Family Research Council applauds Trump's new visa policy because, quite simply, it hurts gays

Family Research Council head Tony Perkins applauds how a new Trump policy hurts foreign gay diplomats.

On Tuesday, the Trump Administration initiated a new policy denying visas to same sex partners of foreign diplomats and United Nations officials if the couples aren't married. Some have cried foul over this policy because some of these diplomats come from countries which don't allow gays to marry. But anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council has applauded the policy for basically the same reason. And specifically because it serves to hurt the LGBTQ community. Some will say that this observation, and the headline of this post, is alarmist and hysterical. However I stand by it. A comparison between the garishly vulgar way FRC president Tony Perkins celebrates this policy compared to how it hurts gay couples (via NPR) proves my point:

Family Research Council:

No sooner had Hillary Clinton taken over as secretary than the White House ordered her to use the agency as a club to beat other nations into submission on sexual politics. Under her leadership -- and, later, Secretary John Kerry's -- the State Department worked, not to advance America's interests, but the interests of the Left's radical social agenda. Obviously, the strategy was for the State Department to force these policies on the international stage and then build pressure on the U.S. to adopt policies like it.

. . . Fortunately, the Trump administration has real respect for other nations' beliefs -- and Secretary Mike Pompeo's agency is proving it. Yesterday, the administration announced a new policy at the State Department that would block diplomatic visas for the same-sex partners of any foreign officials and U.N. employees. As of Monday, couples will have to provide proof of marriage for their significant others to stay in the country after 2018. Right now, experts think that about 10 U.N. employees would be affected by the change.

"Same-sex spouses of U.S. diplomats now enjoy the same rights and benefits as opposite-sex spouses," the U.S. mission wrote in a July 12 note to U.N.-based delegations. "Consistent with [State] Department policy, partners accompanying members of permanent missions or seeking to join the same must generally be married in order to be eligible" for a diplomatic visa.

To most conservatives, it was powerful rebuke of Hillary Clinton's 2009 decision to bypass the law for LGBT partners. And an important one. As it stands, only 12 percent of U.N. member states allow same-sex marriage -- putting the Obama State Department well out of step with the world. Thank goodness for the Trump administration, which has proven time and time again that its focus is religious freedom and human rights for everyone -- not special rights for a select few.

'Trump Administration weaponizes marriage equality to punish gay diplomats, UN officials' & other Tue midday news briefs

The Trump Administration continues to give the LGBTQ community hell.

Trump Administration to Deny Visas to Same-Sex Partners of Diplomats, U.N. Officials - More proof that the religious right pro-Trump mantra "promises made. promises kept." is bullshyte. Trump promised to stand with the LGBTQ community. Apparently he meant he would stand on our backs and stomp us a few times. This policy is being derided as ugly and mean-spirited. The new policy demands that the gay couples be married—even if they're from countries that criminalize gay marriage. What the policy does is use the right to marry passed in America as a weapon against gay diplomats from countries not allowing marriage equality: 

Samantha Power, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, denounced the new policy on Twitter as “needlessly cruel & bigoted.” “State Dept. will no longer let same-sex domestic partners of UN employees get visas unless they are married,” she tweeted, noting that “only 12% of UN member states allow same-sex marriage.”  

Meet The Real Mike Pence - It's not be confirmed but 2 to 1, this policy may have its roots with Vice President Mike Pence, a man who has shown an extreme personal animus against the LGBTQ community. This Human Rights Campaign report proves this. That's okay. Pence's animus will be his downfall.  

The international far-right has a new target: Gender and identity - UGH!  

Anti-LGBTQ activist behind Proposition 8's passage brags about work crafting "gay propaganda" law in Russia - Brian Brown seems to be the Sarah Palin of the anti-LGBTQ industry. He creates nothing positive. He takes up much needed space. But he won't go away. 


Image taken from LGBTQ Nation.

Celebrate the heroes and sheroes of LGBT History Month 2018

October is LGBT History Month and with the help of Equality Forum, let's look at 31 heroes and sheroes who taught, and continues to teach, us all about style, discipline, intelligence, beauty, dignity, and pride. These 31 people are merely a small representation of the power and diversity of our community and serves as a reason why, in the face of so much bigotry and nonsense, we are still here and still fierce. I especially want our kids to see this video.

'Court rules for LGBTQ community against NC bathroom law' & other Mon midday news briefs

Bathroom law victory: Federal court allows challenge to HB2 replacement to proceed - Just came in. WOW!

A federal court last night said that House Bill 142, the 2017 law that replaced North Carolina’s notorious anti-LGBT measure, House Bill 2, does not bar transgender people from using public restrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder also said that he would allow a challenge to the law’s ban on local LGBT nondiscrimination policies to go forward.

Court Says NC Law Does Not Bar Transgender People from Public Facilities - More about this from Lambda Legal. 

The Beautiful Way This Town Responded To Franklin Graham’s Anti-LGBTQ Views - They couldn't keep him out of Britain, but they damn sure left a message about his hate.

12 things every gay & bisexual man should know about prostate cancer - THIS is major.

Forget about Ernie and Bert. Take a look at these confirmed LGBTQ animated characters

Another bit of silliness to ease you into the week. Last week was a bizarre drag and I think this week may shape up to be even wilder. That being said, everyone has been so busy being so consumed about Ernie and Bert being gay, that they have forgotten about the following animated characters:

'From the archives of LGBTQ history - GOP & anti-gay leaders brought down by gay sex scandals' & other Fri midday news briefs

For todays's news briefs, I decided to do something different.  Far be it from me to be implying anything at all, but I was moved by the spirit to pull up just a few but very pertinent articles on elected officials in the closet. That's all I will say on the matter.  I am not channeling anything. I am merely expressing myself in the best way I see how. And please spare me the concern trolling:  


20 Republican Politicians Brought Down By Big Gay Sex Scandals

16 Antigay Leaders Exposed as Gay or Bi

What Drives Gay Republicans into the Closet? - And an old article which helps to explain it all. 

In other news:

I was sexually assaulted. Maybe my story will help other LGBT victims speak out - If any good comes out of this thing with Kavanaugh, it's this. 

Taron Egerton Looks Fantastic As Elton John In ‘Rocketman’ Biopic - An Elton John bio pic? It was bound to happen. 

 Florida Church Offers Pro-LGBTQ Message to Counter Vandalism - Love conquers all (even if sometimes you have to be a mega-bitch to get your point across or mark your territory of respect.)

'The Golden Girls' for this terrible day on Capitol Hill

If you, like me, felt that this was a horrendous day because of that Kavanaugh hearing on Capitol Hill, enjoy the brief but wicked clip above from The Golden Girls. Yes it includes a wild gay stereotype, but that's why I posted it. It's still funny and in this case, consider it like indulging in a guilty pleasure - you know you shouldn't but the day warrants a little kicking up of the heels.

'Congress turns back anti-LGBTQ adoption amendment' & other Thur midday news briefs

Congress does good by same-sex families for a change.

Editor's note - UGLY days because of a nasty hearing that conservatives and the LGBTQ industry doesn't want. They want to push their SCOTUS nominee on the courts so he can get busy changing the laws to suit their twisted vision of America. Who cares about investigating his alleged sexual assault victims. And apparently Sen. Grassley thinks that there will be a MVAH -Most Valuable Asshole - trophy awarded at the end of the hearing. Nevertheless, I will continue to do my daily blogging duties.

Congress Turns Back Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Amendment - Well at least Congress can do good things instead of badgering witnesses: 

The amendment, named for its author, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt of Alabama, would have allowed faith-based agencies to turn away prospective parents who posed a conflict with an agency’s religious doctrine, whether by being LGBTQ, single, a member of a different faith, or another factor. It was similar to laws passed by some states, including, recently, Kansas and Oklahoma. It “also required states to allow foster care and adoption agencies to deny a broad range of child welfare services to foster children based on religious or moral beliefs, cutting their funding if they did not comply,” notes the Family Equality Council’s press release. 

Amandla Stenberg Says She Wants More Black, Gay On-Screen Narratives - You and ME BOTH, girlfriend!  

The GOP isn’t concerned about a cisgender sexual abuser but still says trans women are predators - So true!! 

Historic Number Of LGBTQ Candidates Won Primaries In 2018 Midterms - I covered the fact that a lot of LGBTQ candidates ran but I didn't know that a huge number won.

The LGBTQ community is using Ernie and Bert to 'recruit' children? I never got the memo.

 

See, now this sort of thing makes me angry.

National Headquarters never sent me a memo or an email saying that we were switching to Ernie and Bert. I'm still using 'The Smurfs' to recruit (Oh stop with the fake surprise. I mean come on. A village with 100 males and one female.)  So how in the heck did vile homophobe Gordon Klingenschmitt get the news before me?

