'Ted Cruz reinvents the depths of sleaze with new anti-trans ad' & other Fri. midday news briefs

WATCH: Ted Cruz Releases New Transphobic Ad Calling Trump The 'PC Police' - I'm going to make this as simple as I can - And with his latest ad which severely demonizes the transgender community, Ted Cruz continues to demonstrates himself to be manipulative, blood-sucking demagogue who doesn't care what lie he tells or who he hurts in pursuit of his goals. Frankly, the nation would be in more danger with him in the White House than a little girl would be in a public restroom with transgender woman.

A little reminder about Cruz's lie:

15 Experts Debunk Right-Wing Transgender Bathroom Myth

National Expert: Anti-LGBT "Bathroom Predator" Fears Are "Very Misinformed"

Watch A Transgender Activist Debunk The "Bathroom Predator" Myth On CNN

BTW, have you noticed how Ted Cruz was practically itching to drag the transgender community in his race for president. Remember this from November of last year: Ted Cruz Describes Alleged Planned Parenthood Shooter As ‘Transgendered Leftist Activist’

 It Takes A Village To Bully A Transgender Kindergartner - But THIS is what all of that scapegoating leads to.

These Two Moms Share Their Secret To A House Full Of Kids, Love And Happiness - For something more positive . . .

Curt Schilling's firing exposes right-wing & evangelical Christian hypocrisy

I once said that I would not put the following pic on my blog. I apologize for breaking that vow but a point needs to be made.

The above disgusting pic, along with a vicious anti-transgender rant is the main reason why ESPN fired sportscaster Curt Schilling. As you can see, it's an ugly, paranoid, and very inaccurate take in support of these various "bathroom bills" some state legislators have been attempting to pass.

Of course the figure above is not reflective of a transgender woman. It is the manifestation of anti-transgender hysteria of what a transgender woman would be. It is no more real than the characterizations of African-Americans or Jewish people seen below:

But you can't tell that to conservatives and members of the evangelical right, such as Ted Cruz, Todd Starnes, Sean Hannity, etc. To them, the victim of the entire incident is not the transgender community, who have to deal with yet another person putting their mental and physical health in danger and accusing them of being predators.

Trump opposes HB2, Cruz channels Anita Bryant & other Thur. midday news briefs

Cruz goes into Anita Bryant mode.

Donald Trump criticizes NC leaders over HB2 - I still don't trust him. 

Ted Cruz Bravely Speaks Out Against "Putting Little Girls Alone in a Bathroom With Grown Men" - Meanwhile, Cruz shows his true colors with the deliberate shift to the lie of transgender folk harming children. 

Religious homophobia by the decades - a visual exercise - Now would be a perfect time to spotlight this older post of mine. It gives a visual breakdown of what Cruz is doing.

 National Expert: Anti-LGBT "Bathroom Predator" Fears Are "Very Misinformed" - Well duuuuh. But it's still good to repeatedly hear.

  Right-Wing Media Rush To Defend Curt Schilling And Attack ESPN Following Firing For Anti-Trans Facebook Post - The right wing "media" - the same folks who would probably defend lynching postcards (yeah, I said it).

Calls to the Trans Crisis Hotline Have Nearly Doubled Since North Carolina Passed HB2 - A result of HB2? What do you think. 

NC Lt. Gov. Complains Of 'Amazing Smear Campaign...Based On A Bunch Of Lies' - Keep digging that hole.

SC businesses speak out against anti-transgender bill, sponsor still trying to force it through legislature

So many folks don't want Bright's bill to become law, but he doesn't care.

You can now officially mark various South Carolina businesses in the column with Gov. Haley, the lgbt community, Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, the mayors from Greenwood, Florence, and Columbia, and US attorney Bill Nettles,  and various others opposing State Sen. Lee Bright's anti-transgender "bathroom bill."

According to the Wednesday edition of  The State newspaper:

A dozen S.C. business groups sent a letter Tuesday to the General Assembly asking legislators to halt consideration of a controversial Senate bill that would ban transgender men and women from using the bathrooms of their choice.

