Family Research Council thinks lying about transgender troops is a Christian value

Tony Perkins and his group lie about trans soldiers defending their freedoms.

I feel secure in saying that repeatedly, I've proven on this blog that the Family Research Council, in spite of all its claims of being a "Christian" organization, has no problem with spreading outright lies and distortions in its quest to stamp down on LGBTQ equality.

However, in FRC's quest to keep it's sacred cow Donald Trump safe in the White House, the organization is obviously picking up his main bad habit; telling lies so pathetic that it takes no effort in refuting them.

Today's Washington Update FRC put out defending Trump's sad attempt to ban transgender men and women from the military is  a perfect example. The amount of lies and misdirection the Family Research used in just two paragraphs of the post left me shocked. In over 10 years of tracking and calling out the group, I thought I had seen the full length of its audacity. Apparently I hadn't:

Liberals have spent the last week insisting that Donald Trump's military policy is wrong -- but they certainly haven't come up with any compelling reasons why. While conservatives point to a laundry list of problems from the potential $3.7 billion price tag to "sensitivity" training, the Left's only defense seems to be trotting out photos of a former Navy SEAL Christopher (now Kristin) Beck. No one argues that Beck served his country with distinction -- but he never did so as a woman. He identified as a new gender after he was discharged, and even then, didn't publicly "come out" until two years later. As Donna Carol Voss points out in a great column for the Federalist, "6 Ridiculous Arguments in Favor of Transgender Soldiers," it's "disingenuous to say Beck is the first female Navy SEAL when that career ended two years before Christopher -- who was known for his beard -- transitioned to Kristin. There has never been a female Navy SEAL, only a male Navy SEAL who retired and took feminizing hormones."
  

Ask a liberal how Obama's policy actually improves readiness, and they'll respond one of two ways: with a personal story or a personal attack. Why? Because there hasn't been a single scientifically-based, rational military argument for it. Without psychology, top brass, or even popular opinion on their side, the Left resorts to a tired playbook -- distractions and name-calling. Fox News's Tucker Carlson found that out in his debate with New York Congressman Sean Maloney (D). Like most liberals, Maloney's go-to justifications for Obama's were Beck and transgender empowerment. Apparently, he thinks the military's job isn't winning wars but putting people on the path to self-actualization.

There are so many lies and misdirections here, I need to number them.

'Evangelical right continues to eagerly debase themselves for Trump' & other Wed midday news briefs

POTUS Shield: Trump’s Dominionist Prayer Warriors and the ‘Prophetic Order of the United States’ - Okay, make as many jokes as you like about Trump's "POTUS Shield," (POTUS Shield? That man needs several exorcisms) as long as you read this People for the American Way's report on the conservative evangelicals who see Trump as a way to "bring about the reign of God in America and the world." Don't laugh it off. They could bring immense problems to a lot of folks, especially the LGBTQ community.

The 7 Most Mind-Boggling Moments From Donald Trump’s Wall Street Journal Interview - Yes. THIS guy. That's who those so-called Christian people in the above news brief  are depending on. Is this real life or a vulgar graphic comic book? 

American Muslims Are Now More Accepting Of Homosexuality Than White Evangelicals - All I will say is that in America, the Muslim community has never given me problems. It was always the members of so-called Christian communities. 

Evil in Russia: Gays are being systematically eradicated from the republic of Chechnya - Siiigh!

Matt Barber: Republicans Will Have Blood On Their Hands For Defeating Transgender Surgery Ban - Gosh, he is such a "drama bitch."

Oblivious homophobia starring the Benham Brothers

Remember the so-called victims of the "radical gay agenda," David and Jason Benham. They were going to get a show on on HGTV in 2014  until the network found out that they had a history of attacking the LGBTQ community. Their show idea never got off the ground. Since that time, they have been going around the country continuing to whine about the alleged gay agenda (which turned off HGTV in the first place), but with the added claim that they were shut down and persecuted because they are Christians.

That's the story they like to tell. But thanks this video by GLAAD, which presents their claims and a few additions, there is a more balanced view  of the controversy. In watching it, I'm sadly struck by the fact that these boys are so wrapped up in their egotistical view of their "faith" that they can't comprehend the reality of why they got into so much trouble. You were talking about people, guys. Men, women, children, families. You were not talking about intangible concepts.