Seriously though, before the usual comments from "I bet he likes public restrooms" to "why do you give that homophobe any attention" commences, just remember a few things.

1. It's rather sad that almost 40 years after Anita Bryant, there are some folks who still believe that "gays recruit children."

 2. Most importantly, very briefly, Gordon Klingenschmtt here used to be a state legislator, serving one term in the Colorado state legislature. And while he is gone, remember that in state legislatures across the country, including the United States House of Representatives and Senate, there are a few who believe as he does about the LGBTQ community and children. And it only takes about two or three to team up with anti-LGBTQ hate groups like the Family Research Council or the Alliance Defending Freedom and push bills which give us hell.

So feel free to ignore Klingenschmitt here, but never ignore what he represents. You do that on your own peril.

Hat tip to Right Wing Watch.

'New charges of sexual assault, gang rapes rocks Trump's SCOTUS pick' & other Wed midday news briefs

Like the vast majority of things handled by Trump, his pick of Brett Kavanaugh as a SCOTUS justice is a muddled dis

Julie Swetnick Accuses Brett Kavanaugh Of Sexual Misconduct, Alleges He Was Present During ‘Gang Rape’ - This Kavanaugh this just got uglier real fast. I hate the entire thing, i.e. how the selection of a SCOTUS judge has become a rushed game political football played by folks who care less about fairness and more about cheating the process because they have no reasonable courtroom arguments to defend their positions (i.e. I am looking right at you, anti-LGBTQ industry groups such as the Family Research Council, the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, etc.)

What do I speak of? This post from 2016 which is aging very well:  Marriage Equality Opponents Need to Admit Actual Reason for Their Loss

And today, marriage equality and other LGBTQ rights hangs in the balance: Justice Brett Kavanaugh would represent an immediate threat to LGBT rights

Mike Pence to 'troll' Atlanta's LGBTIs, schedules visit just ahead of Pride - So, Mike Pence is coming to Atlanta a day before the city holds it Pride event in order to stump for the GOP gubernatorial candidate. I hope folks have something suitable planned as a welcome for him.

LGBTQ-Inclusive Florida Church Responds With Love After Sign Is Vandalized - But let us never lose our faith and hope.

Anti-LGBTQ groups step up effort to steal gay tax dollars via sleazily deceptive website

Via a webpage pushing a deceptive campaign, anti-LGBTQ and conservative groups seem to be stepping up efforts to undermine gay adoption and gay families.

Groups such as the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, the Alliance Defending Freedom, and a few others have been steadily making the case that faith-based foster care and adoption agencies which refuse to work with gay couples should still receive tax dollars. A few states, such Oklahoma and Kansas, have passed legislation saying so. Other municipalities, such as Philadelphia, however have made it clear that tax dollars shouldn't go to entities which discriminate for any reason. And Philadelphia won in court on that premise.

Apparently there is now a website sponsored by the aforementioned groups which makes the case for tax dollars going to discriminatory agencies. The website (keepkidsfirst.com  and the hashtag #keepkidsfirst ) claims that children will suffer greatly if faith-based adoption and foster care agencies are made to follow the rules:

Hundreds of adoption agencies and foster care providers across the country are founded on Christian beliefs and operate according to those beliefs. But a current effort is underway to target these faith-based providers and force them to abandon their beliefs or shut them down. Why? Because these faith-based adoption and foster care providers believe that every child deserves the chance to be raised by a father and mother.

'Homophobe claims that 'demons of hell' opposing Trump's SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh' & other Tue midday news briefs

Bryan Fischer

Bryan Fischer Wages ‘Major League Spiritual Warfare’ Against the ‘Demons of Hell’ Attacking Kavanaugh - Bryan Fischer takes a moment away from his usual spewing of homophobia to spew other things. 

19 TV And Movie Characters You Didn’t Realize Were Bisexual - In honor of Bisexual Awareness week - #BiWeek 

Two federal judges rule insurance companies must cover transgender health procedures - Love those sweet victories.

These four transgender political candidates want to shake up the status quo - Danica Roem set the standard. Can these four follow up? I hope so. 

Finally - 

In the 12 years, in which I have worked this blog, I have been blocked on Twitter by many folks on the right, some because I engaged them, others because I have written about them, and a few because they probably heard of me.