“The Palmetto State has built a reputation as a welcoming place for world-class companies to call home. People are taking notice of South Carolina for all the right reasons,” said the letter signed by “The South Carolina Business Community.” If the bill moves forward, “make no mistake that it will have direct impact on South Carolina jobs and job prospects.”

North Carolina has been hit with boycotts by businesses and musical acts since passing a similar law last month.

 The groups signing Tuesday’s letter included statewide organizations — the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, S.C. Manufacturers Alliance, S.C. Economic Developers Association and S.C. Hospital Association — as well as chambers of commerce in Charleston, Clemson, Columbia, Greenville, Greenwood, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg.

Unfortunately, Sen. Bright, the bill's sponsor, seems to be deliberately oblivious to this letter as he was to the emotional testimony (particularly from transgender youth) against the bill  in committee last week or Gov. Haley's disapproval of the bill.

'SC legislator attempting to sneak anti-transgender bill out of committee' & other Wed. midday news briefs

SC Sen. Lee Bright is trying to salvage his transphobic bill

From SC Equality comes the news that SC Senator Lee Bright is attempting to sneak his unpopular anti-transgender bill through via secret vote:

Now, according to The Greenville News, Senator Bright is going to attempt to "poll" the bill out of Committee by having the Chairman issue a secret poll vote that is not done in public. That the Committee would hold two days of public testimony, inflaming thousands across our state, moving people to tears and shocking our nation and then not even vote on the bill publicly is nothing short of unconscionable.

Seems to me that if the bill is "needed" as Bright has claimed, he wouldn't be attempting to provide cover for legislators to secretly vote for it.  What can South Carolinians and others concerned do about it? Go here and SC Equality will direct you to what you need to do.

In other news:

As a trans man in North Carolina, I always felt safe. Until this new law passed. - This stunning piece by a North Carolina transgender man on how HB2 will alter his life is stirring.

Federal Court Tells Lawmakers To Shut Up And Deal With Trans People In Bathrooms - Just in case you didn't hear, the courts have come again to push sanity in the argument of lgbt equality by standing by a trans student.

Despite Marriage Victory, Fear of Backlash Looms Large for LGBTQ Americans - Well duh. Progress scares some folks. Every movement for equality has had to endure a backlash.  And all of this "bathroom bill/religious liberty" madness is a direct result of our marriage equality victory. The main thing is to not sit there and let it happen. Fight, dammit!

AFA's Rob Chambers Blames Criticism of Anti-LGBT Laws On Satan - Aw hell, isn't that their excuse for everything?

Desperate conservatives embrace ridiculous anti-transgender video

I told myself I wouldn't post on this, but it has to be seen to be believed.

This guy on youtube, who is supposed to be popular but I've never heard of him, named Joey Salads created a video experiment which he claims demonstrates that transgender women using the ladies restroom is not a good idea because women are uncomfortable around them.

From what I understand, some conservatives are giving him many props for the above video. When I look at it, I have to ask why.

I don't think it's real. I apologize to those whom this may offend but it has to been seen. It's the most ridiculous video I have seen in a long time (even more than the suburban white mother putting out an anti-transgender rap video) and most of all, it emphasizes the ignorance and fear people have about the transgender community.

There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe how absolutely insane this video is and the mindset of anyone who believes it to be accurate.

Pat Boone upset over SNL parody of 'anti-Christian persecution' movie

According to Mediaite, Christian singer and actor Pat Boone is absolutely furious over the Saturday Night Live sketch which aired last week.

The sketch made fun of the idea that Christians are being "persecuted" in America and "religious liberty" laws via a parody of the now playing movie God's Not Dead 2:

 Boone talked to The Hollywood Reporter about it, and he was not amused by the supposedly anti-Christian satire.

“Something can be devilishly funny, but this skit is diabolical. God has only one real enemy — Satan. Satan ridicules faith, and they’re taking Satan’s side.

Boone went on to say that God has a sense of humor and that he used to enjoy SNL in the past, but the show’s new parody and recent “filthy” programming have crossed the line for him. He also called anti-semitism on the show for having a Jewish lawyer represent the gay couple as they try to stuff the gay agenda down the baker’s throat.

