WOW! That's a lot of homophobic insanity in less than two minutes

From Right-Wing Watch, who else but our old friend, 'Porno' Pete LaBarbera:

Anti-LGBTQ activist Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality joined Dave Daubenmire and other speakers at last weekend’s Wisconsin Christian News Ministry Expo and Conference, where he warned that the push for “equality” is satanic.

Remember that behind almost every highly deceptive, intricately-thought-out, well-paid-for talking point of anti-lgbt dogma is the mindset which spewed this bizarre word salad of homophobia. I'm surprised he left out the '"recruiting of children"

Family Research Council hints on plans to overturn marriage equality

FRC president Tony Perkins

In its latest Washington Update, it sounds like the Family Research Council is hinting on the religious right plan to put a stop to marriage equality. To a lot of folks, it is a settled issue. However to FRC and other anti-lgbt groups, there seems to be no such thing as a settled issue as long as they have the funds, the audacity to distort the issue, and the self-righteousness not to admit how wrong they are even after repeatedly being proven so:

Turns out, conservatives aren't the only ones who think the marriage issue isn't settled. According to new reports, a growing number of LGBT activists are worried that the victory they celebrated in 2015 isn't a permanent one. And no wonder! As Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reminded us, liberals may have won in the courts -- but the court of public opinion is another story. That much was clear late last year in polling by Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research. When people were asked if they agreed with the statement, "I believe marriage should be defined only as a union between one man and one woman" -- a solid 53 percent agreed. That's a 16-point difference between those who disagreed at 37 percent (another 10 percent were undecided).

Almost two years into this experiment in judicial activism, most voters' opinions haven't budged. If it weren't for the Supreme Court forcing this decision on America, redefining marriage would have taken years for the Left to accomplish -- if ever. In Nevada, liberals are so concerned that they're campaigning for a state amendment on same-sex marriage. In language approved by the state assembly on Thursday, voters would get a chance to decide the issue on the 2020 ballot at the earliest. That may be too late, some fear. With the election of Donald Trump and the nomination of conservative Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, LGBT groups are doing all they can to protect the Obergefell ruling. Like the abortion movement, they know the justices had to read into the shadows of the Constitution to discover such a "right."

As Pelosi admitted, their make-believe world rests on the foundation of activist courts -- not the Constitution -- and certainly not natural law. Even with the cooperation of the mainstream media, the Left still hasn't won over a majority of Americans with its propaganda. Like its 58 concocted genders, they need either activist benches or presidents who will impose their fictitious world on everyone else by pen or phone. Interestingly enough, some states still have laws on the books outlawing abortion-on-demand with the understanding that if America ever returned to a Supreme Court bound by the Constitution, Roe v. Wade would disappear. The same is true for so-called same-sex marriage. States need to protect their marriage amendments. The day may come -- sooner than we think -- when the issue returns to elected representatives where it belongs.

First of all, let's talk about the research FRC used, i.e. the Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research. It is a Republican research firm which counts such GOP notables as Texas Senator Ted Cruz as a client. It sounds like WPA is a firm which isn't necessarily paid to show simple objective studies. In contrast a more recent poll  by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.found that 63 percent of Americans support marriage equality.

There is a constant hint in FRC's Washington Update that marriage equality will be challenged if Trump's SCOTUS nominee, Gorsuch, is confirmed . And no matter the outcome of the challenge, FRC and its allies are counting on it to eventually be heard by SCOTUS. They are also hoping that with Gorsuch on the bench, the Obergefell ruling - the decision which legalized marriage equality - can be overturned. 

It's a pipe dream for now, but the lgbt community shouldn't be so sure to dismiss it. It's not the idea that groups like FRC can work to overturn Obergefell that's the problem. It's the idea that they think they can.

'Gay GOP leader says community should 'compromise with Trump & anti-lgbtq GOP forces' & other Tue midday news briefs

Guys, we are NOT compromising with Trump and anti-lgbt GOPers.

Gay GOP Group Leader: We Should ‘Compromise’ With Donald Trump And Anti-LGBTQ Republicans - Log Cabin Republicans? Of course. It ain't gonna happen, boys. So don't put the onus on us. We didn't start this mess but the lgbt community, with or without you, shall finish it. No compromises, no "working it out," no "settling down and joining the forces"  with those who exist to deny us our God-given equality. 