But I will say that the following block is one I will be most proud of (click on picture to enlarge):

Mr. Cain, my guess is that you didn't care for our twitter conversation nor the fact that I publicized it. I could care less. It's like I said in the post:

"Mr. Cain, you don't get to treat us like we are your "side chick." You don't get to jump on our side and then to the side of those who stand in the way of our rights. In other words, we don't need you and we certainly don't need your sorry-ass support. We have gotten this far without you, so we certainly aren't going to miss you."

When defending Kavanaugh fails, attack Obama and his alleged girlfriends (and boyfriends)

While defending Trump's SCOTUS pick and accused assaulter of women Brett Kavanaugh, high and low profile Trump supporters are doing what they do best:

Pointing the finger at Obama.

Wayne Allyn Root, conservative radio and television personality and extreme Trump supporter who was recently the opening speaker for one of his rallies, sent out the following tweet today:

The vast majority of those who tweeted back rightfully poked fun at Allyn's silly whataboutism and attempt to drag Obama into this mess.  Generally, folks pointed out that the situation had nothing to do with Obama and that the former president is a decent person who respects women.

Then there were those who agreed with Root's tweet.

'Bigotry is causing our LGBTQ kids to harm themselves' & other Mon midday news briefs

LGB Youth at ‘Increased Risk’ of Substance Abuse. Blame Homophobia. - We keep telling folks this and the religious right & conservative groups keep pushing this aside.

We could have used a trans survival guide growing up: By writing one we hope to make today’s teens feel proud of who they are - And we will not forget out transgender children either. ALL of our LGBTQ kids must be protected and lifted up.

Thousands of students walked out of school to protest sex ed classes that don’t include gays - A step in the right direction of alleviating the problem in the above news brief.

Bisexual People Aren’t Confused Or Closeted. We’re Tired Of Being Invisible. - Amen.

Sandy Rios: Marriage Equality Is A ‘Fist Of Defiance’ In God’s Face - Can't these folks think of a more original insult?

The LGBTQ community doesn't need Dean Cain's weak tea support

The LGBTQ community don't need Dean Cain's weak tea support.

As with every year, the LGBTQ community has to deal with the anti-gay hate group Family Research Council's 'Values Voter Summit.' The event never ceases to shine a huge spotlight on the hypocrisy of FRC and other conservative groups who claim to be fighting for morality, while having no problems using underhanded tactics to do so.

This year involved a controversy of a different sort. Dean Cain, who portrayed Superman on the series Lois and Clark (1993-1997)  made an appearance to promote his film, Gosnell.

According to The Advocate:

 Prior to Cain’s appearance at the event, where he was promoting his film Gosnell, in which he plays the detective who put abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell behind bars, GLAAD and other LGBTQ activists and allies called him out for appearing at the event along with the likes of anti-LGBTQ people including Mike Pence, Michele Bachmann, Tony Perkins, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, and so many more.

Since Cain has in the past been vocal about his support of LGBTQ rights, he was called to the carpet for appearing at a conference sponsored by the Family Research Council, whose has worked steadily to undermine LGBTQ rights since its founding. In fact the Southern Poverty Law Center designated FRC to be a hate group due to the inaccurate claims it has made about gays, including how we supposedly recruit children.

However, nothing said to Cain could convince him that his appearance at this summit was wrong. Not even when GLAAD  and LGBTQ activists engaged him in Twitter. And to top it off, while he was at the summit, he labeled those calling him out as intolerant.

When the moderator of his Cain’s panel asked him if he’d “taken pressure” on social media for appearing with the hate group, Cain replied: “Yes. Certainly. I take that sort of heat and abuse every single day but it doesn’t bother me in the least…it doesn’t make me mad, it just shows people’s intolerance towards listening to another opinion. Just the fact that I’m here, just the fact that I’m here people were blowing me up all day long with the most ridiculous things that you could ever here. Talk about intolerance. It’s ridiculous. I take heat. It doesn’t bother me, I welcome it because I sleep well at night. I know I’m doing something that matches my convictions and my heart and I’ll happily defend the things I say and I stand for.”

To put it nicely, that pissed me off to the "highest levels of pissivity" and led me to challenge Cain on Twitter. What you are about to read is our exchange (errors included). To be fair, I started the engage by referencing FRC's past citation of the junk science of discredited researcher Paul Cameron.

