'Calm demeanor' article exposes religious right hypocrisy about Trump

Religious right willing to overlook things if Trump gets them power.

Ah yes, the religious right. So quick to condemn homosexuality for being an alleged sin. So quick to claim that they are working to preserve the idea of the pure American family and morality in general. So quick to claim that they are standing in the gap for "God's people" in a "God-less" world.

So what do some of these self-appointed saints think about Trump? Bear in mind that this man has attacked a gold star family, claimed that President Obama and Hillary Clinton helped found ISIS, and asked Russia to hack into Clinton's emails.

However, the American Family Association's fake news site, One News Now, just ran an article today kissing up to Trump so hard one would think that group was auditioning to be Trump's fourth wife. Here is a little snippet which will probably make you laugh:

In a 35-minute speech at a "Pastors and Pews" event in Orlando, Trump noted that evangelicals have been silenced by threats from the IRS to take away their churches' tax exempt status – something he said he'd change.

"We're going to get your voice back. We're going to get it back," he told the crowd. 

 . . . Pastor Bryan Schwartz attended the event and says he was impressed by Trump's poise. "His demeanor was calm. It was collected," the pastor says. "And what he was sharing was important to the faith community, really trying to encourage them to have the courage to lead in our community, in our congregations, and not be silenced."

Schwartz says he also embraced Trump's message of political involvement from the pulpit.

We've seen Trump and heard his speeches. The vast majority of us who oppose the idea of him as president do so because he doesn't have calm demeanor or poise. He can't concentrate on a single issue and is too concerned with settling grudges and throwing out outrageous snippets that he can't focus on simple policy.

He is, at the least, a more woefully inadequate presidential candidate than that Martin Sheen character in The Dead Zone movie, i.e. the one who would have blown up the planet.

 

This ass-kissing article says more about groups like AFA and pastors like Schwartz who support Trump than  it reveals anything noteworthy about Trump. Their lies about Trump's so-called calm demeanor isn't fooling anyone. They only want Trump, not because they feel he is the moral one to support, but because he has guaranteed that they will attain more power should he become president.   And they are willing to overlook all the times when Trump has acted, shall we say, less than morally fit.

There is nothing Christian or moral about their idea of "pragmatism." What would Jesus do, indeed?

Photo courtesy of Religious Dispatches.

'Omaha school district has the 'bathroom battle' about transgender youth' & other Tue. midday news briefs

WATCH: Omaha schools meeting goes off rails as angry parents blame trans kids for destroying America - Fear and ignorance are the parents to the bastard children of hate and prejudice. It depresses me how folks will not educate themselves about our transgender kids. It puts me in the mind of a depressing video I saw last night in which someone said "this whole thing started with Caitlyn Jenner." Uh, no it didn't.

 Passions flare as OPS board considers policies regarding transgender students - The good news from the above item is that the school district is standing firm in the commitment of protecting transgender children. 

 It’s 2016, And 40% of Gay Kids Have Considered Suicide - Ugh! We need to do more!  

Theodore Shoebat Longs For Days When Marco Rubio Would Be Hung From The Gallows - Leave it to that nasty Shoebat boy to make me feel a bit sorry for Rubio. And I despise Rubio.

 12 Adorable Photos from Gay Uncles Day - If you don't think that this is adorable, you have no soul. Seriously.

Anti-lgbt hate group extends to next generation of vile leadership

When it comes to the anti-lgbt hate group the American Family Association and its leaders, Donald Wildmon and his son Tim Wildmon, it's sadly easy to see how lying about the lgbt community becomes a family business.

Unfortunately, that extends to a new generation, Walker Wildmon, the son of Tim. He sent the following nonsense via twitter:

The Wildmons prove that those of us dedicated to lgbt equality and safety must not slack off in our fight. We would like to think that the day will come when hypocrites and homophobes like this family aren't attempting to defame us, but I doubt there will be a day when we are completely free from lies told in the name of God trumpeted by those who have no shame in telling them.

But that doesn't mean we should stop fighting.  Nor does it mean we should yield and allow them to steal the narrative. The rainbow belongs to us because we, just like heterosexuals, are as God has made us.

And marriage belongs to us because we earned it.

And little Mr. Wildmon nor anyone else can take either away from us.

Hat tip to  Hemant Mehta

'Trump, Pence demonstrate hypocrisy over lgbt equality, safety' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Trump claims to want to protect lgbts from terrorists.

But his vice presidential pick can't answer a simple question about equality

Trump To Float Ideological Test For Immigrants: Must Agree With Religious Freedom And LGBT Rights - Don't even TRY it, Trump. You may be fooling SOME folks, but this queen and so many others aren't fooled. You claim to want to protect us from ISIS, but what about the homophobes in America, particularly your vice presidential pick, Mike Pence. 

Pence gives non-answer on allowing anti-gay discrimination - Speaking of which, one would think Pence learned something from the meltdown regarding the "religious liberty" law in his state. 

 No, Marco Rubio Did Not Just Preach Tolerance For LGBT People - Speaking of folks trying to fool the lgbt community, very few of us is falling for Sen. Marco Rubio's fake mea culpa from last Friday.  

The Mainstreaming of Gay Culture - Wonderful article. For the record, however, I am very resentful when these type of discussions come up. I am a Southern black gay male, born and raised. I've never been to the Castro, nor any other places that some folks consider to be the lgbt meccas. I don't like lgbt history and culture being defined solely by those places and the folks who lived there or are there now. There should be more of an appreciation of our diversity.

 Poll: Young Americans overwhelmingly favor LGBT rights - I just looove the young folks. Now if we can get more of them to vote, particularly in mid-year elections.

Pastors suing for 'religious exemption' to ex-gay therapy ban

And yet another example of how "religious liberty" is being manipulated against the lgbt community. In this case, our lgbt kids could be put at risk.

From The Washington Post:

A group of Illinois pastors filed suit against the state Thursday, arguing that clergy should be exempt from a law banning counselors from trying to change a minor’s sexual orientation because it violates their constitutional right to free speech and exercise of religion.

The law, which went into effect in January, bans licensed counselors and mental health professionals from practicing “conversion therapy” — counseling designed to make gay, lesbian, bisexual or queer people become straight — on minors. While religious leaders don’t fall under this category, the suit says pastors could be held liable for consumer fraud under a section of the law that says “no person or entity” may advertise or practice conversion therapy that “represents homosexuality as a mental disease, disorder or illness.”

And that’s exactly what the five Christian pastors think, according to their lawsuit filed in federal court. “These pastors teach that homosexual conduct is contrary to God’s purpose for humanity and a disorder of God’s creation which can be resisted or overcome by those who seek to be faithful to God and His Word. This is what they say to those who seek their counsel — including minors,” according to the lawsuit, posted online by the law firm representing the pastors.

Supposedly these pastors don't want to change the law. They just want to be exempted from following it.

The idea that homosexuality is a sin is merely an opinion. However, the facts are that any therapy which attempts to alter sexual orientation can be detrimental and for that reason is opposed by several mainstream  health organizations such as the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association.

Religious liberty entails the right to worship as one pleases. This does not and never should include subjecting children to harm by fraudulent medical practices.

photo courtesy of Truth Wins Out.

Rubio talks about 'Christian' love for lgbts at conference he lied about

A water bottle won't save Rubio from facing his lies this time.

While I am happy that Sen. Marco Rubio and GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump are catching flack for their attendance at an anti-lgbt conference in Orlando, there is one portion of the story I feel should get a little more emphasis.

Rubio was initially evasive about the conference. When first confronted about it, he said the following:

"The event I will be speaking at in Orlando is a gathering of local pastors and faith leaders. Leave it to the media and liberal activists to label a gathering of faith leaders as an anti-LGBT event. It is nothing of the sort. It is a celebration of faith," he said.

"Because I believe that a strong America is not possible without strong families and strong values, for years now I have participated in events hosted by faith leaders to speak about the cultural and social issues before America, including the importance of parents and families, religious liberties and combatting poverty.

"I have always supported a traditional definition of marriage. But I recognize that a significant number of Americans hold a different view. Because marriage is regulated by the individual states, they have the right to petition their state legislature to change the law. And those of us who support traditional marriage also have a right to oppose those efforts.

"This debate should be conducted in a way that is respectful of the views and the dignity of those on both sides. That is the way I have expressed myself each time I have been asked to opine on this issue. And that is how I intend to continue to do so."

He said this in spite of the fact that other attendees and speakers at the same conference have an extensive  paper trail of comparing lgbts to pedophiles, claiming that we are tools of Satan, and all-around demonizing us.

And Rubio's speech at the conference should raise more eyebrows regarding his initial evasion. He is being portrayed as taking a stand against anti-lgbt intolerance:

Using the shorthand “L.G.B.T.” several times, Mr. Rubio told the group that the perception that many Christians are anti-gay is harming their faith. He urged them to resist passing judgment on gays. “Do not judge, or you will be judged,” he said, echoing a verse from the Bible.

 “To love our neighbors we must recognize that many have experienced sometimes severe condemnation and judgment from some Christians,” he said. “They have heard some say that the reason God will bring condemnation on America is because of them — as if somehow God was willing to put up with adultery and gluttony and greed and pride, but now this is the last straw.” While he repeated his belief that marriage should not be redefined to include same-sex couples, his speech touched on the history of discrimination against gays, which he asked his audience to consider.

“When it comes to our brothers and our sisters, our fellow Americans, our neighbors in the L.G.B.T. community, we should recognize,” he said, that American history “has been marred by discrimination against and rejection of gays and lesbians.” 

Personally, I'm not impressed. And I strongly believe that Rubio's tone has less to do with concern for the lgbt community and more to do with the fact that the challenger to his Senate seat, Patrick Murphy,  is gaining in the polls.

Rubio isn't doing me or any other lgbt any favors by supposedly defending us. I learned all I need to know about his aims when he lied about the conference in the first place.

And him giving a speech decrying homophobia at a conference which he claimed wasn't anti-lgbt in the first place is merely gravy.

'Daily Beast dealing with fall out from gay-shaming article' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Daily Beast: 'We were wrong' to publish article nearly outing gay Olympians - Yesterday, the Daily Beast published a highly irresponsible article which put lgbt Olympic athletes at risk. Even though the article was yanked, the publication is still dealing with the fall out, fueled by a righteously indignant lgbt community. Haven't folks learned not to cross the lgbt community?  

Grindr is not a gay sex peep show for straight people - The Daily Beast WILL learn today.

 Uganda’s LGBT Community Is Facing A New Wave Of Government Oppression - Speaking of oppression . . .  

New CDC Report: LGB Youth Face 'Heartbreaking' Level of Risk for Violence, Suicide Attempt, Bullying - We have to do more for our lgbt youths.

  LGBT Rights Opponent Newt Gingrich To Address Log Cabin Republicans - For Pete's sake, guys . . .