Anti-transgender book called out for numerous errors months before author testified in front of Senate committee

Abigail Shrier's anti-transgender book was called out for numerous errors months before she testified before Congress against of the Equality Act.

In the world of the anti-LGBTQ propaganda, bad faith players are highly important. Bad faith players are legitimate researchers, physicians or journalists who have decided to lay their integrity on the altar of bigotry for either personal reasons or a high paycheck. 

They come out with junk science studies, cherry-picked works or books which denounce LGBTQ people. They then become hyped by the religious right and conservatives until - and this always happens - their work and motives are legitimately questioned and it is discovered that they have not been altogether honest in their claims and research.

In the 80s and 90s, LGBTQ people had to deal with  researcher Paul Cameron, who made an infamous name for himself via his now highly discredited studies. During the marriage equality fight of the mid 2000's, there was Mark Regenrus attempting to pass off his bad work as legitimate in a sad last ditch effort to make the case against marriage equality.

And now while we are knee deep in attacks on the transgender community via bad legislation, a new bad faith player has taken centerstage.

Abigail Shrier.

'SC Democrat under fire for sponsorship of anti-trans bill, false idea of health care for trans youth' & other Fri midday news briefs

 

SC Rep Cezar McKnight has false ideas about health care for trans youth

Democratic Politician Is Architect of South Carolina Anti-Trans Bill - This guy is simply ignorant. He's proposing a bill against trans healthcare and doesn't even know what it entails. Take this passage for example: 

McKnight, whose legislative district is largely rural and two-thirds Black, says that his constituents support the legislation. “Black Democrats tend to be more conservative than white progressives,” McKnight told The Associated Press. “I would not have ever put this bill forward if I didn’t think the people in my district wouldn’t be receptive, and they are. Pastors, young parents, older parents, they all tell me the same thing: if you want to do this, wait until you’re 18.” 

 That's just it. Transgender youth do not go through any type of "surgery."

Related post - South Carolina legislators showcase the ignorance exploited by bills targeting transgender children

Exclusive: Violence Against Women Act to offer support to LGBTQ survivors - Thank you! 

Meet Sports Illustrated’s First Black, Asian Transgender Swimsuit Model- Sweet! Congratulations! 

Tech companies should oppose the new wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation - Yes they should.

Video - Supporters of bills banning transgender athletes prove why the legislation is not needed

I simply have to give the Human Rights Campaign major props because this is a good video. It highlights a simple point about the anti-transgender athlete bills springing up around the country. For all of the lies, hysteria, and basic fear mongering going on about the issue, proponents of these bills can't answer a single direct question - why the bills are needed.

'Many major news outlets highlighted anti-trans voices in coverage of the Equality Act' & other Thur midday news briefs

Many major news outlets highlighted anti-trans voices in coverage of the Equality Act - This has been a major problem from day one and not just with the Equality Act. We know that Fox News bends over backwards to exclude us when talking about our issues. But the other members of the media has no excuses.

73 percent of people support trans kids in sports, new poll finds - This is why it's so important for us to get coverage. You just KNOW outlets like Fox News will ignore this. 

Christian conservatives use Facebook ads to spread misinformation about the Equality Act - We got them scared if they are fighting this hard.

Elton John calls out Catholic Church over ‘Rocketman’ investment - The Catholic Church calls us sinners while making money off of our stories.

Transgender teen becomes star at Equality Act hearing while Republicans want to talk about penises

Stella Keating, a 16-year-old trans high school student, rocked during the Equality Act hearing on Wed and proved that the future of LGBTQ people are in good hands.

Wednesday was an interesting day in Congress as members of the Senate held a hearing on the Equality Act.  The conversation between members of the Senate and witnesses speaking for and against the Equality Act took many directions and embraced several different nuances. However, a few highlights stood out in terms of what this bill on comprehensive LGBTQ rights would actually do compared to how opponents are fear mongering about it.

Without question, the star of the hearing was Stella Keating, a 16-year-old transgender high school student from Washington State. While there were other witnesses for the Equality Act, Keating was easily the most memorable and compelling. She reminded the committee just what the Equality Act was about - fairness.

