RIPPrince

This Sunday marks the third anniversary of the passing of Prince, one of the greatest artists of our time. The videos featured here are a mere snippet of his vast work and influence.

'Fifteen states where it's legal to fire someone for being gay' & other Fri midday news briefs

15 States Where It's Legal To Fire Someone For Being Gay - Like the article's author says, it should be zero.

Soon you won’t be able to justify killing a gay man in Nevada by saying he hit on you - The "gay panic" defense is a travesty and should permanently eliminated everywhere.

License to discriminate: Religious exemption laws are trampling rights in rural America - It bears repeating that you can't tell people to "go somewhere else" when they are discriminated against. Sometimes there is no there place else they can go.

E.W. Jackson: Pete Buttigieg Wants to Turn the Country Into a “Homocracy” - Lawd hammercy! I just can't with this man today. 

Same-sex couples applying for a mortgage face more rejection and higher rates, a study says - Sad but not unexpected. 

Fox "news side" anchor Shannon Bream hosts Alliance Defending Freedom for fifth time in a year - Yet another way Fox News damages the LGBTQ community under the guise of having a "debate." Bream rarely, if ever, invites LGBTQ people on her show.

SC Senate turns away anti-LGBTQ adoption bill

Just got this message from my friends at SC Equality:

Moments ago, Proviso 38.29 (a bill that lawmakers were trying to sneak into the massive state appropriations bill (and) would allow private state-funded faith-based adoption agencies in South Carolina to turn away LGBTQ couples from adopting/foster children) was DEFEATED on the Senate floor  . . .  SC Equality would like to thank Senator Brad Hutto and other allies in the senate for standing strong with us on this issue and having it go down in a ball of flames.

There has been a nationwide controversy regarding faith-based foster care and adoption agencies wanting to discriminate against the LGBTQ community while continuing to receive tax dollars.  Last year, SC governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order which would have allowed faith-based foster care and adoption agency Miracle Hill Ministries to practice this sort of discrimination. And not just against the LGBTQ community, but other religious communities such as Catholics and Jews.  McMasters also asked for a federal waiver so that Miracle Hill could receive federal funds. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration granted the waiver.

Also this year Aimee  Maddonna, a Catholic mother from Greenville, filed a lawsuit against Miracle Hill because she was turned away for not being a "born again Christian."

Atlanta's mayor urges Georgia legislators to ban 'ex-gay therapy'

Unnoticed by many but nonetheless important is the push to eliminate forcing minors into reparative or "ex-gay therapy." Georgia would be the 17th state to do this should state legislators listen to Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms:

Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is calling on state leaders to ban the practice and advertising of LGBTQ conversion therapy, a controversial medical method which studies say has led to increased suicide rates. 

In a resolution passed Monday, Bottoms urged the state to ban the practice, also called “reparative therapy,” which uses psychological or spiritual interventions in an attempt to convert someone’s sexual orientation to being strictly heterosexual.“State-sanctioned practices that inflict persecution and suffering on LGBTQ individuals — particularly young people— should end immediately,” Bottoms said in a statement. “Simply put — we cannot and should not endanger the well-being of the LGBTQ community for living their truth.” 

An estimated 698,000 adults have had the therapy and more than half that amount received the treatment as a teenager, according to the William Institute at the UCLA School of Law. According to a study by the Family Acceptance Project, LGBT youth whose parents tried to change their sexual orientation had higher suicide and depression rates. Suicide rates among LGBTQ youth whose parents tried to change their sexual orientation were at 48 percent compared with 22 percent for LGBTQ youth who had no conversion experience, according to the study.

Last month, Colorado outlawed the practice and this week, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to New Jersey's 2013 ban for the third time.

'Former Evangelical, trans daughter testified for Equality Act' & other Wed midday news briefs

A Former Evangelical Testified for the Equality Act Alongside Her Trans Daughter - This is awesome!

