'The anti-gay right and the targeting of transgender children' & other Tue. midday news briefs

District 211 keeps deal on transgender student after heated debate - In the case of the transgender student in Illinois, confusion reigns. There are some stories which say the school capitulated to the Justice Department in this situation. But it's not clear.

How One Illinois School Really, Really Wants To Discriminate - One thing which is clear is something everyone is missing in terms of just how sinister transphobia is as compared to basic homophobia. False claims about gays and lesbians being predators were centered more on adults. The negative effects of these claims trickled down to gay and lesbian children, making us feel isolated and depressed. In the case of transgender children, the anti-gay right and their supporters have NO compunctions with putting the bullseye directly on the child. 

'We will teach tolerance': After community debate, Mount Horeb School Board approves transgender measures - But there is good news in Wisconsin without any confusion.  

Sharp Rise In HIV Among Young Black Gay Men Is “An Injustice,” Health Official Says - Yes it is. And symbolic how in both the lgbt AND African-American communities, gay black men are falling through the cracks. Don't pray for us afterwards. Help us now.

Same-sex adoption case challenges what it means to be parent - Still things to do . . .

Huckabee thinks he can take away rights that lgbt Americans earned

Most of us are alarmed about Donald Trump because he is a bombastic fool whose ideas are a threat to the integrity of this country. But let's not forget others whose ideas are equal threats, even though they aren't as vulgarly bombastic in expressing them. Take this video above of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee being interviewed by NOM founder Robert George. Huckabee is explaining why he would actually ignore the SCOTUS ruling which legalized marriage equality. He comes across as calm and deceptively reasonable, but allow me to decode what he says:

"I don't like the ruling so as president, I will ignore it. Even though it had gone through the proper channels, I will usurp the authority of the Supreme Court because they didn't rule the way I wanted them to. And of course my way is the right way because I worship the correct God. Who cares about gays because really they don't count as American citizens." 

No matter how pretty you attempt to make it sound, b.s. is b.s. whether it is from obnoxious individual such as Donald Trump or a deceptive homophobe like Mike Huckabee.

Allstate Insurance commercial continues wonderful trend of spotlighting same-sex families

One day, commercials featuring same-sex families won't be as a big deal, but something rather commonplace. Either way, it's still wonderful to show these realities:

Kansas embroiled in HUGE gay adoption scandal - News Brief Special

Editor's note - Today's news briefs are devoted to a huge controversy brewing even as we speak in Kansas involving gay adoption. We cannot ignore this: 

  Topeka Child Abuse Case Raises Questions About Kansas Policy On Gay Adoptions - And this is the case that started it all. A heterosexual couple was granted custody of a child over a lesbian couple last year. The heterosexual couple has just been arrested on multiple accounts of child abuse.

Johnson County judge: Kansas agency conducted ‘witch hunt’ against lesbian foster parents - While investigating the above case, this 2013 sealed court ruling came out involving ANOTHER case with a same-sex couple.

 Schumm's father testified in landmark case on same-sex adoption - Something worth knowing - the father in the Topeka case who was arrested has a very interesting linkage to individuals who testify as "expert witnesses" against gays. His father, though not testifying in this particular case, has been called to testify against same-sex parenting in other cases, particular in Florida, where he was accused of "cooking his data." He also cites the discredited work of Paul Cameron. 

 Lawmaker calls for audit into anti-gay discrimination claims against DCF - As you can see, the situation has blown up into a huge controversy.

More same-sex couples accuse DCF of discrimination - We are talking HUGE. 

 Kansas senator criticizes media coverage of foster care and gay rights - And the opposition has been knocked on their behinds. 

Photo take from www.watermarkonline.com

Rubio wants to reverse Obama's pro-LGBT executive orders

Marco Rubio

Presidential candidate Marco Rubio seems to think that he is running for "Christian-in-chief" rather than "Commander-in-chief."  From The Washington Blade:

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has pledged to reverse President Obama’s executive order barring anti-LGBT workplace discrimination among federal contractors, saying faith-based businesses are “being compelled to sin by government in their business conduct.” Rubio made the remarks during Thanksgiving week in the same interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network in which he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in favor of same-sex marriage is “not settled law.” The media outlet didn’t publish the portion of the interview in which Rubio talked about Obama’s order until Saturday.

 . . . The U.S. senator from Florida said the U.S. government must not requite organizations “motivated by their faith or organized around their faith from having to violate the tenants of their faith, and that includes government contractors.” “There are many government contractors and small companies who provide services to the government who are faith-based people, and they are, they are being compelled to sin by government in their business conduct,” Rubio said. “That is not something we should be supporting.”

Rubio's comments underscores just how far this ridiculous argument regarding "religious liberty" has under gone.  Sacrificing fairness for the sake of religion puts us back in the dark ages.

'Flawed research still being used against same-sex parenting' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Mark Regnerus' debunked study is still be used against gays

Op-Ed Why attacks on same-sex parenting depend on flawed research - Wonderful piece by Nathaniel Frank which touches on something always sticking deep in my craw. Anti-gay groups and and their spokespeople have constantly used flawed or cherry-picked information to demonize lgbts. They've been doing it for decades and if it weren't for the hard work of various folks - THIS blogger included - they would still be getting away with it. You see, the usage of flawed and cherry-picked info by anti-gay sources doesn't get the attention it deserves in the mainstream press, lgbt and otherwise. 

Transgender Actress Mya Taylor’s Journey From Unemployed Sex Worker To Oscar Contender - Wonderful interview with one of the stars of probably the best movie of the year you haven't heard about. I've seen the preview and I loved it. I am rooting for Oscar consideration. It would certainly provide a positive shot in the arm for the Academy and America in general.  

Michigan GOP to Introduce Resolution to Nullify Obergefell - You can't nullify a SCOTUS decision. You really should try doing something, like helping the citizens of your state. You know, the job you were elected to do.

Effort To Repeal Anchorage’s LGBT Rights Law Focuses On Bathrooms - Oh great. Here we go again with the "bathroom bill" mess. But this article involves a little kernel we should use - the person behind the effort to repeal this bill couldn't cite any proof of her horror stories about "predators in women's restrooms."  

The Absurd Reason Why Kim Davis Is Being Touted For TIME's Person Of The Year - Lawd, give me strength. If this woman is EVEN considered for this honor, I will be one pissed-off queen. And me pissed off is NOT a pretty sight.

Throwback Thursday - Blazing Saddles & The Ritz

I interrupt my nightly blogging regarding anti-gay distortions to make this announcement:

There is just too much damn sadness in the world today.  So for Throwback Thursday, I posting clips from two of my favorite movies.

The first is from the Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. Never mind what it's about. Let's just say it began as a comedy western until the fourth wall was broken, thereby causing this inside joke about old Hollywood musicals to erupt in delightfully offensive chaos:



The second clip is from the movie The Ritz, which really didn't do that well as a motion picture, but it was a hit as a Broadway play, which earned Rita Moreno a Tony award as incredibly bad singer Googie Gomez. Here she is doing her hit number in a gay bath house. And it is bad. Hilariously so. Although I LOVED the way she walked out at the beginning: