These are the transgender children you are going to hurt, Donald Trump

This mess Trump did in rescinding transgender student protections is bogus, ratcheted and basically a big bunch of bull. It stems from religious right propaganda and false stories about transgender predators scoping out girl's restrooms or parading themselves in the shower. It's not unlike the religious right propaganda (which is still used in many circles) which falsely portray lgbts as "recruiting children."  And in this particular case, it's devastatingly ironic because those who will be hurt by Trump's action are children. They are the transgender children whose voices are usually drowned out by the lies propagated by the religious right, Fox News, and the conservative right in general.  The following videos feature just a few of the many. See their faces, hear their stories, and educate yourselves on the issues of the transgender community.

'Federal judge sues using anti-lgbt 'religious liberty' card' & other Wed midday news briefs

Refusing to Watch LGBT Video, Houston Judge Sues Employer for Religious Discrimination - The lgbt community must take a hard stance against so-called "religious liberty" laws and not be swayed by the illusion that it's simply about bakeries and florists. These laws can bleed into cases of federal and state employees who want to take our tax dollars while refusing to do their jobs; from refusing to issue wedding licenses (hello Kim Davis) to, in this case, refusing to watch a video on how to treat us fairly. 

When Did Christians Become Comfortable with the Loss of Truth? - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se, but it has a lot to do with us. When you have groups like the Family Research Council and the American Family Association steering people who label themselves as "Christians" into an entire train of thought which include lies and distortions, we have a serious problem with the faith itself. And very few are aware of this. 

 Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg gave misleading testimony at hearing on 'ex-gay' therapy - My post from last night.

 Same-Sex Marriage Laws Linked To Powerful Drop In Teen Suicide Rate - I already sent a link about this, but it needs to be shouted from the rooftops. This is why marriage equality is important. When our lgbt children see a more inclusive society and people fighting for a more inclusive society, it means the world to them. Never forget that. 

 This Republican Congressman Has A Plan To Help LGBT Renters And Homebuyers - Yeah, I know. The GOP is generally awful towards the lgbt community. This guy though seems credible in what he is attempting.  

49 People Tell Us When They Realised Being Open About Their Sexuality Mattered - Wonderful stories to inspire folks about being their authentic selves, particularly young lgbts.

Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg gave misleading testimony at hearing on 'ex-gay' therapy

Peter Sprigg, Family Research Council

Today, the Family Research Council bragged in its  Washington Update about testimony given by spokesman Peter Sprigg in New Hampshire. The testimony in question had to do with a bill banning ex-gay therapy for children. Ex-gay therapy is controversial in that it is supposed to be able to change one's sexual orientation.. States, such as California, Oregon, and New Jersey have passed laws against the practice, citing critics who contend that it is actual harmful. But FRC and other religious right groups have pushed back with testimony at legislative hearings:

In New Hampshire, it's double-your-trouble with two bills meant to take away freedom under the mask of "tolerance." The first is a bill that bans sexual reorientation therapy for children under 18, robbing parents of a crucial choice to help their confused kids. As if that weren't bad enough, liberals are also trying to award special rights on the basis of gender identity -- including using the government to punish businesses that designate bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers for men only and women only. FRC's Peter Sprigg was on hand in the Granite State to testify before the legislature on both attacks on locals' liberty. As he explained, the attacks on reorientation therapy usually have nothing to do with their effectiveness and everything to do with politics. And, as Peter points out, there is abundant anecdotal evidence that such therapies work. . . . Even the increasingly liberal American Psychological Association admits that "participants reporting beneficial effects in some studies perceived changes to their sexuality, such as in their sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual behavior, [and/or] sexual orientation identity." (To read Peter's full testimony, click here.)

I read Sprigg's testimony and found a few problems with his sources and claims.

'Trump rumoured to be rescinding transgender student protections' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Trump's possible next move will harm transgender students.

Trump admin to rescind trans student protections: source - The right calls US bullies but have no problem with actions which harm our transgender children under the false guise of "safety."  This will NOT stand. 

Julian Assange Defends Milo Yiannopoulos as Breitbart Mulls Dismissal - One fool defends another.

 Arkansas’ ‘bathroom bill’ is ripping apart Republican politics - As it SHOULD. 

Bryan Fischer: Court Ruling Against Anti-Gay Florist Is A Modern-Day Kristallnacht - Geez, Bryan Fischer. How disgustingly hyperbolic does one have to be? 

People Are Loving How This Rapper Helped Out A Gay Teen After He Was Kicked Out Of His Home - WONDERFUL story!

Milo Yiannopoulos is getting exactly what he deserves

Milo Yiannopoulos

By now, the vast majority of us know the particulars of the downfall of one Milo Yiannopoulos.

The British self-described gay "super villain" troll of the right traded racist, transphobic, Islamophobic and misogynistic rhetoric for extreme controversy, intense anger, a lucrative book deal, and much undeserved popularity. But now it may be all gone because of the one thing which ironically led to it all.

His mouth.