‘This is what hate looks like’: D.C. transgender shelter vandalized - One of the MANY reasons why we will not compromise. 

 Spicer denounces anti-LGBT violence — sort of - Thanks for the "sour persimmons," Sean.  

New Mexico May Become Seventh State To Ban LGBT Conversion Therapy - Sweet!

Family Research Council smears same-sex parents, deceives about South Dakota adoption discrimination law

Family Research Council giddy over SD's attack on same-sex families like this one.

As to be expected, the hate group Family Research Council is crowing about the decision by South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to sign into law a bill which would allow foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate against gays on the basis of "religious liberty" without any penalties, such as losing possible government funds

And as I expected, FRC's crowing was a deceptive statement which attempts to obscure the central problem of this new law. Although I didn't think the organization's attempt would be so poor

Below is the statement in its entirety via FRC's daily Washington Update:

Here's something both sides should agree on: the importance of adoption. But these days, even finding loving homes for kids is an explosive topic in the bigger clash over religious liberty. At least in South Dakota, children won't be pawns in the Left's push to legitimize same-sex parents. Late Friday, Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) signed a bill into law that protects the beliefs of faith-based adoption agencies and foster care providers. As the South Dakota Family Policy Council explains, "The law would ensure that the State of South Dakota may not coerce them to abandon their sincerely-held religious beliefs or moral convictions in their placement decisions and the ongoing need for placement of children in safe nurturing homes will be served. These faith-based adoption agencies do not currently receive any state funds for child placement services, but without this protection, they are faced with a possible decision of closing their doors or failing their mission. While this has already occurred in other states, it should never happen here in South Dakota."

'South Dakota passes law allowing adoption agencies to discriminate against lgbt taxpayers' & other Mon. midday news briefs

 South Dakota law discriminates against lgbt tax payers  'for the sake of the children.'

South Dakota is First State in 2017 to Legalize Discrimination Against LGBT People - And the religious right went the "won't anyone think of the children" route. Instead of outright accusing lgbts of harming children, they are playing the "children will suffer if you don't let adoption agencies and foster care services use tax dollars while discriminating against lgbts"  card.

The first domino falls: South Dakota adoption discrimination bill becomes law - More from Think Progress. We had better pay attention. 

Related post: Taxpaying lgbts shouldn't sacrifice rights to 'religious liberty' propaganda - I don't see what's wrong with the lgbt community or leadership making the fact that we pay taxes an issue in the 'religious liberty' argument. We need to be stern and take a hard line on this issue.  

Survey Says: We Need To Educate Educators About The Rights Of LGBTQ Students - YES. WE. DO. Point blank.

 I’m Trans, Disabled, And Tired Of Fighting To Get Into Bathrooms - Wonderful post which speaks for itself. 

 GOP lawmakers refuse to protect LGBT students and those with disabilities in school voucher bill - We got LOTS of work to do . . .

Marriage equality opponents need to face the reality of why they lost

Editor's note - With Trump in office, you can easily bet that on the wish list of the religious right is a return to SCOTUS and an elimination of Obergefell ruling which legalized marriage equality. With that in mind, I am reposting a piece from 2015 reminding everyone of how the religious right's unscrupulous tactics backfired and helped ease the passage for Obergefell, just in case we do have to engage in the future and need a pushback to the "unelected activist judge" narrative:

NOM head Brian Brown cried when marriage equality came to NY.  Good times!

Kim Davis. Kim Davis. Kim Davis.

Lord, I am so tired of hearing about that woman; the so-called Joan of Arc standing in the gap for traditional marriage fighting a battle which the only outcome will be her loss and thereby the destruction of America and Western civilization as a whole.

To put it plainly, what a crock.

And to put it even more plainly, no matter how this nonsensical ado ends, I find myself getting highly annoyed at almost everyone with media leverage because they are shortchanging the situation instead of spelling it out to the American people in its entirety. This cause celebre of the moment is not simply about a hypocritical clerk who continues to place her religious beliefs over the duties of her $80,000 a year government job.

I wish it were that simple.

