West Virginia transgender sports ban temporarily halted because of appeal

It's a temporary injunction, but it is still a victory for trans kids wanting to play sports. At least for now.

From ABC News:

Transgender athletes in West Virginia can compete in female school sports while an appeal is heard on a state law banning their participation, a divided federal appeals panel ruled Wednesday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to reinstate a preliminary injunction, sought by the American Civil Liberties Union. The 2021 law signed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice applies to middle and high schools, as well as colleges. 

 Last month a federal judge dissolved the preliminary injunction, which he had issued in July 2021. The judge also ruled the law did not violate Title IX, the landmark gender equity legislation of 1972. 

 . . . More than a dozen states have passed laws banning or restricting transgender athletes' participation in sports based on the premise that they have an unfair competitive advantage, despite a lack of widespread cases. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, which oversees scholastic sports, said when the suit was filed that it had not received any complaints about transgender athletes on girls' teams.

Related post - BUSTED! USA Today article makes strong case that attempts to ban trans athletes are based on lies and misrepresentations   

'Black celebrity's latest cover shoot slammed for being 'too effeminate' & other Wed midday news briefs

Jonathan Majors

Jonathan Majors’ latest cover shoot slammed for being too “effeminate”​ - Here we go. A black man is always made to overcompensate our masculinity. 

Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Allowing Outing, Pronoun Bans Advance Around Nation - Interesting how these bad bills are taking place in 'red' states. 

These Black pioneers are some of the most important figures in LGBTQ sports history - Great feature. Worth reading and sharing. 

Daily Wire host: “I would rather be dead” than have a trans child - Oh Matt Walsh, I ain't saying a word.

FL school district bans three books, including one about 'gay penguins'

'And Tango Makes Three' is the latest of book banning

This nonsense about "protecting kids" by banning books is going to continue until folks recognize just stupid it is. And I hope that we are getting very close to that level.

From wuwf 881 - NPR for Florida's Great Northwest

The Escambia County School Board voted to remove three books from school libraries last night in a meeting that ran over four hours. The books in question had already gone through the district’s committee review process and had been voted unanimously to stay on the shelves in school libraries. But multiple challenges brought the books into an appeal process. 

 In a packed room, dozens of parents and concerned citizens spoke about the books which include “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George Johnson, “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, and “When Aiden Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff.

Indeed, all three books discussed in Monday’s special meeting dealt with LGBTQ themes and characters. None of the books were part of classroom curriculum but were offered in age-appropriate libraries for students to read at will. 

 "All Boys Aren't Blue" has been attacked in many places for graphic sexual content which some have claimed others have simply cherry-picked.

 "When Adrian Became a Brother" is a children's book about a transgender child becoming a big brother.

 The third book, "And Tango Makes Three," underscores just how ridiculous and dishonest this book banning crusade is. It's simply about two male penguins who raise a chick. It's a wonderful story about differences in families, but to some folks it's the latest proof of so-called LGBTQ indoctrination of children. And of course that includes inferences of sexual activity, which is ridiculous because while one book has a little sexual content, the other two have none.

 "And Tango Makes Three" is about penguins, for goodness sakes. What kind of freaky nonsense are some of these folks thinking

We all know what this is really about. No matter how many of us they see, how many of us they claim to know personally, and how many of our families surround them every say, some people are determined to pigeonhole LGBTQ people into a false designation of sexual activity. As if all LGBTQ people is have sex and think about ways to have sex, when we aren't attempting convert kids, that is.

And it's not enough for them to feel that way on a personal level. They attempt to force that designation on us, no matter who far from it we actually are. It's not enough for them to peek into closets. They are also trying to shove us into the closets.

Satan obsessed election-denial homophobe now leads Michigan state Republican Party

Michigan Republican chose Kristina Karamo as their state leader.

And you thought you had problems? I'd wager that few of your problems are bigger than that of Michigan Republicans. After an electoral wipeout which saw them lose power in the 2020, the state party is going to a strange place for leadership.