“This skit was outright sacrilege. They know if they did this to Muslims they’d have to be put into the witness protection program,” Boone said. “There’s nothing sacred at SNL, except maybe the words ‘Mohammad’ or ‘Allah.’ They’d never take those names in vain, but when they called God a ‘boob man,’ they took his name in vain.”

Of course in his eagerness to play the "they wouldn't dare do that to Muslims" card, Boone failed to note that, unlike Muslims in this country, evangelicals like himself are bringing mockery on themselves by their ridiculous persecution complexes fueled by what seems to an inaccurate idea of entitlement, i.e. this country is their birthright and the rest of us who don't believe as they do are only here because of their will and pleasure.

Boone and company are the ones making asses of themselves. SNL is merely pointing out that fact.

' Raleigh, NC has lost $3 million because of HB2' & other Tue midday news briefs

Raleigh Bureau: $3 Million Lost in LGBT Law Cancellations - So aside from the boycotts from businesses and entertainers like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, etc, we see that the city of Raleigh has lost $3 million tourism dollars because of HB2. To be truthful, I don't like to hear about these money losses. It's sad that people in the state have to suffer because of the deliberate ignorance of their elected officials. But war is hell and the lgbt community certainly didn't start this one. 

Transgender Bathroom Bill Fails in Tennessee Legislature - Victory in Tennessee for now. But don't uncork the champagne. Be ready for this noxious bill to come up again. And be ready to defeat it again.  

Family Research Council blaming media for disastrous defenses of anti-lgbt laws - My post from last night which deserves repeating, particularly this part - "Lastly, I want to mention that talking point of painting those who oppose HB2 as hypocrites because they don't speak out against those (such as Bruce Springsteen, Paypal, etc.) who supposedly do business in countries which have awful human rights records against lgbts. FRC until just recently itself utilized Paypal to garner donations. The organization only began figuratively declaring war on Paypal after the organization boycotted NC. Also, how can FRC cry foul over any country's negative human rights record against lgbts, seeing that it once vouched support for Uganda's anti-lgbt laws."  

The North Carolina bathroom bill could trigger a health crisis among transgender youth, research shows - A main reason why these awful "bathroom bills" gets me angry. Don't $#@! with the children.

 Christian Attorney Trying To Marry His MacBook - Pathetically attempting to prove a nonexistent point.

Family Research Council blaming media for disastrous defenses of anti-lgbt laws

FRC's Tony Perkins is blaming the media for a bad weekend.

The Family Research Council is playing a game of defense for the anti-lgbt laws passed in North Carolina and Mississippi.

In spite of a disastrous weekend featuring two interviews in which NC Gov. Pat McCrory bungled a one-on-one on Meet The Press and FRC president Tony Perkins himself got called out by the interviewer for his homophobia, FRC still wants to live in a universe where these discriminatory laws are right and the  "left" are going after them with lies. And how does the organization do this? By playing the "biased liberal media" card:

 It's amazing with technology like ours that people still refuse to take a few minutes to read for themselves a bill like North Carolina's. With the facts just a click away, there's no excuse for the liberal media to continue misrepresenting H.B. 2. Yet that's exactly what they're doing -- almost a month after Governor Pat McCrory (R-N.C.) signed the bill into law. Unfortunately, the truth about the measure -- that it gives businesses the freedom to set their own bathroom policies -- doesn't fit the Left's narrative. So they ignore it.

Just yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Chuck Todd took his interview with McCrory down a familiar path, distorting the most basic aspects of the law. "Does it bother you," Todd said at one point, "that basically North Carolina and Mississippi is the only other state to side with you on this?" For starters, McCrory stopped him, Mississippi passed a religious liberty law -- not a privacy measure. Secondly, he fired back, a lot more states agree with North Carolina than don't. "This is not just a North Carolina debate. This is a national debate that's just come on in literally the last three months... We have 29 states that also don't have this type of mandate on private business, including the state of New York [one of its most vocal opponents]."

'Ted Cruz badly dodges lgbt equality question & other Mon. midday news briefs

Don't let this man in the White House.