 

“Hi, I’m Stella, and I’m transgender. I’m here before you today representing the hundreds of thousands of kids just like me who are supported and loved by their family, friends and communities across the country.” pic.twitter.com/gFwqlATmTf

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 17, 2021

From The Advocate:

(Keating) is a founder of the GenderCool Project, aimed at advancing understanding of trans and nonbinary people, and wants to be a civil rights attorney and eventually run for public office. “What happens if I want to attend college in a state that doesn’t protect me?” she said. “Right now, I could be denied medical care or be evicted for simply being transgender in many states. How is that even right? How is that even American? “What if I’m offered a dream job in a state where I can be discriminated against? Even if my employer is supportive, I still have to live somewhere. Eat in restaurants. Have a doctor.” 

When the hearing ended after more than three hours, with a variety of witnesses having testified both for and against the bill, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, pronounced Keating the star of the proceedings, “certainly the 16-year-old star.” He pledged to her and the other witnesses that he would work to make equality a reality.

And in opposition to this, the Republicans on the committee offered up basic fear mongering about a false destruction of women's rights, safety and "religious liberty.  One of their chief witnesses was Abigail Shirer, a conservative journalist who has become known on the right for her opposition to the transgender community. Her book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters is as hysterical as the title makes it sound. 

'Marvel to introduce gay Captain America later this year' & other Wed midday news briefs

A gay Captain America? Why not?

Marvel to Introduce Gay Captain America Later This Year - Expect some comic book fans to begin whining ahead of time about "PC culture." And we all know conservatives will do what they usually do. Good. It may get them off of Dr. Seuss for a while.

Cop busted for attending hate group’s anti-LGBTQ protest under investigation - What the hell? It only takes one to make it more difficult for the rest.

Black pastors sign letter supporting compromise bill on LGBTQ equality - I'm still not for it. 

This Is What Trans People Need From Their Cisgender Friends Right Now - Write this down and memorize it. 

Elliot Page Covers Time Magazine, Opens Up About Coming Out As Transgender - I have to give Elliot his props. He is being the voice for a lot of folks who don't have one.

Fort Lauderdale honoring anti-LGBTQ hate group and leader who endorsed nightmarishly homophobic booklet

Why is the Fort Lauderdale City Commissioners and its openly gay mayor honoring a hate group whose leader endorsed this extremely homophobic booklet?

According to The New Civil Rights Movement:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s City Commissioners Tuesday evening will honor Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Westminster Academy. Included in those proclamations is the church’s founder, Dr. D. James Kennedy, whose D. James Kennedy Ministries appears on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of anti-LGBTQ hate groups.  Fort Lauderdale’s mayor, who is also its first gay mayor, Dean Trantalis, will sign the proclamations making March 21, 2021 Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Day and Westminster Academy Day, as South Florida Gay News reports. 

  . . . A search of the D. James Kennedy Ministries website shows hundreds of articles on homosexuality. Some of them include “Freedom from Homosexuality through the Gospel,” “Brazen Attacks on Marriage,” and “Sexual Anarchy Puts Religious Liberty at Risk.” Truth Wins Out, an LGBT equality non-profit, calls the proclamations “no different than honoring the KKK.” “It’s outrageous to honor Coral Ridge. It is no different than honoring the KKK. This church lied about LGBT people, produced hate propaganda and perpetuated the “ex-gay” hoax. They have NEVER apologized for ruining lives. Stop this madness!”

Now no doubt our opposition will pull the "religious liberty" card along with the "gays should show tolerance for religious opinions" card, thus attempting to lead us into an annoying back and forth which will serve to yet again elevate the false gay vs. religion narrative. But allow me to add something to the mix which I hope will blow away that narrative. 

When it comes to the late James Kennedy and the Coral Ridge Ministries, we are not talking about entities who have "simple religious opposition" to homosexuality. Kennedy and his ministry targeted LGBTQ people without restraint or apology. They may have given the standard phony claim of having "compassion for homosexuals," but they were guided by pure animus and hate.

Naturally,  I have the receipts. So to speak.