From USA Today:

Kristina Karamo, a Republican who has made unsubstantiated allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election and has yet to concede her 14-point loss in the 2022 Michigan election for secretary of state, was elected chair of the Michigan Republican Party Saturday. 

 Karamo defeated unsuccessful GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno of Kalamazoo, a fellow election denier who was endorsed in the party chair race by Trump. Karamo had 58% of the vote on the third – and final – ballot at the state convention. DePerno had 42%.

 "We will not betray you; we will not lie to you," Karamo said in a brief victory speech as convention delegates were hustled out of the Lansing Center. The cash-strapped state party had only paid to rent the hall until late afternoon. Officials extended the arrangement until 8 p.m., but told delegates they had to leave quickly after the third ballot. 

 . . . Karamo's election as chair signals the party leadership's shift to nearly full alignment with Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) messaging. Many longtime party stalwarts stayed away from Saturday's convention, unhappy with the party's direction. Long considered an organizational and fundraising juggernaut, the Michigan Republican Party took a historic shellacking in the November election, losing every statewide office and losing control of the Michigan Senate for the first time in 40 years. 

Election denial isn't the only thing Karamo has been vocal about. She's been extremely vocal about LGBTQ people. And in case you don't know where this is going, she doesn't like us very much. She thinks we're in league with Satan. 

From Media Matters:

CNN reported that Karamo criticized schools for teaching children about LGBTQ parents, and quoted her saying in one episode: “There is no such thing as a person with two mommies and two daddies. That is just factually incorrect.” The outlet also quoted her in another episode saying of two same-sex parents: “No, it's the parent and their homosexual lover. That's what's going on.” 

 Heartland Signal reported that on one episode of her podcast, “Karamo declares that she understands that same sex attraction ‘in and of itself is unnatural’” and “ranted about schools teaching LGBTQ issues and transgender youth acceptance. She referred to teaching those topics as ‘Satan … trying to get children while they’re small,’ and said, ‘the education system is being used as a tool to push sexual sin.’” 

And just in case girlfriend tries to claim she has been misquoted, here is some audio courtesy of Media Matters:

     

 Way to go Michigan Republicans. You certainly can pick 'em.

Virginia Democrats defeat all 12 anti-trans bills proposed by state Republicans

We have some good news  out of Virginia about the anti-trans bills state Republicans have been attempting to make into law. 

From The Advocate:

Thursday, Virginia Senate Democrats mustered a bipartisan effort to kill an anti-trans bill put forth and passed by the Republican-controlled state House. Legislators voted down a bill that banned transgender athletes of all ages from participating in sports teams aligned with their gender identity from kindergarten through college, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. 

 During a Thursday morning committee meeting, the legislation was defeated 10-5, with Republican Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant of Henrico County voting with the Democratic majority. 

 When the bill passed the lower chamber of Virginia's legislature last week, the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement critical of the bill's advancement. "In a coordinated push led by national anti-LGBTQ+ groups, which deployed vintage discriminatory tropes, politicians in state houses across the country introduced a record 315 discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2022," HRC wrote. 

"The majority of the discriminatory bills targeted the transgender and non-binary community, with the majority targeting children receiving the brunt of discriminatory legislation. Anti-transgender legislation took several forms, including bills aimed to prevent transgender youth from playing school sports consistent with their gender identity and bills to prevent transgender and non-binary youth from receiving life-saving, medically-necessary gender-affirming healthcare."

 Equality Virginia cheered the news that transgender rights were being upheld in the state. "

After this morning's Senate Ed & Health Committee, we can officially say that all 12 anti-trans bills are DEAD!" Equality Virginia tweeted. They noted that in Virginia, Republicans put forth three gender-affirming care bills, four bills that would out students to parents involuntarily, and five transgender sports ban bills — all of them failed. 

.Just a reminder that those pervert who power won't yield without a fight. The struggle for equality and the right to self-determination isn't supposed to be easy. The first step in winning is not allowing yourself to be run over.

Always fight. If not for yourself, then for the younger ones and those who have less capacity to fight.

'Drag bans could result in arrests at Pride parades' & other Thur midday news briefs

Drag bans could result in arrests at Pride parades​ - If these folks pushing these bans knew what I knew, they would cease and desist. The attention it would get if they arrested people at Pride for wearing drag - and not just the drag queens - would be massive. And we won't mind the attention.

Kentucky high school students walk out in protest of anti-LGBTQ legislation - The children are indeed our future.

These New York Times Contributors Say The Paper’s Coverage Of Gender Issues Is Hurting Trans People - Not just them. A lot of people signed that letter. Me included.

Texas lawmakers clash over resolution recognizing LGBTQ business groups - Unfortunately, a possible prelude.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority bills signal another swing at pushing Texas to the right - Guess which community he has in his sights. Simply a sign about the dangers of giving a politician too much power and allowing him to stay in office. Patrick thinks he is a king.

Mike Pence would rather attack trans kids than testify about the Jan 6 insurrection

 

Former VP Mike Pence sent out this tweet earlier on Wednesday:

According to The Advocate:

He spoke at the downtown event as GOP presidential candidates are beginning to throw in their hats for 2024, with Nikki Haley announcing her run this week. Former President Donald Trump announced his candidacy in November. 

 “The truth is the average American today is being dragged into a left-wing culture war that’s invaded our schools, our colleges, and our workplace,” Pence lamented. “Every day we’re told that we must not only tolerate the left’s obsessions with race and sex and gender, but we must earnestly and enthusiastically participate or face severe consequences. And nowhere is the problem more severe or the need for leadership more urgent than in our public school classrooms,” the conservative Christian former vice president warned. 

 Pence has yet to declare himself a candidate despite traveling the country and releasing a new book a few months ago. After his Minneapolis appearance, Pence was on his way to Iowa, which remains the first stop for Republicans in the presidential race. 

 It's the usual junk we've come to expect from Pence, who has made a political career on weaponizing religion to smear LGBTQ Americans. 

This time however, has an ironic feel to it.

Last week, Pence was subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Donald Trump's attempts to stay in the office after losing the 2020 election. Trump and his allies pushed the continuously proven-to-be-false belief that the election was "stolen." This constant pushing of this false narrative ultimately led to the infamous January 6th riot/insurrection at the Capitol in DC where - among other things - participants called for executing Pence for not being more helpful in pushing the 'stolen election" story.

Aside from making those vile statements against trans youth, Pence said he would fight the subpoena. According to CNN:

“My fight is on the separation of powers. My fight against the DOJ subpoena very simply is on defending the prerogatives that I had as president of the Senate to preside over the Joint Session of Congress on January 6,” Pence told reporters in Minneapolis. “For me this is a moment where you have to decide where you stand and I stand on the Constitution of the United States,” he added.

 . . . Sources previously told CNN that Pence will raise claims under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, which protects legislators from certain law enforcement actions if the conduct in question is linked to their legislative duty. Pence is expected to point to the role he played, when he was vice president, as president of the Senate. In that role, he presided over Congress’ certification of the 2020 election results on January 6.

 Other witnesses have raised Speech or Debate Clause arguments in efforts to resist subpoenas in the DOJ probe and in the other investigations into January 6. But Pence’s plans to invoke the clause in his role as president of the Senate is believed to be untrod legal ground.

Washington DC online publication, The Hill, points out that several attorneys called Pence's strategy a "stretch." One of them said the following:

“I’m a skeptic,” said Neil Eggleston, who served as White House counsel under President Obama. “Although the Constitution gives the vice president a role in vote counting, the Constitution does not make the vice president a senator. Senators are defined in Article One. The vice president is not a senator. And I read the speech and debate clause as only applying to senators and representatives. … I don’t think the language of the Constitution permits any other reading.”

The entire situation merely underscores the basic hypocrisy and cynicism in that "Bible-thumping heart" Pence claims to have. He's attacking trans kids for the same reason he doesn't want to testify against Trump. He will no doubt run for president and is trying to appeal to the Trump base by throwing out red meat while the same time not trying to alienate them (something he would do if he did in fact testify.)

Don't be fooled by his entreaties. Pence isn't eyeing a place in Heaven by his words and actions. He has his eyes completely on the White House