No Mr. Staver - Twitter did not "Say goodbye to SPLC" - They have been trying so hard to bury SPLC and their efforts have stayed in their own bubbles.

Majority of Republicans think evangelical Christians are more discriminated against than minorities - Well for Pete's sake . . .

How This Year's Outstanding Blog Nominees Are Using Their Platform to Elevate the LGBTQ Community - WONDERFUL article on this year's nominees for GLAAD's 'Outstanding Blog' award, including this humble blog.

Anti-LGBTQ hate group embarrasses itself with latest fake poll

For an entity which is always whining about how the so-called religious liberty of right-wing evangelicals is in jeopardy, anti-LGBTQ hate group the American Family Family Association cries foul when other religious bodies doesn't follow its definition of Christianity.

Via its fake news service, One News Now, AFA is on a rampage about a group of Tennessee religious leaders who have strongly come out against the "religious liberty" (i.e. anti-LGBTQ) legislation in the state. Rather than respecting that these leaders have different religious beliefs, AFA is spinning dark conspiracy theories, as witnessed by said poll:

I personally voted for "Seduced by LGBT groups" because it sounded rather kinky. As of Tuesday afternoon, though the results were as follows:

I might point out that in between declaring that it has the patent on what God's word is, AFA (via One News Now) has posted article after article on the greatness of  our resident "coochie- grabber in chief. Makes you wonder what type of God AFA worships.

'Evangelical college students don't want Mike Pence to speak at their commencement' & other Tue midday news briefs

Evangelical college students say they don’t want Mike Pence to be their commencement speaker - Well heck, we don't want that turkey at all either.

Christian Site: Life Expectancy Of Gays Is 20 Years Less - Refuting the "homosexuality takes 20 years off of your life" lie is one of the things which made a name for this blog. I'm glad Joe Jervis caught this. 

Mayor Pete’s Marriage is Bogus and the Trumpified SCOTUS Will Agree, Says Brian Brown - Brown keeps dreaming.

Christian university president falsely attacks Pete Buttigieg: ‘Please stop telling us what kind of sex you like’ - Might as well get used to it cause we are gonna hear it from the usual characters who can't seem to stop linking everything about the LGBTQ community to sexual intercourse. But that's not a bad thing. Let the public see them rage.

Michele Bachmann thinks we may never see a more 'godly, biblical' president than Trump

Michelle Bachmann

You want to know why Pete Buttigieg's criticisms of right-wing evangelicals is resonating? Because of right-wing evangelicals like former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

From Right Wing Watch:

Former Minnesota congresswoman and current Religious Right “pastor to the United Nations” Michele Bachmann was a guest on Jan Markell’s “Understanding The Times” radio program last weekend, where she prayed that God will expose those in the “deep state” who are supposedly working to undermine President Trump, whom she declared to be the most godly and biblical president she has ever seen.

. . . “In my lifetime I have never seen a more biblical president than I have seen in Donald Trump,” Bachmann said later in the program. “He is highly biblical and I would say to your listeners [that] we will, in all likelihood, never see a more godly, biblical president again in our lifetime. So we need to be not only praying for him, we need to support him, in my opinion, in every possible way that we can.”

Michele Bachmann has never seen "a more biblical president" than Trump: "We will, in all likelihood, never see a more godly, biblical president again in our lifetimes." pic.twitter.com/xnqCZRaq5f

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) April 15, 2019

And at the end of the first inning, the score is Pete Buttigieg -1, Evangelical Christian Right - 0 

Video: Mike Pence's anti-LGBTQ record proves Pete Buttigieg's point

On Sunday, Peter Buttigieg officially announced that he is running for president. With that news, his back-and-forth with VP Mike Pence is sure to get a brighter spotlight. To rehash the situation, Buttigieg has called out Pence for his anti-LGBTQ record.  Pence and his defenders contend that Buttigieg is attacking his "Christian faith."