WATCH: Ted Cruz Tells Married Gay NYC GOP Voter the Only Protection He Needs Is Religious Liberty - Creepy Cruz strikes again. If this man gets anywhere NEAR the White House, I'm building my own closet in which to reside. I fear the one he has envisioned for me and folks like me. 

As Backlash To Anti-LGBT Law In North Carolina Rises, Some Musicians Will Perform As Planned - And their reasonings are wonderful. I totally support what they are doing.

  Kasich: LGBT people who face discrimination should ‘get over it’ - No comment. It's too close to me coming from church (which was yesterday).

  State proposals on LGBTQ rights push businesses into the spotlight - Because money is money . . . honey.

Interviewer nails Tony Perkins on 'religious liberty' lies & basic homophobia

NC Gov. Pat McCrory wasn't the only one over the weekend tripping over himself in a sad attempt to defend anti-lgbt discrimination. Anti-lgbt hate group head Tony Perkins (of the Family Research Council) found himself attempting to defend Mississippi's law which allows businesses to deny services to lgbts. Although he tried to make it seem that it "merely" protects those who do not agree with gay marriage equality, the person interviewing him, Fernando Espuelas, wasn't letting him get away with that subterfuge. Espuelas allows Perkins to make his case and then points out the fallacies. Most importantly, Espeulas demonstrates that there is nothing wrong with an interviewer calling out a guest's homophobia instead of creeping around it:

 From Crooks and Liars: 

Internet pioneer and television host Fernando Espuelas called out Family Research Council President Tony Perkins over the weekend for supporting anti-LGBT laws throughout the U.S. "specifically" for the purpose of discriminating against minority groups.

On his Matter of Fact talk show, Espuelas noted that Perkins had supported multiple co-called "religious freedom" laws in the past and was currently backing a North Carolina law limiting the bathroom rights of transgender people.

Perkins argued that the North Carolina law was a "public safety bill," and that broader laws in states like Mississippi prevented the government from "penalizing" Christians for refusing to serve LGBT people.

Espuelas, however, pointed out that "the idea that someone who has a business license can then discriminate against one group or another is something that was put to rest in the 1960s."

"We're talking about forcing someone to take their creative ability, their talent and force them," Perkins insisted. "This is almost forced servitude, saying that you have to be a part of this or the state is going to punish you."

"That's essentially the same argument as segregation," Espuelas stated.

Perkins disagreed: 'We're talking about marriage. That is a sacred institution. Just three years ago the president had the same view."

"But he didn't have the view that people should be discriminated against," Espuelas said. "How is it not discrimination if you pick one group, a specific group of people and have different rights for them? How is that not discrimination?"

Religious homophobia by the decades - a visual exercise

1980s:

1990s:

2000s:

2010 and onward:

Same stories. Just different scapegoats.

Whether offensively showcased by rabid homophobes like Peter LaBarbera or Tony Perkins or slickly alluded to and implied with "religious liberty" and "bathroom bill" laws and  politicians like NC Gov. Pat McCrory or Sen. Ted Cruz,  it all adds up to the same thing.

LIES TOLD IN THE NAME OF CHRISTIANITY, FAMILY, AND VALUES

And it wont stop until lgbts make it a point to take it seriously enough to declare war on it. 

Connect the dots and remind everyone about the continuum.

Related post:  VIDEO: Here's The Truth About The Anti-LGBT "Bathroom Predator" Myth

GLSEN Day of Silence 2016 - Whose side are you on?

Editor's note - Due to a work emergency, today's news briefs may not be posted.

Today is the annual GLSEN Day of Silence in which students across the nation bring attention to the problem of anti-lgbt bullying in schools. This year is very poignant because lgbts, particularly transgender students, are being targeted with awful "religious liberty" and "bathroom legislation" around the country.

With that in mind, the following video asks a very pertinent question.

Whose side are you on?

'Anti-lgbt backlash facing its own backlash?' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Conservative lawmakers drive backlash against LGBT rights - Don't let the title of this article fool you. It goes into detail about how the conservative backlash to lgbt equality itself is facing a backlash from businesses. And the article features our lovely SC situation. 