When he tweeted me back, it was on:

'Lie told by Mike Pence about Indiana 'religious freedom' bill in 2015 highlights hypocrisy of 'Values Voter' Summit'

Ah yes. Today is the beginning of the annual Family Research Council 'Values Voter' Summit in which right-wing evangelicals throw off all pretenses of humility (the little they have) and show themselves to be power-hungry, self-righteous hypocrites  And it's a lovely day for those of us who decry their lies and basic homophobia to pull out all of the receipts we have collected over the years of their true faces. 

Since this year, Vice President Mike Pence will be a guest speaker, here is one of my favorites, i.e. when he lied in 2015 about the intent of a bill he signed while governor of Indiana, but was done in by a photo of him signing it.  It not only demonstrates just how low Pence has gone to lie (for his "religious beliefs" of course) but also epitomizes what a lot of us find so darn distasteful about these phony gatherings. FRC and its supporters claim that this "summit" is all about values and bringing the nation back to God, but if this is the case, why do they have to stoop to lies, grubby power grabs, and cynical alliances to do it?

In 2015, when Pence was governor of Indiana, he signed a "Religious Freedom Restoration Act," which he insisted had absolutely nothing to do with discriminating against the LGBTQ community. However, the photo above sunk that lie. If the bill had nothing to do with discriminating against the LGBTQ community, then why did Pence pose with  three of the leading anti-LGBTQ activists in the state?

For more on Pence's blatant lie, see this article via GLAAD.

In other news:

Conservative journalist tries to humiliate 11-year-old drag kid, but it blows up in his face - Our kids are awesome.

Living In An Unparalleled Golden Time’ Under Trump - If you ignore the corruption, the attacks on women's health and the LGBTQ community, the investigations, and the caging of immigrant children, sure. Love the Christianity some people like to practice.

Anti-transgender bigots sink to new low with latest ad - Old religious right tactic of exploiting ignorance and fear shifted from gay men to transgender women. Depresses the hell out of me. 

Here’s what is at stake for transgender people in the midterm election - Speaking of which, take notes folks.

Family Research Council, Breitbart exploit hysteria to warp legitimate study about transgender children

One of the reasons why I began this blog and my work calling out anti-LGBTQ propaganda was because of how groups like the Family Research Council would cherry-pick legitimate science or cite junk science to create a false and negative narrative about the LGBTQ community.

Today, FRC, with the help of extreme right-wing crap sheet Breitbart, is taking a different path. The group is calling out legitimate science:

For progressive activists, nothing can stand in the way of their agenda -- not even the health and well-being of children. 

In a disturbing report from Breitbart, it was revealed that liberal activists embedded within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are currently carrying out a taxpayer-funded study to the tune of $5.7 million that is designed to result in a pre-determined conclusion: that children with gender dysphoria should be "affirmed" in their chosen gender identity through the use of puberty-blocking drugs and sterilizations. 

A source with detailed knowledge of the as yet unreleased study which began in the Obama era said that it is: 

...affirming gender change with family and environmental support in children as young as five years, and using puberty blockers and cross sex hormone treatment in children at the initial onset of puberty which could be as young age 8-9 years, and then following them for only five years. 

In a blatantly obvious example of conflict of interest, the four researchers who are conducting the NIH study each run their own private practices that encourage "affirmation therapy" for children who are experiencing gender dysphoria. What's more, the children who are participating in the study are the same ones who are receiving "therapy" from the four researchers! 

The dangers of undergoing a "gender transition" have already been well documented by FRC and many other organizations. For children in particular, the physical effects of hormone blockers are heartbreaking, as confirmed by doctors at Johns Hopkins University.

Neither Breitbart nor the Family Research Council have a reputation for honesty and accuracy, particularly when it comes to both science and the LGBTQ community. Neither employs anyone with an iota of expertise in this issue they are screeching about. And this lack of credibility shows. The supposed documentation by FRC is nothing more than ridiculous talking points from staff members.

'Trump Administration wants to cut HIV/AIDS, cancer, & mental health programs to put more immigrant children in detention' & other Thur midday news briefs

Trump stabs the LGBTQ community in the back again

Trump Defunding HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Mental Health Programs – Using Money to Pay for Migrant Kids in Cages - And we are going to all suffer for it. Hatred and resentment is a fire which consumes all and nothing is exempt.

Exclusive: With more immigrant children in detention, HHS cuts funds for other programs — like cancer research - More on the situation from the original source. 

Forget wedding cakes. ADF now wants to keep transgender women out of homeless shelters.- This is a travesty. Simply this cannot happen. 

Australian senator says LGBT people are sexual deviants, perverts and child abusers - What. The. Hell!! 