'Trump and Texas transphobia face huge backlash' & other Tue midday news briefs

56 retired generals, admirals warn against Trump's transgender ban - Wonderful!

Dozens Of Texas Businesses Tell Governor To Ditch ‘Bathroom Bill’ - Both this and the last news brief are like glorious pinpoints of light in a cloudy darkness. Our job is to expand the light.

Abstinence-Only, "No Promo Homo" Sex Ed Keeps Queer Teens In The Dark - A thing which harms out LGBTQ kids - getting no decent sex education knowledge. 

Linda Harvey: Sleepovers, Summer Camps Endanger Children With ‘Moral Corruption’ And Homosexuality - Linda Harvey "done lost her damn mind."

Watch Incredible LGBT Poets Spit Fire at Brave New Voices - This is awesome.

Religious right groups, figures debasing themselves to ignore Trump's many disasters

With the latest White House firing - "potty-mouth" Scarmucci lasted only 10 days - and very low approval numbers, as well as a long list of missteps and policy failures in a short length of time, we should admit that Donald Trump is a disaster.

Seriously, he's the worst thing to come to D.C. since the British during the War of 1812. At least Nixon got some things done and his administration was simply crooked. Trump's Administration is crooked and incompetent. It's as if Americans were so high on drugs on Election Day that they chose to elect the Three Stooges reborn into one braggadocious, hideously coiffed body.

However, Trump still has his fans. Eager to keep the access his administration has given them (OMG, they have us on speed dial!!!), evangelical conservative groups, i.e. the religious right, have  been recasting the Orange Disaster to their supporters as the Second Coming of the Biblical king David (minus the Bathsheba incident), Davy Crockett (portrayed by Fess Parker), and every character John Wayne played in one of his movies (who wasn't killed at or before the conclusion of the movie).

 It's just downright embarrassing that in midst of so many ugly moments (Scarmuccci's insane New Yorker interview, Trump's ridiculous attempt to ban transgender men and women from serving in the military, the sacking of Reince Preibus and Scarmucci, Trump's constant public humiliation of his own attorney general, Trump's failure to repeal Obamacare,Trump advocating police brutality . . ), groups like the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, and other "religious" groups and leaders think no one is noticing them debase themselves.

'Reuters poll - Americans support transgender soldiers' & other Mon midday news briefs

Majority of Americans think trans people should be able to serve in the military - Regardless of what one may think, this country's reputation for fairness always manages to shine through the nonsense.

Jeff Sessions’ Assault On Gay Workers Revealed Yet Another Lie He Told At Confirmation Hearings - I never liked Sessions and I never trusted him.

Laverne Cox fires back at comedian who joked about killing trans women - The entire thing is seriously some screwed up shit. The "transgender women are always trying to trick men" lie is no different than the "gay men want boys to molest" lie. 

'I'm The Scary Transgender Person the Media Warned You About': Parents Raise Gender Non-Conforming Kid - Yes we do need more education about transgender children. 

Editor's note - It is with a bit of sadness I say the final item: I only saw her in two films when I felt mesmerized by her power. She wasn't in the first one for more than five minutes. And in this one - not that good of a movie - she was stunning. I love this scene and copied her in it so many times. RIP Jeanne Moreau:

 

Email punctuates religious right hypocrisy about Trump

At the end of a week punctuated by embarrassing and public infighting in the West Wing, Trump advocating police brutality, a ridiculous attempt to ban transgender troops ignored by the Armed Forces because it was done via a tweet, and a failed attempt to take healthcare away from millions of Americans, the Family Research Council sent a very unfortunate, but probably ironically accurate email:

The above announcement says less about Trump and more about the Family Research Council and the rest of Trump's evangelical supporters. Other than gloating - then remaining silent when the entire thing proved to be disastrous - about Trump's ban of transgender soldiers in the military, the religious right has been silent during this week regarding the rest of  his "conduct."

Jennifer Rubin of The Washington Post puts it better:

“The religious right, which intones ‘Judge Gorsuch, Judge Gorsuch!’ when confronted with the series of Trump abominations, should do some soul-searching,” she wrote. “Was this trashing of the White House, assault on civil language and conduct and contempt for the Constitution (the one the religious right thinks is so important that the new Supreme Court justice must protect it) worth it?”