Hundreds of CEOs Move Million-Dollar Conference Out of North Carolina Over Anti-LGBT Law - Like so . . .  

Tennessee Governor Skeptical Of Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bill - Keep your fingers crossed. This could end up in our favor. 

 How Journalists Are Grappling With The Rampant "Bathroom Bill" Misinformation In North Carolina - And not just in North Carolina. 

Mississippi Gov. Claims New Anti-LGBT Law Just Balances The Scales Of Justice - First of all, being interviewed by an anti-lgbt hate group isn't a good idea. We've got lots of work to do in Mississippi if the governor actually believes this trash.

Opponents of SC anti-transgender bill outnumbered, outflanked supporters

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin testified against Bright's bill.

The State newspaper is describing today's subcommittee hearing on that awful anti-transgender bill proposed by SC Sen. Lee Bright as one in which opponents of the bill outnumbered those who favored it.

In truth, it was downright embarrassing for supporters of the bill. Aside from a letter from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, testimony from former State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, the mayors from Greenwood, Florence, and Columbia, and US attorney Bill Nettles all opposing the bill, the crowd, which overflowed out of the room, heard from two transgender teens who would be affected should the bill become law:

Grayson, 13, and Dex, 13, sat before Bright and his fellow committee members during Wednesday's hearing.

Grayson, a female-to-male transitioning teen, recounted his story of having to go to the nurse's bathroom to avoid having to answer questions about his identity.

"All I want is to be able to use the men's restroom with the rest of my non-transgender peers, but this doesn't happen and it won't happen if this bill is passed," Grayson said. "The people introducing this bill are victimizing the innocent. When I enter a men's bathroom, I just want to use the facilities, wash my hands and leave. I do not deserve to have my gender identity washed away like a fingerprint on a windowpane. I do not deserve to have the person I am replaced by someone I don't want to be. I do not deserve to be forced to use a restroom where I do not feel safe."

Grayson also called out supporters of the bill, saying none of them understood what it was like to prove themselves and who they are constantly.

"We were brought into this world to live, not to be targeted by people who don't know what it's like to be born in a shell that doesn't match your interior spirit," Grayson said.

Supporting the bill were fewer witnesses, including former Richland County Councilman Cameron Runyan. And while the subcommittee hearing was going on, USC students held a rally outside the State House against the bill.

Unfortunately, according to WIS-TV, the testimony against the bill did not move Bright.

 "I am sympathetic," Bright said. "There are situations addressed in the bill that if someone wants to change their sex, they can change it if they want to do that, but I think if a woman and a female child want to use the restroom, then they shouldn't have to deal with the fact that a man has a right to walk in there because he identifies as that gender that day."  

A local blog, FitsNews, gave a theory as to why Bright is pushing the bill. And this theory has nothing to do with public safety. The site claims that Bright is in a tough re-election and it attempting to shore up the conservative base:

Bright’s proposed “Bathroom Bill” isn’t about his moral convictions regarding transgenders. Nor is it about any issue or ideology.  It’s about a vulnerable State Senator looking to collect data and raise money for his upcoming reelection fight – while shoring up his socially conservative (far) right flank.

There is more testimony to be heard tomorrow. But according to The State, the bill has little chance of becoming law. An opponent, Sen. Joel Lourie has vowed to do whet he can to kill the bill via procedure. In addition, Gov. Nikki Haley has also said she doesn't support the bill.

'SC anti-transgender bill faces tough subcommittee hearing' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Sen. Lee Bright's anti-transgender bill is facing a bruising subcommittee

Editor's note - The subcommittee hearing on that awful anti-transgender bill in South Carolina will be wrapping up soon and I no doubt will have a report to go on about it later. But from reading twitter updates, this hearing is seriously the most lopsided thing I've seen since that movie 'Bambi vs. Godzilla.' Just call the lgbt community 'Godzilla.' They brought three mayors, a former secretary of Education, a US attorney AND transgender South Carolinians and their families to all testify against the bill. It doesn't matter whether or not the bill may have been doomed from the get-go. South Carolina's lgbt community, leaders, and allies deserve special praise for not coming to the hearing without their "A game" and also bringing a "Dream Team." What they did is a perfect example of what the lgbt community needs to do when faced with lies and inequality . . . every time.

