Celebrating the 37th anniversary of 'The Golden Girls' with LGBTQ Pride

Thirty-seven years ago today, a legendary comedy show, "The Golden Girls,"  premiered on NBC. Looking back, it's impossible to see how this show wasn't going to be a monster hit.

From Itech Post:

"The Golden Girls" managed to break the stereotype that women aged 50 and older led boring lives at home, knitting and spending time with their cats. The show found its leads in Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy Zbornak, Betty White who brought life to Rose Nylund, Rue McClanahan who played Blanche Devereaux, and Estelle Getty who portrayed Sophia Petrillo.

 Together, these four women shared a Miami home and showed viewers the vibrant, exciting lives that women 50 and above continue to lead despite the issues brought about by that specific stage in life. The show also tackled sensitive issues such as sexual harassment, illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases, and the LGBT community, topics that are easily still relevant today. 

 "We were four active, vibrant, funny women, three of whom were still working and all who dared to still have an active sex life," White, who passed away on December 31, 2021 from a stroke, said during an interview with the media publication. "We were all widows, but not lonely. And we were women to be valued and cared about, not cast aside, and an important part of society," the actress said. "The Golden Girls" was well-received by viewers, so much so that it had 25 million viewers during its debut and went on to receive 11 Emmy Awards, including one each for all of the four main leads. The NBC series also received four Golden Globe Awards. 

'All of the best and gayest moments from the 2022 Emmy Awards' & other Wed midday news briefs

Jerrod Carmichael stole the Emmys with his outfit and his win for 'Best Writing for a Variety Special.' In his variety special, Carmichael talked about coming out as a gay man.

All the best and gayest moments from the 2022 Emmy Awards - IF you missed it before . . .

Harris: ‘Probably by design’ that attacks on abortion, voting and LGBTQ rights come from same ‘sources - I have been saying this for YEARS. 

Disney Drag Brunch Canceled After Targeted by Right-Wing Trolls​ - Like I said, you give in and haters become more and more empowered.

Chicago-area library cancels drag queen bingo event for teens over 'vitriolic' threats - Second verse, same as the first. 

Seattle Pacific University leaders are sued for anti-LGBTQ hiring practices - I'm gonna be honest. I do not feel comfortable with suing private religious schools over this sort of thing. Now if they are getting any tax dollars, that is completely different.

Family Research Council claims that transgender Americans are a danger to women while posting misinformation which could actually kill women

Yesterday, I posted that the Family Research Council had gotten called out for tweeting misinformation about abortion. The tweet below in fact:

Many people have pointed out that this is blatant medical misinformation and complained to Twitter about it.  But as of today, the tweet remains. FRC even attempted to justify it by posting the following:

But even this backfired because FRC's article admits that abortion is necessary in some cases when the mother's life is in danger. The group attempts to cover its tracks  in the article with this confusing statement:

 

The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) helpfully explains, “There are times when separating the mother and her unborn child is necessary to save the life of the mother, even if the unborn child is too premature to live. … In contrast, the purpose of an induced abortion is to produce a dead baby.” Though it is true that in some tragic cases, the baby will not be able to survive after being delivered too prematurely, as abortionists admit, there is never a need for a medical professional to intentionally kill the unborn baby in the process of saving the mother’s life.

Several responses have pointed out that the Family Research Council is making a sad effort to justify its original lie.  And they are right.

The Family Research Council also posted on its website the following article - College of the Ozarks Continues Court Fight to Keep Men Out of Women’s Private Spaces

 To summarize, FRC continues to push the hysterical lie that transgender women are actually men who pose a danger to cis women by "invading their spaces." It's a false narrative FRC continues to push, even going so far as to imply that transgender children are predators:

It's rather ironic, isn't it? The Family Research Council falsely claiming that transgender Americans are a danger to women while posting medical misinformation which could actually kill women.

'Libs of Tik Tok targeted a school's district mural project. And failed' & other Tue midday news briefs

LibsofTikTok targeted a school district’s Pride mural project, with little success - The battle is always strenuous but that makes the victories sweeter.

Gay Democrat Seeks Congressional Seat in a Deep Red Kentucky District​ - Good luck to him.

Montana adopts permanent block on birth certificate changes for trans people - For Pete's sake, come on! This is so unnecessary.

Lauren Boebert says LGBTQ people are “spitting in God’s face” and “perverting” the nation - Gurl, sit down.

The Family Research Council's blatant lie about abortion proves that it doesn't care about the life of the mother

The Family Research is infamous for deliberately spreading lies about LGBTQ people.. But our equality is not the only issue the group likes to spew distortions about, as the following tweet demonstrates:

This is a lie. Not a difference of opinion. Not a thought coming out of religious beliefs. It is an LIE. It's a lie which has been shut down several times, including by Reuters in 2021.

 Apparently the Family Research Council seems to have conveniently forgotten the recent story of the 10-year-old child who was raped and needed an abortion simply because the procedure of childbirth would have devastated her body. And then there are cases of ectopic pregnancies,  a  pregnancy complication which does in fact place the mother's life at risk

An ectopic pregnancy most often occurs in a fallopian tube, which carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. This type of ectopic pregnancy is called a tubal pregnancy. Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in other areas of the body, such as the ovary, abdominal cavity or the lower part of the uterus (cervix), which connects to the vagina. An ectopic pregnancy can't proceed normally. The fertilized egg can't survive, and the growing tissue may cause life-threatening bleeding, if left untreated.

