'Feud between Fox News personality Laura Ingraham and her gay brother heats up' & other Thur midday news briefs

Laura Ingraham

Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s gay brother calls her a ‘monster’ - This is gonna get naaasty.

GOP congressional candidate believes LGBTQ kids need therapy to help them pick a different identity - What the hell . . .

This Stunning New York Fashion Week Show Featured 34 Trans, Non-Binary Models - I LOVE this!

LGBTQ community may be the deciding factor of the Blue Wave midterm success

As the midterms approach, the one thing becoming increasingly clear is the importance of the LGBTQ voter. We rejoiced over the progress made in the Obama years and watched in horror as Trump, with the anti-LGBTQ industry whispering in his ear like that Lord of the Rings character Wormtongue, proceeded to take away from us as much as he could. Now certain groups are hoping that we took mental notes about Trump's behavior and are motivated to wreak a rainbow tsunami at the ballot box which will help take control away from him, his anti-LGBTQ unofficial cabinet, and the GOP in general.

According to NBC News, our vote could count tremendously in key areas:

LGBTQ people make up an estimated 4.5 percent of the adult population in the U.S., according to Gallup, and lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals comprise approximately 5 percent of voters across the country. While LGBTQ voters are a relatively small portion of the electorate, a number of political experts and advocates say these approximately 10 million eligible voters could prove critical in several close races.

The LGBTQ vote could be particularly important in states with close races that have sizable LGBTQ populations, according to Patrick Egan, a political science professor at New York University. 

He cited Florida, which has an estimated 700,000 LGBTQ people, as an example. The state’s races for senate and governor are close, and the Republican and Democratic candidates have “dramatically different positions.” 

. . . Egan also mentioned Vermont, where Democrat Christine Hallquist could become the country’s first transgender governor. LGBTQ people comprise an estimated 5.3 percent of the state’s adult population. “That’s a place where we expect not just turnout, but also campaign volunteering and donations, to potentially be quite important,” Egan said of Vermont.

And the Democratic National Committee has not only noticed, but encouraged this:

 Democrats have invested millions of dollars in state parties across the country in order to elect Democrats up and down the ballot, including a record number of LGBTQ candidates, according to a Democratic National Committee official who spoke to NBC News on background.

These LGBTQ candidates, according to the official, include Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado, Christine Hallquist of Vermont and Josh Boschee of North Dakota. The DNC has also put out an LGBTQ Voting Rights Toolkit, which offers specific advice for LGBTQ voters — especially transgender individuals — who may encounter trouble at the polls because of voter identification laws.

The article in general underscores the fact that the progress made in the Obama years could have possibly created an LGBTQ constituency vote with potency for future elections. The key is unification. Unfortunately, some of us do tend to bend over backwards in order to demonstrate how we are supposedly not "one-issue" voters, when such a notion is absolutely self-defeating. Particularly when that "one issue" encompasses marriage, adoption rights, protection from discrimination, family rights, military rights, etc. etc.

That "one issue" is the survival of the LGBTQ community in general. Seems to be that would be a perfect time for us to vote selfishly and pragmatically. It will either be the GOP or the Democrats who have control. Our best bet is to vote for those who we can work. And for God's sake, do not sit this out. That behavior amongst some folks is how we got into the mess we are in now.

'GOP congressman caught on tape implying orphanages better than gay adoption' & other Wed midday news briefs

NJ Congressman Chris Smith.

GOP lawmaker caught on tape: Orphanages better than gay adoption - An article which reminds us just how unsafe LGBTQ families and their kids are. Just lurking in the shadows of Congress and other legislative bodies are religious right zombies and sycopahants itching to cause our families all sorts of havoc. 

Gay, middle-aged, and lonely as hell - All of us are in this fight for happiness, relevance, self-determination, and equality. Don't forget any of your brothers or sisters. 

Half of trans male teens have attempted suicide - Due to the transphobic mess they have to deal with, no doubt.

New Hampshire set to elect either first gay or first black congressman - And one of them (the black man) is a Trump supporter so that makes me depressed as shit.

I got those 'I'm watching comedy clips cause I'm gay black man in the middle of a hurricane and Trump is in charge so I know I'm screwed' blues

In case y'all don't know, my state of South Carolina is in the middle of an intense Hurricane Florence watch. And based on what Trump said about how his Administration responded when the hurricane hit  Puerto Rico last year (Trump claims success but close to 3,000 people lost their lives), I'm praying extra hard that we get through this one. And keeping my spirits up by watching some hilarious comedy clips. Like the ones below.

My favorites are a wonderful black comedian, Sampson, talking about homophobia in the black church.



Or something not necessarily conducive to this blog, but it's funny anyway. A lot of you remember television show Sanford and Son and the character Aunt Esther. Did you know that the actress portraying Aunt Esther, LaWanda Page, was a brilliant comedian? And very "adult-oriented," too? Seriously, her material goes beyond "not safe for work." Don't say you haven't been warned.

I intend to be here tomorrow with more LGBTQ pertinent material. But pray for me just in case. LOL

'The LGBTQ Heroes of 9/11' & other Tue midday news briefs

The Stories of 9/11's LGBTQ Heroes - The Advocate magazine goes back in time to that awful day in September to spotlight the LGBTQ heroes of 9/11. This article nor news brief is meant to divide people, but simply to spotlight the fact that the LGBTQ community were affected in so many deep ways. From the gay couple and their adopted baby son, to the priest who died while administering last rites at ground zero, to the folks whose actions  saved so many others, these people should never be forgotten, diminished, or homogenized in any way, shape, or form.  For ourselves and future LGBTQ generations.