 Transgender teen and mother advocate for rights - Two of the heroes from today's subcommittee meeting in Columbia, SC.

 SC House leader says no time for transgender bill - Because one of the sponsors is chairman of today's subcommittee, the bill is expected to go to full committee. And there it may just die for a number of reasons. I ain't celebrating until it's officially dead. 

University of North Carolina may be violating Obama’s LGBT order - More trouble for North Carolina. Good 

The Surprising Sexual Harassment Scandal Accompanying Tennessee’s Anti-Transgender Bill - A sad but rich irony about the one of the sponsor's of Tenneesee's anti-transgender bill. 

 China Rejects Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Case - Don't stop. Don't give up.  

Bryan Fischer: Bryan Adams Is Racist For Opposing Mississippi's Anti-LGBT Law - I suppose this makes sense in Bryan Fischer's bizarro world.

Sponsor of SC anti-transgender bill taking hits from both parties

Sen. Lee Bright is catching flack from all sides for his transphobic bill.

In reading the following news report from news channel WYFF4 NBC I think it would be safe to assume the anti-transgender bill proposed in South Carolina by Sen. Lee Bright is very unpopular.

Are you sitting down? If so, then proceed to read:

The three Republican candidates who are vying for Sen. Lee Bright's state senate seat in District 12 are using Bright's recently introduced "Bathroom Bill" as ammunition against him.

 "I do not believe the bill is needed here in South Carolina," businessman and Senate candidate David McCraw said during a news conference. "I agree with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce when they said, 'Sen. Bright is trying to create a political crisis that doesn't exist to save his political career.'"
Bright's bill, S. 1203, would assign the use of bathrooms according to "biological sex" instead of gender identification. It would prevent local governments from creating ordinances that allow transgender people to use the bathrooms of their choice.

Other candidates who are running for Bright's seat also oppose his bill.

"The transgender bathroom ordinance being pushed by special interests has no place in South Carolina," Republican Senate candidate Scott Talley said. "While I agree with Senator Bright in opposing a transgender bathroom ordinance, his proposed law is redundant and unnecessary."

"We don't want to do anything to jeopardize economic development in South Carolina," Republican Senate candidate Lisa Cooley Scott said. "(Bright) is jumping on the bandwagon to grab headlines, because he has done nothing in the Senate."

A Senate committee hearing on the bill is Wednesday morning and according to ABC News Channel 6, a Democrat Senator, Joel Lourie, said that he will do everything in his power to block it.

That should be interesting, seeing that the chair of the committee, Sen. Kevin Bryant, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that he intends to advance the bill forward even if the subcommittee doesn't approve.

The irony of that is all of this bickering could be moot. Gov. Nikki Haley has already said that the bill is not needed in South Carolina and the speculation is that if the bill is passed, she may veto it.

Nevertheless, regardless of the reasons why (and many of them definitely aren't noble), I never thought I would EVER live to see the day when Republicans in South Carolina attack another Republican for being unnecessarily mean to the lgbt community.

Related post -  Opponents of SC anti-transgender bill outnumbered, outflanked supporters

'SC legislator determined to push anti-trans bill through committee in spite of unpopularity' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Sen. Kevin Bryant is determined to push an unpopular bill through

Bryant says transgender bill to advance regardless - So in spite of tomorrow's hearing on that awful anti-transgender bill in South Carolina, Sen. Kevin Bryant, chairman of the Senate General Committee, is determined to push it through EVEN IF the subcommittee does not approve it. It means two things - this bill is not popular with hardly anyone including Gov. Haley and such an action would shift the public perception that the bill is needed for safety. If the bill needed for safety, then why would there be a need to force it through. 

Hearing puts spotlight on SC transgender bathroom bill - And speaking of tomorrow morning's hearing, forget the hype about Superman vs. Batman because THIS is going to be the event. Those opposing the bill will include Steve Benjamin, the mayor of Columbia. And who are supporting the anti-transgender bill have acknowledged hat there have been no reports of women's safety being jeopardized. That's probably why Sen Bryant going to attempt to force it through.

