. The Liberty Counsel threatened to sue to keep all students from being assigned the book.  

Holiday Homophobia Hurts - It's important to remember that the law can't change everything. As lgbts fight for equality, we do need to combat these things which fall between of legal rights.

 Houston mayor says nothing could have averted HERO loss - And she is right because HERO opponents reached way back into an old but effective playbook which we don't seem to think of combating until things like referendums arise. Then we tend to sink.

What the anti-gay right hides about religious liberty

Let's start this Monday off with a lesson in simplicity. Sometimes we allow our issues to get so complicated that the most important points become missing throughout the tangent mess.

For example, let's take the argument of "religious liberty."  When the religious right says:

"It's time to stand up and exercise that freedom, whether it's in the workplace, whether it's in school, whether it's in the public square as a public official or in our homes, in our churches. Everywhere there is air, there must be religious freedom, and we must exercise it." - Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

“There is a war on religious liberty! And this war is not targeting people of the Muslim faith or the Jewish faith or the Hindu faith. This war on religious liberty is targeting people of the Christian faith. . . The time has come for all of us to stand together with one voice!” Starnes insisted. “They may demand to know the content of our prayers, they may try to shut down our bakeries, they may try to silence our voices, but we will not be silenced! We will not be intimidated!” - Todd Starnes, Fox News personality

Homofascists trample religious liberty, freedom of association, shred what's left of Constitution. - Bryan Fischer, American Family Association

They ultimately mean this:

It's really quite simple.

'Marco Rubio wants to take away gays' right to marry' & other Wed midday news briefs

Marco Rubio

Rubio says same-sex marriage ‘not settled law’ - Uh you wanna bet! It is settled law and we are not giving up what we EARNED. Looks like Rubio is polishing up his "why are you calling me a bigot simply because I believe differently than you" talking points. 

Marco Rubio: 'Ignore' Gay Marriage Decision Because 'God's Rules Always Win' - More on Rubio's nonsense. 

 Read this gay man’s emotional letter to the parents who refused to attend his wedding - SAD situation. Wouldn't happen in my family. Mother dearest will be attending my wedding (specifically if my groom is a doctor or lawyer) and the rest of my family would come if for nothing more than the sake of curiosity. 

 ‘The Danish Girl’ Takes The Transgender Story Off Of E! And Into Oscar Consideration - Speaking of  Oscar season, I have a feeling that this is only one of a few lgbt-oriented pictures going for the big prize. This may turn some people off, but I say go for it!

  The 8 Things You Should Never Say To Your Gay Friends - In my case, add "unless you want to get cut." 

 Liberty Counsel: 'Oppression Of America's Churches' Reminiscent Of Nazi Germany - Soon, anti-gay activists like Mat Staver is going to bring up Nazi Germany so many times, their supporters are going to become desensitized to it.