Oklahoma bill would ban adults from gender-affirming healthcare while Florida looking to expand 'Don't Say Gay' law up to sixth grade

The attacks on transgender healthcare and the visibility of LGBTQ people (as best demonstrated by Florida's Don't Say Gay law) share one characteristic espoused by their supporters. And that is the claim that these actions are being done to protect young children from being "exposed" to supposedly dangerous concepts. We all knew it was a lie and further actions taken by the originators of these attacks are proving us right. 

They are slowly but surely upping the age of those they claim to be protecting. 

Last week, a bill was introduced in Oklahoma which would ban gender-affirming care for anyone under the age of 26. According to ABC News:

A new bill would make it a felony for anyone under the age of 26 to access gender-confirming care in the state of Oklahoma. Senate Bill 129, sponsored by Republican state Sen. David Bullard, is the most recent anti-transgender care bill to be introduced in an ongoing push against gender-confirming care by Republican legislators across the country. Though many of these bills have initially targeted minors, several recently proposed bills have started extending the bans into adulthood. Under this bill, physicians and health care providers cannot provide gender transition procedures to a patient under the age of 26 or refer them “to any healthcare professional for gender transition procedures.”

 

Then comes this news from Florida by way of LGBTQNation:

The office of Florida Gov. DeSantis (R) has confirmed that the anti-LGBTQ+ governor is supportive of extending the stipulations of the state’s Don’t Say Gay law – known formally as the Parental Rights in Education Act. 

 Right now, the law bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity up to third grade, and a staffer for the state’s Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R) told The Daily Mail that lawmakers are thinking about introducing legislation to expand the law up to sixth grade. 

 In a press conference in December, Passidomo expanded on this, saying that she doesn’t think she’d “be supportive of high school because kids in high school are, hopefully, a little more mature, or at least they should be, but you know, the middle school, maybe go up to 6th grade or something like that."

These bills and laws are less about protecting children and more about undermining the healthcare and very existence of LGBTQ people. The question is how long will their supporters and creators be able to get away with the subterfuge.

Conservative anti-trans star Gina Carano's movie bombs at the box office. HARD.

Gina Carano is NO Pam Grier.

Gina Carano is an actress and a former mixed martial artist who once had it made. She had roles in several high profile action movies (The Fast and the Furious 6 and Deadpool) and a plum role in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

But her inability to keep her mouth shut wrecked her career.

Granted, this is America and people have some right to freedom of speech. But freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences of that speech, especially when you aren't dealing with a government entity but a company - Disney - who worries about how its image is affected by the words of its stars.

And ugly comments Carano made online about Black Lives Matters and transgender people, as well as peddling misinformation about COVID and comparing American conservatives to Jewish people persecuted during the Holocaust wasn't something which Disney wanted to be associated with.

So Carano got canned. And immediately went on a martyr tour in the right-wing propaganda industry claiming that she was the victim of "cancel culture." She also signed up to collaborate in a movie with the right-wing conservative site The Daily Wire, which was looking to break into the movie industry by supposedly making films geared to strike back against "cancel culture."

And just how did that work out for her? Well that's the crux of this post. Her movie, Terror on The Prairie made $804 at the box office. Needless to say, Carano was not happy when it was pointed out to her. 

From Mediate:

Gina Carano lashed out at a journalist mocking the MMA-fighter-turned-actress over a report her 2022 Daily Wire-distributed movie Terror on the Prairie only earned $804 at the U.S. box office. The Western was one of the first movies produced and distributed by Daily Wire and is part of a larger partnership Carano entered into with Daily Wire following her firing from Disney’s The Mandalorian. 

The Hollywood Reporter’s Richard Newby mocked Carano this week on Twitter and said she “fumbled the bag” by losing out on her Disney role. 

 His comments initiated a Twitter war between the two which saw Carano defend her actions with regards to The Mandalorian and call Newby a "“sell out journalist” beholden to “fickle manipulated mob.”"

Right-wing sites practically bent over backwards to create a narrative that Carano was the winner in the exchange. However it was a contest which ended long before Newby called her out.

Making only $804 at the box office doesn't make you a winner, no matter how the story is spun.

'Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik appears on QAnon show to attack LGBTQ people' & other Thur midday news briefs

Libs of TikTok’s Chaya Raichik appears on QAnon adherent’s show to attack the LGBTQ community​ - Slowly but surely, chop that trash down. Rip off her mask.

Idaho School Board Meeting Erupts in Chaos Over LGBTQ-Inclusive Policy - This is what some folks do. They shout, scare, and then try to boggart the conversation. 

Federal judge rules Catholic hospital discriminated against transgender man - Good news! Although I suspect the religious right will attempt to milk it in order to play the victims. 

Virginia bill would force school staff to out transgender students - Exposing trans kids to the possibility of violence. Just insane. I don't think the bill has a chance of passing but it's still a travesty. 

Woman sprays 'holy water' on gay couple outside Mexico church - Laaawd!

Mercedes Schlapp tries to troll Pete Buttigieg over FAA outage. Gets repeatedly reminded about gay sexual assault accusation against her husband.

Mercedes and Matt Schlapp

An unfortunate feature of the modern day Republican Party is its tendency to mistake trolling on Twitter for actual legislative work. However Wednesday, one of its operatives learned a valuable lesson about the drawbacks of being a complete ass online.

Former employee of the Trump Administration and highly connected member of the Republican party, Mercedes Schlapp took it upon herself to troll Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Earlier that day, a computer outage at the Federal Aviation Administration grounded thousands of flights. The system is back up for now but during the time it was down, Schlapp was one of several GOP  operatives and legislator making cheap shots at Buttigieg and by association President Biden for the situation.

Schlapp sent out the following tweet:

'Jeremy Pope says he lost a major film role for being gay' & other Wed midday news briefs

Jeremy Pope

Jeremy Pope Says He Lost a Major Film Role For Being Gay - Give names! Give names! 

Kansas right pushing back more aggressively on LGBTQ rights​ - But it might not work against us.

Florida School District Bans Book on Gay Penguin Couple - They knew what the "Don't Say Gay" law was meant for when they passed it. 

Trailblazing trans boxer Patricio Manuel pushes back against the WBC’s proposed trans division - And he makes a good point.

Video - 1990 was when the first actual gay wedding took place on American television

Time for another history lesson so bear with me, folks. 

The first televised version of an actual same-sex wedding (not a movie or television series featuring one) took place on an episode of Phil Donahue's classic talk show. Of course it wasn't "legal" but it's still a moment in history. Take a bit of time to watch it, particularly the discussion and the audience's responses. It goes to show that when third parties aren't riling people up with horror stories and false claims about a "gay agenda" people could rationally discuss the issue, even then.

'Arizona bills seeking to regulate, restrict drag shows' & other Tue midday news briefs

These 3 Arizona bills would restrict when and where drag shows could be held - Simply insane. 

Senator introduces bill to regulate drag shows, limit hours of operation in Arizona - More details about this bills. They don't have a good chance of becoming law but it does paint a picture of what possibly could come in other states, particularly Florida. 

Florida English teacher pushing book bans is openly racist and homophobic, students allege​ - No surprise there. 

“I want to fight”: LGBTQ Texans ready for legislative session as GOP lawmakers target them in dozens of bills - Keep the faith, y'all. You will win. 

LGBTQ people, both real and fictional, will be front and center at the Golden Globes - Oh really? We will see.