 N.C. Rep. Billy Richardson: I was wrong to vote for HB2 - A bit too late for North Carolina, don't you think?  

Deutsche Bank Won’t Expand In North Carolina Because Of Anti-LGBT Law - A bit too late.  

Tennessee Passes Anti-LGBT Counseling Bill - If the Gov signs this bill, medical health professionals will be able to reject lgbt patients because of "religious beliefs." This is why the religious right won't tell where the line has to be drawn with these so-called "religious liberty" laws. They want to get away with as much as they can. One wonders how they are going to spin this one.

The Conservative Argument Against Same-Sex Parenting Just Fell Apart - Meanwhile . . .

How Fox News contributed to Mississippi's anti-lgbt law

The above video from Media Matters reminds us of an important factor in the passage of that awful anti-lgbt law in Mississippi - A propaganda network with no accountability which peddled in the false "Christian are being persecuted" argument while simultaneously featuring anti-gay talking heads and giving them the ability to spout lies without challenge or debate.

Or as we call it, Fox News:

 Fox News has long touted the stories of a handful of anti-gay photographers, bakers, and florists who refused to provide services to same-sex couples and were then sued for violating nondiscrimination ordinances. In regular segments that Fox dubs the “Fight for Faith,” the network often sides with for-profit businesses -- like an Idaho wedding chapel -- to claim that the Christian business owners are being persecuted by the government or LGBT activists . . .

Fox News employees have even written books devoted to the anti-LGBT Christian persecution myth. In 2014,Fox News’ anti-gay mouthpiece and serial misinformer Todd Starnes went on a publicity tour for his book God Less America, which details “real stories from the frontlines of the attack on traditional values.” This February, Fox News contributor and prominent conservative media figure Erick Erickson released a book You Will Be Made To Care, The War on Faith, Family And Your Freedom To Believe, which explores how the "leftist-homosexual mafia" is waging a "war on Christians.” Conservative media’s misinformation campaign framing Christians as “victims” of discrimination is part of a larger effort by anti-LGBT activists seeking to pass “religious freedom” laws. With Fox News providing the “Fight for Faith” stories to lay the groundwork for laws like Mississippi’s, anti-LGBT organizations can continue their national push for laws that protect anti-LGBT discrimination. 

So after we defeat the laws like the one in Mississippi - and we will - what are we going to about Fox News? And wistful thoughts of their male personalities being caught on their knees in public restrooms is not an option. So please don't introduce that as some type of solution.

'Franklin Graham willing to deceive to legislate morality' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Graham willing to lie to legislate morality

'Nation Embracing Sin': Franklin Graham Goes on Twitter Rant to Defend North Carolina Anti-LGBT Law - Franklin Graham is a demagogue and a dangerous fool, but he has just done the lgbt community a favor with his egotistical tweets. Here is the question and it will be addressed in court - if you feel that something is a sin (in this case being an lgbt), is it right to create a false moral panic, lies, and laws to suppress said "sin?" Graham seems to think yes. With no proof that women and girls would be harmed by transgender folks using bathrooms and locker rooms of the gender identity they define for themselves and with no way of explaining why should lgbts be denied anti-discrimination protection, that should be the question we need to demand from the courts. 

Bryan Adams Follows In Springsteen’s Footsteps, Cancels Mississippi Gig - First Bruce Springsteen. Now Bryan Adams. Some may not agree with their cancellations, but they are very necessary.  

Anti-LGBT group from U.S. holds Barbados conference - Reason why have to start taking these folks seriously. If you are, then educate others. Worldwide groups with many connections and lots of money whose goal is the suppression of lgbt equality. Would be a James Bond movie if it weren't true.  

Ted Cruz Is 'Honored' To Have The Support Of Colorado's Demon-Hunting, Anti-Gay Exorcist State Legislator Gordon Klingenschmitt - Another reason Ted Cruz shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the White House. Not even to use the toilet.  

A Trans Woman’s Coworkers Threw Her A Party After She Came Out To Them - A reminder about the power of good in the world.