This annoying Kim Davis affair is merely a sideshow to cover up the fact that the overall case against marriage equality was nothing more than a pitiful delusion. A sad pursuit run by folks who had more money and influence than common sense. More gall than love. More ways to get their message out, but absolutely no way to make it more palpable or more flavorable than the bland, watery indigestible stew of discrimination that it was.

In the early days of the fight, marriage equality opponents were on an incredible streak via their ability to get state after state to pass anti-marriage equality laws.  They, led mostly by the National Organization for Marriage, were riding high in their glory. It didn't matter that their talking points about "marriage uniting the two halves of humanity" was basic balderdash repeated by one spokesperson (NOM president Brian Brown) who spoke out of the side of his mouth in a monotone worthy of a character from an Ed Wood movie. It didn't matter that their other spokesperson (Maggie Gallagher) practically oozed false sincerity and brazenly lied about her anti-gay animus even when confronted with evidence of it.

And it certainly didn't matter that while they whined about falsely being labeled as bigots, they simultaneously ran ads and commercials implying that gays were attempting to corrupt children, even while entities such as Politifact and one of their own supporters called them out on it.

All that mattered were the wins because, as Gallagher once put it, "winning is fun."

But they were so blinded by their wins, they got just a little too overconfident and weren't prepared when the argument shifted away from public votes and into the courtrooms.

I consistently remain amazed about how they were mortified when the courts stepped in. After all, it was the next step. Isn't that how it's done in this country? Laws are passed and if some feel that  the laws are unjust, they challenge them in our courts.

It was when gays challenged marriage equality laws via the courts that the masks of false superiority came off and we began to see the true faces of marriage equality foes. They made so many crucial errors and missteps  Allow me to address these errors and missteps  (and in doing so, I want to shift tenses so I can speak directly to Brown, Gallagher,  other leaders of the anti-marriage equality camp, and possibly anyone else still upset at our victory):

Misstep 1 - During the Prop 8 case which determined marriage equality in California, some of your "expert witnesses" dropped out because they had no expertise in what they were claiming, leaving you with only two. One of those witnesses, David Blankenhorn, managed to undermine the credibility of your own case.  Even your lead counsel, Chuck Cooper admitted that he couldn't say how marriage equality could harm the institution of marriage as a whole.

Misstep 2 - During the DOMA case, you pushed evidence so bad that one of the sources complained how you were distorting her work. And even a blogger - yours truly - spelled out in detail just how poor the evidence you were presenting.

Misstep 3 - But your most embarrassing misstep was when you helped create a phony study which supposedly shed a negative light on gay parenting without having the style and finesse of doing it in a clandestine manner as those who engage chicanery generally do. You recruited and overpaid a college professor, Mark Regenerus, to finagle figures and used your hype machine and resources to give the study credibility with the goal of using it to influence the Supreme Court.

But you are sloppy. I'm talking very sloppy. You were so bold and brazen that by the time your bogus study came out, the lgbt and scientific community knew where the money came from, how it was being promoted, who was promoting it, and every single lie to pinpoint in it. You basically gave us all a huge barrel of fish, several loaded guns, and said "have at it.

All in all, your entire cause was doomed from the time of the first gavel strike. So now, instead of admitting your own incompetence, you want to compare your now futile fight against the reality of marriage equality to  the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.

You remind me more of actor Slim Pickens in the movie Dr. Strangelove during the scene where he rode that atomic bomb down to the ground. But even his character had the common sense to know that once the bomb hit, that would be the end of it all.

You all, on the other hand, think that even after all of your missteps and transparent lies, that you will actually come out as winners, undo settled policy, and take something away from the lgbt community that we fought tooth and nail to win

You don't want to talk about why you actually lost against marriage equality. You would rather distract everyone with bad anecdotes of pseudo anti- Christian persecution  repeated by people I wouldn't trust to sell lemonade at a child's stand, such as Fox News' Todd Starnes. You come with people like Mike Huckabee exploiting the unfortunate ignorance of so many about how our government works. You come with conservative activists, pundits, and religious right figures spinning wonderful speeches of noble sacrifices and declaring that the fight against marriage equality is "a hill worth dying on." But the last time I checked, some of  those same characters were saying that overturning Obamacare, defunding Planned Parenthood, or eliminating Common Core were also the "hills worth dying on."

And that point leaves me very frustrated. If these folks are talking about "dying on hills," the least they could do is pick one and give all of us the courtesy of following through.
 
What I am trying to say is you lost this fight because when you started it, you didn't think it through. You weren't prepared to go all of the way. Sure you passed a lot of referendums, but you weren't skilled enough to form a proper argument that could sway the courts.

THAT, my friends, is the reason why you failed.  It wasn't because of Satan or "black-robed dictators " or "unelected judges." It wasn't because of a long-term plan between gays and Hollywood. And it certainly had nothing to do with any fraud, chicanery, or trickery of any type.

You had to prove one thing to the courts - that the passage of anti-marriage equality laws did not violate the rights of gay and lesbians couples and their children. When it was all said and done, you couldn't do it.  In spite of all of your tricks, lies, influence, speeches, crowds of support, you failed miserably to prove that one solitary point.

And when you failed, you lost. It's as simple as that.

Those who lose generally  lick their wounds, get over their sadness and carry on the best way  they know how. I would suggest that you do the same because frankly, none of you are special. Your religious beliefs don't make you better than anyone else. And they certainly don't give you an excuse to not obey the same rules and laws that the rest of us have to.

But I do have one question.

Should Kim Davis have to go to jail again, will Mike Huckabee be taking her place? After all, he did volunteer.

'Poll says most Americans oppose anti-transgender 'bathroom bills'' & other Fri midday news briefs

A new poll says most Americans oppose 'bathroom bills.'

HUFFPOLLSTER: Most Americans Oppose Transgender Bathroom Laws - This poll gives the lgbt community hope AND a possible blueprint for what to do next. Find out what Americans dislike about these awful 'bathroom bills' and elevate that in the conversation. It would be no different than what the religious right did in the Prop 8 battle. The organization pushing for that awful law found that their arguments resonated with the public if they exploited the fear of children being harmed. They pushed that hard into the conversation and it was probably the most important factor in their unfortunate, but very short-lived win.

Robin Roberts Chokes Up After Segment on Gay Conversion Camps for Kids - Perfect reason why our community need to be represented more in the media. We bring a certain resonance to issues such as these.

 Tennessee lawmakers really want to make sure businesses can discriminate against LGBT people - Ew! What a @$#!

A Personal Take On The Health Care Battle - Because this issue about Obamacare affects us too.

How This Seattle Barbershop Is Giving LGBT Homeless Kids A Fresh Start - Wonderful story demonstrating how what may seem as a small thing means a lot for our kids.

Anti-lgbt Fox News personality claims God's influence in election of Trump

It's no secret that the anti-lgbt right simply adore Donald Trump. They view him as the person who can make all of their craven ideas of turning America into their version of a so-called Christian paradise come true. The way they defend him and his excesses are both pitiful and amusing.

Take this video of  anti-lgbt Fox News personality Todd Starnes. Starnes, who latches on to Christianity with the urgency of a "physically inadequate" man clutching a huge firearm, is not exactly a good  messenger for Christ due to his history of lying and creating phony anecdotes of persecution. Still, the following comments he made about Trump goes beyond the pale of lunacy:

Transcript: 

“For the past eight years,” he said, “we’ve been told that we are the problem, that we are not a Christian nation, that we are not an exceptional nation. Our traditions and our values have been ridiculed and marginalized. We were mocked by Hollywood and dismissed by the academics, marginalized by the mainstream media. But all that changed on election day when a man who promised to defend religious liberty, a man who promised to make America great again became our president.” “I believe that God saw fit to give our nation a second chance. My fellow countrymen, we are surrounded, the cultural bullets are flying, the enemies of freedom are advancing and the time has come for all of us to stand resolute. You say, ‘Todd, I’m not a fighter.’ Well, there ain’t no such thing today, sonny, because we are freedom’s last line of defense! … It’s time for every gun-toting, Bible-clinging deplorable American to take a thunderous stand for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  

Starnes' habit of lying and creating false narratives serves him well here. To throw a little truth in the matter, Todd Starnes is saying that God  moved the stewardship of the country from an intelligent man who worked hard for every American and attempted to create prosperity and a road to affordable healthcare to an egotistical braggart whose mental capacity is that of a crushed chia pet and whose Administration has seen nothing but chaos, strife, and confusion since its beginning and who also attempts to assuage Americans with empty promises while those working with him are attempting to destroy everything including decent healthcare, good education, and safeguards created to fight corruption and pollution.

And God did all that to allow so-called Christians to save America. Save us from what? Peace? Prosperity? Good health?

Starnes is out of touch with reality, but unfortunately he is exactly in tune with the anti-lgbt right. People like Starnes and groups who align with him (i.e. the Alliance for Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, the American Family Association) have an inaccurate and hypocritically wrong view of America and Christianity. And nothing Donald Trump allows them to push can hide that. I would suggest that Starnes and company be aware of the statement that "God don't like ugly."

Hat tip to Right Wing Watch

'100 anti-lgbtq bills introduced already in 2017' & other Thur midday news briefs

100 Anti-LGBTQ Bills Introduced in 2017 - This is how it is supposed to be. Getting equality for any group is never going to be easy. If you feel scared, go home. I got my fighting clothes on and I say LET'S ROCK, BITCHES!!!!!  

This Gay Couple Are Worried Trump’s Refugee And Immigration Ban Will Keep Them Apart - Think Trump's ridiculous travel ban doesn't affect our community? Think again.

 Reporting On Trans Rights Supreme Court Case, Major Outlets Failed To Call Alliance Defending Freedom A Hate Group - This post by Media Matters spotlights a problem with my community. If we wait for the press to do the right thing, we will be waiting for a long while. Those ideas of the press being the saviors of justice, along with the visions of a crusading Edward R. Murrow, are now seen for what they are - illusions. If the lgbt community wants the press to cover issues of lgbt equality vs. the religious right fairly, then perhaps we have to make them. Don't wait for them to save us. Be aggressive in calling out these groups ourselves and wait for the press to come cover the conflict. Then we take hold of the narrative. 

DeVos meets with LGBT groups over trans student protections - Big kudos to these groups for taking the initiative to grab the bull by the horns.  

Proposed bill would ban same-sex marriage in Arkansas - Some folks are just determined to run into a steel wall at full speed.

Hate group - 'Don't watch 'Beauty and the Beast!' Support our movie instead!

Somehow, I don't think this photo conveys the message the American Family Association wanted to send.

Color me surprised. Or probably shouldn't be surprised.

While raging against the upcoming live action movie 'Beauty and the Beast' because it will contain a gay character, the anti-lgbt hate group American Family Association is asking for donations to fund a movie it wants to make.

I received the following email today:

Disney's new Beauty and the Beast movie features "exclusively gay moment."
The makers of Disney's new Beauty and the Beast movie have included a "gay character and love scene" between Gaston and his male sidekick, LeFou, according to the BBC. The movie hits theaters March 17.

"LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston. He's confused about what he wants," director Bill Condon told Attitude magazine. "It's somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings. And [LeFou] makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that’s what has its payoff at the end, which I don't want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie."

In response, American Family Association is encouraging all its friends to take a stand, by signing an open letter of protest to Disney, and by joining AFA in co-producing a godly family Film, The Pilgrim's Progress.

Take Action Now!

And please share this important message with your friends and family members. If our mission resonates with you, please consider supporting our work financially with a tax-deductible donation. The easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure.

The Pilgrim's Progress is a 1678 novel which Wikipedia calls a "Christian allegory." It's very long and certainly not  meant for children. It's curious to see how AFA is intending to condense it into a child-friendly movie.

Decision. Decisions. Whatever shall I do? Support a wonderful live action motion picture that will feature a gay character?

Or shall I give money to support a project by an anti-lgbt hate group?

Sorry, Pilgrim but you are going to have to progress somewhere else. I'm sticking with the beast and the gay guy.

'TX Trans pastor says 'Stop using God as an excuse to hate people' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Trans Pastor To Texas Bathroom Bill Supporters: ‘Stop Using God As An Excuse To Hate People’ - PREACH!!

 In Ritual Beating-Up of Vulnerable Texans, Senate Advances ‘Bathroom Bill’ - Texas anti-transgender bathroom bill advances but with a huge caveat. A lot of people came out to speak against it, including members of the transgender community and the parents of transgender children. This is a good thing because more visibility by the transgender community is never a bad thing. Just like with other anti-lgbt initiatives, it will be the voices of our community which will lead the charge to victory.

And here is a craptacular addition to the above story:

Family Research Council's Tony Perkins testimony - Read and study how religious right spokespeople (such as Tony Perkins) rely on fear, anecdotes, and unrelated horror stories to further anti-lgbt laws.

LGBT community centers see wave of vandalism across the country - Welcome to wannabe Trump world. I say wannabe because it's still our world too and we aren't backing down one iota. 

 24 Absolutely wonderful LGBT women and allies - WONDERFUL profile speaks for themselves to celebrate International Women's Day.  

Trump will name gay man as NATO ambassador according to White House official - Not necessarily good news for the lgbt community, but it's still guaranteed to send the religious right into ORBIT.

Franklin Graham should boycott these fairy tales instead of 'Beauty and the Beast'

I am amazed that with all of the chaos going on Trump's "not a Muslim well actually it is a Muslim" ban, the disastrous attempted elimination of the Affordable Care Act, and other things in this country where we do need genuine spiritual guidance, evangelist Franklin Graham is busying himself calling for a boycott of the upcoming live action motion picture 'Beauty and the Beast.'

Graham is upset because it will include a gay character. Oh horrors!

In all seriousness, if Graham wants to waste everyone's time with such silly distractions, he need not wait for the live action 'Beauty and the Beast' movie to come out. There are other fairy tales he can raise prudish hell over:

Jack and the Beanstalk - The original story has Jack breaking into the giant's castle and stealing several objects. Finally, the giant catches Jack and chases him to the beanstalk, but meets his death when Jack chops it down. Later remakes of the story eliminated the fact that Jack was a thief by creating a silly backstory which claimed that the stuff Jack stole actually belonged to his family. The backstory also revealed that the giant had initially murdered Jack's father. It's a win-win situation for Graham. He can raise hell claiming that the story teaches children to steal while labeling the changes as "political correctness gone amok."

Rapunzel - The girl with the long hair trapped in a castle and visited by a prince while her foster mother (who is also a witch) is away. This could be a juicy one for Graham because the witch actually discovered that Rapunzel was being visited while she was away when the girl's, shall we say, belly "swelled." Don't be naive. What do you think she and the Prince were doing those long hours the witch was away?

And last but not least

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Come on? A teenage girl living in sin in the forest with seven older men? With seven little beds aligned close together? Come to think of it, weren't those dwarfs were just a little bit too close to each other before Snow White showed up? I would also mention the gruesome murder of the wicked queen at the conclusion of the original story, but I think Graham would actually approve of that.

And while we are on the subject, just what was the deal with Goldilocks and those three bears?

TX government officials, anti-lgbt hate groups, Fox News personality teaming up against lgbt equality' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Fox News personality Todd Starnes

A Fox News Radio Anchor Is Headlining A Hate Group's Anti-LGBTQ Briefing - Texas government officials, a Fox News personality, assorted pastors, and anti-lgbt hate groups are teaming up to curtail lgbt equality. YET ANOTHER reason why it just isn't safe for the lgbt community to ignore those who are attempting to take away our rights. They aren't going away, especially with Trump in office.  

Texas conservatives launch massive anti-transgender misinformation campaign - More about this.

Dan Patrick Compares Bathroom Bill Fight to Alamo at Briefing Hosted by Anti-LGBT Hate Group - The hyerboles! The hyperboles!

 Flaming hypocrisy in evangelical Disney boycott - Ya think?  

This Little Boy Dressed Up As Audra McDonald For A School Project And She Loved It - Read this article in full and ask yourself what would have happened if this child's creativity was stomped upon rather than encouraged by his parents and school.

Anti-lgbt hate group supports Trump's false claim about wiretapping

Determined to keep the possibility open that all of their little right-wing evangelical fantasies (anti-lgbt religious liberty laws, curtailing of transgender rights, defunding Planned Parenthood, conservative justices on SCOTUS, elimination of the Johnson Amendment) would become realities, some religious right groups and organizations are backing Trump regardless of how off the deep end he goes with his statements and assertions

For example, there is his latest nonsense that the former president, Barack Obama, wiretapped his phones at Trump Tower before the election. Trump didn't offer any proof and federal officials, such as FBI director James Comey have said it didn't happen. Meanwhile, Trump's team has been scrambling to either back him up or lessen the backlash while credibility has taken another beating, particularly in the press.

Nevertheless, the folks at the anti-lgbt hate group American Family Association's fake news site, One News Now, is backing him up with a comically awful article, A crazy accusation that might not be so crazy.

To make matters even more pathetic, One News Now is taking a poll which doesn't even offer any genuine questions:

Lies about wiretapping told in the name of God are still lies. But I guess AFA doesn't care as long as it keeps Trump's so-called Christian evangelical supporters from becoming sensibly demoralized.

'Anti-lgbt leaders blame Obama, witchcraft for Trump's troubles' & other Mon midday news briefs

Matt Barber

While those who can be considered (if such a term is credible) as "mainstream anti-lgbt groups," such as the Family Research Council, are quiet on Trump's claim of wiretapping by Obama, the more fringey, one fry short of a happy sect is pulling out all of the stops to spin general conspiracy theories. That is, at least according to posts by People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch. I just think  it's ironic that they haven't pointed the finger at us for now:

Lou Engle Calls For National Fast To Save Donald Trump From Witchcraft Curse

Rick Joyner: Obama Holdovers Are Committing Treason Against Trump To Cover Up Their Crimes

Matt Barber Says Obama Is Engaging With ‘Domestic Terrorists’ To Take Down Trump

In other news:

Supreme Court Ducks Big Transgender Rights Case — Thanks To Trump Administration - By NO means is this over.

Trans women of color are missing from the conversation about transphobia - Seven transgender women of color have been murdered thus far in 2017. What the hell .  .

This Stunning Photo Series Is Highlighting The Experiences Of LGBT African Immigrants - Stunning is the right word for this series. It's

Franklin Graham spews homophobic foolishness over 'Beauty and the Beast'

Franklin Graham

The news that there was will be a gay character in Disney's upcoming live action depiction of 'Beauty and the Beast' has gotten the "usual suspects" up in arms with their Helen Lovejoyish cries of "won't someone think of the children."

And none of them seem to be louder than evangelist Franklin Graham.

According to the Huffington Post:

In a Facebook post shared this week, Graham wrote that the company is “trying to push the LGBT agenda into the hearts and minds of your children — watch out!” Then, acknowledging that “Disney has the right to make their cartoons” because “it’s a free country,” the evangelist went on to state, “as Christians we also have the right not to support their company. I hope Christians everywhere will say no to Disney.” 

So it's the old "gays want your children" fear tactic. Granted, it's several steps above the Anita Bryant cry of how we supposedly want to "recruit children to refreshen our ranks," but the same meaning still applies. The Huffington Post also added this about Graham's tendency to be public about certain issues:

Graham has previously made his thoughts on other non– straight, white, Christian groups clear with comments about President Trump’s ban on Syrian immigrants (“not a Bible issue”), Islam (“evil”) . . .

It's unfortunate that Graham's interpretation of Christianity includes attacking a different religion with lies and opposing the tenet Jesus put forth in his parable of The Good Samaritan while railing against a fairy tale simply because a depiction of it includes a gay character. One wonders how he feels about 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' i.e a teenage girl living in the forest with seven unmarried men.

I honestly wasn't planning to see 'Beauty and the Beast,' but thanks to Graham, I'll probably go to see it. Twice.

'Christian conservative TX mom becomes 'accidental activist' after child comes out as transgender' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Christian, Conservative And Parenting A Transgender Child In Texas - I read this story this morning a few minutes after I woke up. It's easily the most poignant thing I've read in a while. When someone comes at you about how transgender children" make other children feel uncomfortable and pushing the "bathroom predator" nonsense, send them this piece. Kimberly Shappley is a self-described Christian and conservative. Then her six-year-old child came out as transgender and she had to decide what was more important. Luckily, as the video above shows, she made the right choice.

 Transgender Conservatives Speak Out: Trump ‘Failed’ The Test Of Equality - No shit! 