 He is now just another example of how the past can bite one in the ass and how it's not good to make too many enemies. Milo, for those who don't know, is facing an ugly backlash because of an interview in which he defended pedophilia. The backlash in question has left the communities he victimized in joy, the conservative community (particularly the folks at CPAC, the big gathering of conservatives in which he was going to give the keynote address) very embarrassed, and Milo himself defiant.

Never one for "going gentle into that good night," Milo has been contrite but stern in insisting that this incident won't stop him. In fact today, he is holding a press conference, in which I'm sure there will be an intensely contrite performance.

Give me a break. Granted, I'm not happy over anyone's downfall but if anyone had it coming, it was Milo. Flippant, nasty, hateful, and an all-around drag, that chyle brought me down faster than being trapped listening to a Bryan Fischer speech.

Basically, Milo should hush. He got exactly what he deserved. He not only demonized innocents but, worse than that, he was a religious right wet dream. He was everything they claimed the lgbt community to be and then some - caustic, flippant, shallow, materialistic, mean, immoral, and oversexed down his badly dyed hair.

The young man is now learning a hard, but necessary lesson that there are some things you can't joke about. And when you busy yourself deliberately making enemies, you lose sight of the fact that there will be times in which you need friends.

Most of all, Milo is learning that "super villains" lose and lose big.  As they are supposed to.

'Biggest myth about anti-lgbt hate groups debunked' & other Fri midday news briefs

The Biggest Myth About Anti-LGBTQ Hate Groups Debunked - If I said it once, I've said a multitude of times. Lgbt equality will be harder and harder to attain IF we don't start taking anti-lgbt groups seriously. And aggressively calling them out BEFORE they smear us. We should encourage discussion and debate instead of whining about "a bigot being given a platform." Platforms are great places to fight battles AND change narratives. And one narrative we must change is how they claim their opposition to us is Biblically based. THAT is the ugliest lie of them all. Don't argue about it amongst yourselves. Just trust me on this one. 

Texas Lieutenant Governor Works with Hate Group to Drum Up Support for Anti-Trans "Bathroom Bill" - Government officials working with anti-lgbt hate groups is ugly. Again, stop pussyfooting around with these groups. And "street protests" alone aren't going to cut it this time. 

 The Plot To Turn Same-Sex Marriage Into Second-Class Marriage - THIS is the warning. 

 Pat Robertson: Anyone Who Opposes Trump Is ‘Revolting Against God’s Plan’ For America - No! No! That's not how this works AT ALL! 

Why President Trump Isn’t Anti-Gay Enough for the Religious Right - Don't worry. I'm sure he is working his way to screwing with us.

You do not have a First Amendment right to discriminate against the lgbt community. DEAL with it.

Sorry Ms. Stutzman. You do not have a religious right to discriminate

As the news of today's ruling against Barronelle Stutzman (the florist who a Washington state court told that she does not have a right to discriminate against a gay couple)  travels, the usual cast of characters screaming about "religious freedom" and the right to discriminate against lgbts are sounding their horns:

 Family Research Council president Tony Perkins:

After this morning's decision, (Baronelle Stutzman) was stunned. "I'm not asking for anything that our Constitution hasn't promised me and every other American: the right to create freely, and to live out my faith without fear of government punishment or interference." Americans like Barronelle were told repeatedly that redefining marriage wouldn't impact their lives. Now, two years into this social experiment forced on the country by the courts, families are being driven from their businesses -- and today, their homes -- for wanting the same tolerance the Left preaches. Barronelle's attorney, Alliance Defending Freedom's (ADF) Kristen Waggoner, was blown away by the injustice.

"In a free America, people with differing beliefs must have room to coexist," she said. "Our nation has a long history of protecting the right to dissent, but simply because Barronelle disagrees with the state about marriage, the government and ACLU have put at risk everything she owns... It's no wonder that so many people are rightly calling on President Trump to sign an executive order to protect our religious freedom to prevent the federal government from persecuting Christians the way rogue state actors in states like Washington are doing. Because that freedom is clearly at risk for Barronelle and so many other Americans, and because no executive order can fix all of the threats to that freedom, we will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear this case and reverse this grave injustice."

Ken Pazton, Texas Attorney General:

 "The First Amendment guarantees the liberty to speak freely, and the fundamental right to disagree. The government cannot force individuals to create art against their conscience and deeply held religious beliefs. Today's display of intolerance by the Washington State Supreme Court both defies the Constitution and seeks to outlaw the belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Compelling individuals to speak messages against their sincerely held beliefs is un-American and unconstitutional."

You know how I feel about it. This entire "religious liberty" argument is a bogus piece of nonsense perpetrated by phony moral groups and fed to gullible individuals -  both parties being too stubborn to admit the fact that they lost fair and square against marriage equality in our court of laws. This argument is not just about florists. Just where do you draw the line? Let's say that today, florists and bakers are given the right to refuse potential lgbt customers. How do we know that it won't be restaurants, hospitals or apartment complexes tomorrow?