According to the Associated Press, pregnancy complications are rare but they still affect thousands of women each year. Besides an ectopic pregnancy, they include:

Preeclampsia - A serious high blood pressure condition that can develop suddenly in pregnancy, typically during the second half of pregnancy 

 Premature Rupture of the Membranes - Membranes in the fluid-filled amniotic sac that surrounds the fetus often rupture or break at the start of childbirth — commonly called water breaking. In at least 3% of pregnancies, the sac ruptures too early, often leading to preterm birth. The condition increases chances for a uterine infection. Doctors may recommend ending the pregnancy, especially if water breaks before 24 weeks, when infant survival chances are slim. 

Placenta abruption - The placenta is a crucial structure that develops in pregnancy and attaches to the uterine wall, connecting with the umbilical cord to help nourish the fetus. In about 1 in 100 pregnancies, the placenta separates prematurely from the womb, after about 20 weeks of pregnancy. That can pose a life-threatening risk to the fetus and can cause dangerous maternal bleeding.

Based upon the responses FRC's tweet has been receiving, a lot of folks don't appreciate lies being told about situations placing a woman's health in danger. It's amusing to read how viciously FRC has been dragged.

But on the other hand,  it is absolutely irresponsible for any organization, much less one which has immense influence on members of Congress and claims to be pro-family, to lie about something so easily proven.

The Family Research Council tells these lies about abortion for the same reason it smears LGBTQ people. The organization doesn't care about reality. It's sole goal is to project the image in which the perfect home is heterosexual (mostly white) family with 2.5 children, a white picket fence and a car in the garage. A household in which the husband goes to work every morning while the wife stays at home as a happy housewife and where pregnancy is seen as a beautiful thing completely devoid of complications and stress.

God forbid anything interferes with that fantasy, particularly single parents, LGBTQ people in general, or any portion of reality which reminds people of just how complex and difficult life is. FRC thinks we should ignore the reality in which  solutions take more effort than scapegoating people for being different instead of accepting differences as a normal part of life. 

It's a silly fantasy but what's not silly is how far the Family Research Council will go to preserve it.  It's terrifying to contemplate how many lives the Family Research Council is willing to ruin instead of admitting the fact that in some cases, abortion is medically necessary

It's even scarier when one realizes that there are so many other groups out there willing to do the same thing while, like FRC, claiming that they are pro-family.

'Providing help and hope to LGBTQ+ elderly struggling with suicide' & other Mon midday news briefs

Providing Help & Hope to LGBTQ+ Elders Struggling With Suicide - Yep. And a very important issue for me also. 

Boise Pride cancels “Drag Kids” event after organizers receive death threats​ - Damn! We cannot give in to those liars and haters. It only empowers them.

'Drag Kids' event at Boise Pride becomes subject of political pushback - More detail about this issue. 

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson Tries to Explain Flip on Marriage Equality Vote - I hope no one believe that turkey would support our bill in the first place. 

High court blocks recognition of LGBTQ campus at Yeshiva U - For now.

Conservative outrage industry smears Biden's Monkeypox Adviser as a Satanic thirst trap

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis is bringing out all sorts of 'feelings' from the conservative outrage industry.

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis​  is President Biden's National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator. Conservatives have been driving themselves crazy with attempts to smear him. 

From The Advocate via Yahoo News:

In recent days the Biden administration’s monkeypox response deputy coordinator, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, has been attacked by right-wing figures and media. The reason? His thirst traps, his tattoos, and his sexuality. The conservative media outlet The Daily Caller specifically targeted Daskalakis and his history of being open about being gay as well as being directly involved on the front lines of health care. What’s ensued is a wave of homophobic attacks against Daskalakis. The reporter who wrote the Caller piece tweeted, “Meet Joe Biden's monkeypox czar: a ‘progressive, radical gay' doctor who performs HIV screenings in sex clubs and gives meningitis shots in drag. Now he's in the White House.”

One attack is accusing Daskalakis of being a Satanist:

Daskalakis has denied the allegation:

“I am certainly not a satanist,” Daskalakis tells The Advocate. And why do people think he is? “It's because I wear high-fashion harnesses by Zana Bayne,” he cheekily replies. The harness has been making a splash in the fashion world for more than a year now. Also, the pentagram (or really a pentacle, since it has a circle around it) has been around for thousands of years, even predating Christianity. The HIV prevention specialist has tattoos including other iconography, including a more Christian-oriented one. Maybe it’s all about balance?

Also those who are a bit knowledgeable on useless trivia such as pentagrams and the like (yours truly)   were quick to voice their opinions about the inane claim that the good doctor is a Satanist.

Demetre Dasalakis has a tattoo which symbolizes paganism. He is not a Satanist. A pentagram UPSIDE DOWN in a circle is Satanic. His pentagram is right side UP. https://t.co/o7OL3NlHbn

— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 9, 2022

As difficult as it is to believe, the accusation of Satanism against Daskalakis is nothing compared to the other attack on him via the writer of the original Daily Caller piece, Dylan Housman. Apparently Dylan went through Daskalakis's Instagram account and pointed out just how many shirtless pictures he found of the good doctor. It could be said that Housman was attempting to appeal to negative stereotypes about gay men. Maybe. Or maybe not. Unlike so many folks on Twitter, I am not going to pronounce myself an expert on psychological motives behind certain actions. If you catch my drift.

But I will say that aside from the fact that one should ask why does any of this matters when it comes to Dr. Daskalakis doing his job, another good question should be just who benefits from viewing all of those bare-chested pictures of the good doctor? And in what manner do the benefits manifest themselves?

Just asking questions, Mr. Housman. 

The conservative outrage industry is annoying and infuriating at times. But then comes the golden moments in which it owns itself. This has to rank at the top tier of these moments.