Grindr Announces ‘Zero Tolerance’ Of Racism, Fat Shaming And Transphobia - Never been on Grindr and have no desire to but this conversation needs to happen, regardless. There is a fine line between "just a preference" and establishing a baseline which tells others who supposedly don't measure up that they don't matter in the LGBTQ community. And that line is crossed too many times.

What the Family Research Council doesn't want you to know about its hate summit.

In spite of what the Family Research Council and its president Tony Perkins may claim, we all know that the demonization of the LGBTQ community will take the spotlight at its upcoming 'Values Voter Summit.'

Just like other members of the conservative right-wing propaganda machine, the Family Research Council and its president, Tony Perkins, is take offense at a Politico article questioning the appearance of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at its upcoming 'Values Voter Summit:'

Yesterday afternoon, Politico ran the headline "Pompeo raises eyebrows with appearance at politically charged event." Yes, you guessed it -- that event is this weekend's Values Voter Summit, which Politico reports is sponsored by the "deeply conservative Family Research Council." The 1,257 word article goes on to cite various past State Department officials who express concern about Secretary Mike Pompeo addressing a "partisan affair." Politico said it couldn't find evidence of past secretaries of state speaking at similar events. However, a quick Google search reveals that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at a Planned Parenthood gala in 2009 and the Center for American Progress in 2011. 

As I noted on my radio show last night, Secretary Clinton's speech praised Planned Parenthood and promised to make international family planning (including abortion) a top global policy goal. "I want to assure you that reproductive rights...will be a key to the foreign policy of this administration." She described a new age of integrating "family planning" and diplomacy. "At the end of the next four years, I hope we'll be able to look around the world and see that... organizations like Planned Parenthood will be our partners." Over the last three election cycles, Planned Parenthood entities have spent $ 38 million on elections -- making the group even more political than Family Research Council. 

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert responded in a statement to the Daily Signal, "If speaking about protecting human rights and liberty, including highlighting the persecution of Christians, Jews, Uighurs Muslims and other religious minorities around the world is considered wrong or offensive, then we as a nation have truly lost our way. Secretary Pompeo will continue to advance US foreign policy interests as he continues to advocate on behalf of the oppressed."

Aw, that's sweet. And a load of bull.

Secretary of State Pompeo raising eyebrows for appearance at anti-LGBTQ hate group conference' & other Wed midday news briefs

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be appearing at anti-LGBTQ group hate group Family Research Council's 'Values Voter Summit' this weekend. Among other things, FRC has falsely claimed the LGBTQ community are 'recruiting' children.

Hate groups from around the nation will meet to plot ways to harm LGBTQ people - The Family Research Council will hold its yearly and oxymoronically named Values Voter Summit this week.

Pompeo raises eyebrows with appearance at politically charged event -  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is going to appear. And folks aren't happy about that. I first noticed this because of the myriad of conservative sites rushing to play whataboutism regarding his appearance. That means it's going to be a big problem.

10 things you need to know about Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council - More details about the Family Research Council.  - Some folks may buy the whataboutism game, but these are the facts about the Family Research Council, the group whose summit Pompeo is choosing to address:

• FRC was designated an anti-LGBT hate group in 2010 for decades of demonizing LGBT people and spreading harmful pseudoscience about them. Over the years, the organization has published books, reports and brochures that have linked homosexuality to pedophilia, claimed that LGBT people are dangerous to children and claimed that LGBT people are promiscuous and violent.

• In 2010, FRC senior fellow for policy studies Peter Sprigg appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews where he voiced support for the criminalization of homosexual conduct, stating that, “I think there would be a place for criminal sanctions against homosexual behavior.” In a 2008 Hardball appearance, Sprigg stated, in reference to legislation that would allow same-sex partners of U.S. citizens to be united legally through the immigration process, that he preferred that homosexuals be exported from the United States rather than imported, “because we believe that homosexuality is destructive to society.” Sprigg apologized a week later after an outcry.

• FRC is currently fighting a subpoena to release its “external communications between January 20, 2017, and September 1, 2017” between FRC and the Heritage Foundation and officials in the Trump administration “concerning military service by transgender people and/or any restriction of military service by transgender people.”  

Transgender military ban’s ‘unit cohesion’ claim fails spectacularly in court - Another domino of Trump's ridiculous military trans ban falls. It's easy to lose interest but we shouldn't.

#UsToo: Raising Awareness Of LGBTQ Survivors - Very much needed.