Remembering 9/11 Hero Mark Bingham - On that same day, on another flight, a gay man was one of a group who gave their lives and kept that day from becoming worse.

Women Say A School For Troubled Teens Punished Girls For Being Gay - Simply tragic.

I came out and my Muslim dad stood by me - Wonderful story which teaches us all about not making negative generalizations.

Missouri Human Rights Commission sued for dismissing transgender man’s discrimination complaint - That's right. Stand up for yourself.

Anti-Trans ‘Bathroom Bills’ Are Based On Lies. Here’s The Research To Show It - It never hurts to have more receipts.

Family Research Council whining that Obama is picking on Trump

The Family Research Council whines about
 Obama's speech.

Former president Barack Obama made a return to the spotlight in order to urge folks to vote for the Democratic party in the upcoming midterms. It was a welcomed return for those of us who miss having an intelligent and decent person in the Oval Office instead of  the sentient pile of dog poop which now pollutes the area.

Naturally conservatives went ballistic in their whines. And very few were more ballistic than the LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council:

Almost two years to the day that Hillary Clinton gave her fateful "deplorables" speech, Obama proved that Democrats still haven't learned how to control their contempt for millions of conservative Americans. With a sanctimony that people learned to despise, one of the most polarizing presidents in history had the nerve to lecture Americans on demagoguery. Implying that Trump supporters are "bigots" and "fearmongers," Obama went on to blame Republicans for tearing the country apart. "...The politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican party," he said. This from a man who made Middle-America bashing a professional sport in his eight years at the White House. Who dismissed blue-collar patriots "bitter clingers" who turn to religion and guns because they're too ignorant to know better. Who called political opponents "unpatriotic" or even "craz[y]." 

Republicans like Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) fired back at the hypocrisy almost immediately, posting, "Pres. Obama is right. It is wrong for a President to use divisive language, such as: 1. Call all opponents of same-sex marriage bigots; 2. Call the Pro-Life movement a 'War on Women;' 3. Call all immigration enforcement advocates racists; 4. Call the GOP the enemy of Hispanics." On Fox News, Judge Jeanine Pirro said that if Obama was looking for someone to blame for the animus, he ought to look in the mirror. "Your lies, your policies, and your divisiveness... You elected Donald Trump."

Aw that's cute . .. and totally inaccurate. I could point out the simple fact that Obama wasn't running in 2016 or how FRC conveniently omitted the big elephant of 2016, i.e. the influence of Putin and Russia i.e. the subject which is presently under intense investigation by Robert Mueller.

But I will merely point out  that as I speak, Trump's disapproval rating is at 60 percent while 40 percent of respondees in a July poll ranked Obama as the best president of their lifetime. And granted, some may cry foul in terms of the timing of the two items, I still stand by the fact that I doubt that Obama would remind most Americans why they voted for Trump. Any notion resembling that is nothing more than a product of the topsy-turvy bullshit world which has been created since Trump attached himself to the Oval Office . . . like a leech.

But one thing which should stand out is how the Family Research Council, a so-called Christian organization, which has openly given Trump what its leader calls a "mulligan," i.e. a pass on cheating on his wife, overlooks all of his lies, personal attacks on people, and incompetence, and basically has acted as the figurative "Groom of the Stool" (look it up. it's naaaasty) for all of his excesses is suddenly getting "offended" at someone for pointing out that Trump is an incompetent boob who is in over his head and will probably cripple America physically, psychologically, and spiritually before his reign of terror is over.

It's amusing how the Family Research Council thinks that the rest of America is as dumb as its supporters.

'RuPaul, 'Queer Eye' win at Creative Emmys, trouble in Massachusetts & LGBTQ conference' & other Monday midday news briefs

RuPaul received a historic win at last weekend's Creative Arts Emmy awards ceremony.

Op-Ed: Massachusetts Could Roll Back Trans Rights This Year — And We Need to Fight Back - This ain't good, y'all.

‘Queer Eye’ Reboot Wins Top Reality Show Emmy - Wow! Congratulations! 

RuPaul Wins Third Consecutive Emmy Award for Outstanding Host - To this day, I still don't know what RuPaul has me on twitter block, but congratulations on your historic win. 

Why Obama is better than Trump, from A to Z - What a good president is versus the sentient cow patty we have now.

The Plot to Bring Down Pope Francis - I am not a fan of the Pope, but I despise the homophobic forces attempting to bring him down.

An emcee at an LGBTQ conference said ‘Ladies and gentlemen, things and its’- This is deliberately the last item. I was a past member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) and support the organization (even though some of them don't think of me as on their "level" of journalism). But this was a bad incident. It wasn't a mistatement. It was an ugly thing to say. It spotlights a bad aesthetic which unfortunately permeates LGBTQ journalism in general. And this aesthetic is not only a problem dealing with transgender issues, it is a problem which deals with issues regarding LGBTQs of color, the geographic location of LGBTQ issues receiving the lion's share of press, even what constitutes the important issues facing the LGBTQ community and who gets to be designated as our public faces and leaders. We don't need a total overhaul, but we seriously need to do some transforming, encouraging, and thinking outside of our clique boxes.