 When We Rise Falls Again in Ratings; Eyewitness Canceled - There seems to be a problem with viewers not flocking to lgbt-themed shows and such. The religious right, if they begin to brag about this, will claim that America is getting tired of having the so-called lgbt agenda supposedly thrust in its face. I personally think the problem is more complex. There needs to be a focus on the wide diversity of the lgbt community in both who represents us and region of the country where this representation comes from. Not all of us have history in California.

 Secretive Council For National Policy Pushing Trump To Sign ‘Religious Liberty’ Order - Yeah Trump. Go ahead and sign that executive order and see what happens . . .

This Far-Right Tweet About "The Future That Liberals Want" Backfired Into A Huge Meme - HEHEHEHE!

Anti-transgender 'bathroom bills' keep no one safe except the politicians pushing them

Has the indispensable video journalist Matt Baume been reading my blog? Probably so, but I doubt as much as I would like for me to take credit for this wonderful video he just completed.  Baume proves that politicians pushing "bathroom bills" do so because they are more concerned about their re-election chances than protecting the public. Then he compares the rhetoric used to justify these bills to the rhetoric used to justify banning marriage equality. In doing this, Baume proves a point I've made repeatedly - that the religious right and their allies exploit people's fear about children in danger to hinder lgbt equality. Outstanding!

'NPR doing awful job covering lgbt issues' & other Thur midday news briefs

NPR doing bad job on lgbt issues

NPR demonstrates how not to report on LGBT issues — four different times - It is crucial, particularly during the Trump Administration era, that our community demand fair coverage of issues involving us. When noted media sources like NPR get crucial facts wrong AND allow anti-lgbt hate and religious right groups to dictate the terms of the conversation, we have a SERIOUS problem. 

The Epidemic of Gay Loneliness - While we fight for equality, the lgbt community cannot forget that there are other internal issues which laws can't take care of. This is a huge one.

 12 Transgender People React to Trump's Order on Their Civil Rights - Thank you, Teen Vogue for focusing on the important part of this issues, i.e. the rights and voices of transgender people.  

DOJ lets stand court order against transgender health care - Disgraceful! 

 Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire says he’d avoid gay teammate - Don't nobody want you!

Will the Family Research Council ever stop distorting the Sweet Cakes bakery case?

Religious right groups portray the Kleins as victims.  Don't be fooled. They aren't.

One thing which is absolutely aggravating about religious right groups like the Family Research Council is not just how they lie, but how they will repeat the lie in spite of it being refuted.

For groups who claim to speak about upholding values and Christians ethics, organizations like FRC seem to have no problem playing fast and loose with the truth whenever it suits them. Take the situation about Sweet Cakes bakery for example. FRC just sent out a Washington Update pushing the usual nonsense about how supposed Christians, like the owners of Sweet Cakes bakery, are being "persecuted" by the lgbt community:

There has to be space in our society for people who hold differing views. Isn't that what liberals meant by tolerance? Apparently not, as Aaron and Melissa Klein know all too well. Like dozens of other family businesses, the Kleins never thought that their faith would be a liability to their booming bakery business. They were wrong. In a politically correct world, thy found out that costs of running a business are a lot more than dollars and cents. For these bakers, it was their First Amendment rights.

Their dream of opening a dessert shop near Portland, Oregon turned into a nightmare when two lesbians refused to take "no" for an answer on their request for a same-sex "wedding" cake. As FRC's Travis Weber points out, the Kleins were happy to provide any item from their shop to gay and straight customers alike. They welcomed everyone to come and shop at Sweet Cakes by Melissa. The only thing the Kleins declined to do was become part of a same-sex wedding ceremony; they didn't want to be forced -- by any customer -- to create a cake that violated their beliefs. The same was true of any event contradicting their faith -- like a celebration of divorce, an order they would also decline.

Still, liberals in the state hounded the Kleins with a ferocity that ultimately forced their store to close. Now, facing a $135,000 fine, the parents of five will finally have their day in court. Until now, they've been at the mercy of a biased administrative body in Oregon that even went so far as to impose a gag order on the couple. 

FRC is being highly deceptive. No one put a gag order on the Kleins.