That's nonsense. It goes without saying that Pence, as a Congressman, governor of Indiana, and now vice president, has made his political career out of undermining the rights and safety of LGBTQ Americans while hiding behind his religious beliefs. Buttigieg has touched a raw nerve by focusing on this. But what's needed is something concrete which can be pointed to when talking about Pence's record. This video courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign is more than adequate to reference and share. Don't fall for Pence's "I'm just a Christian defending my faith" act. It's a colossal lie.

'Trump's ban on transgender soldiers bringing fear and chaos to military families' & other Fri midday news briefs

Trump’s Transgender Ban Brings Chaos and ‘a Lot of Fear’ to Troops’ Families - Friday is the official start to this awful ban. It will not stand and those who pushed it will be remembered for what they have done.

Navy to allow off-duty trans sailors to dress in accordance with gender identity - How about no ban at all on transgender troops?

Members of Congress, activists rally against trans troop ban - Like I said, this ain't over by a long shot.

Pride organizers cancel parade citing ‘current political & social environment.’ They mean racism. - This is a MESS, no matter what side you are taking. And I'm sorry but I am not leaning with the outside groups here. Their actions are virtue signaling at its worse. Also, police departments and the military HAVE A PLACE at Pride celebrations. They should be included. 

Arizona’s Anti-LGBTQ Sex Education Law Has Finally Been Repealed After 28 Years - Progress!

GLSEN's Day of Silence showcases struggles and worth of LGBTQ youth

If some on the right actually cared about children like they claim to, they would be joining the annual GLSEN's Day of Silence taking place Friday.

 To those not aware, it is a student-led protest calling attention to the harmful effects of anti-LGBTQ harassment and discrimination in K-12 schools.  Participants take a vow of silence to highlight the struggles of LGBTQ youth. Our kids are important and they will not be erased. Especially not their worth.

'Mike Pence dodges Buttigieg's criticisms of his homophobic record' & other Thur midday news briefs

Mike Pence, facing criticism from 2020 Democratic hopeful Pete Buttigieg over his record on gay rights, says South Bend mayor ‘knows better’ -Not just Buttigieg, Pence. The ENTIRE LGBTQ community knows better than to trust you. THIS is one of the main ones:

DeVos: I Knew Trans Youth Would Be Harmed When I Ended Obama-Era Rules - You know you ain't right, Mrs. DeVos!

Karen Pence accused Pete Buttigieg of using her husband for attention. It didn’t go well for her. - She got twitter-dragged cause the LGBTQ community had receipts and aren't afraid to use them.

San Jose city council votes to make their airport Chick-fil-A the ‘gayest’ in America - I didn't know there was a competition . . .

Bryan Fischer claims Pete Buttigieg and criticism of Trump will force him to talk about 'gay sex' (again)

With his pointed criticisms of their hypocrisies, presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is driving the anti-LGBTQ evangelical right crazy. That is a good thing because it gives us the opportunity to either piggyback or amplify his comments with observations of our own.

And don't think for a second that those seeking to blunt Buttigieg aren't helping us. Case in point, the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer, who recently said that criticism of Trump is "forcing" folks like him to talk about Buttigieg's sex life.

From Right Wing Watch:

“By making a candidate or a public official’s private sexual life an issue, then you are telling us that we are justified by making it an issue with Pete Buttigieg,” Fischer said. “If you do not want us to make his sexual behavior an issue, then you better stop talking about Donald Trump and what he did 12, 13 years ago and the years before that. Just cut it out. You keep talking about Donald Trump and his sexual peccadilloes, then you are giving us permission to talk about Pete Buttigieg and his sexual indiscretions.” 

Fischer obviously thinks that receipts don't exist. As seen by the small sampling below,  Fischer has brought up "gay sex" probably more times than Meryl Streep has been nominated for an Oscar. He talks about "gay sex" probably more times than most LGBTQs actually have sex. I doubt he needs Buttigieg or criticism of Trump as an excuse because ruminating about "gay sex" seems to be an obsession with him.

Bryan Fischer: The AIDS Epidemic Could Be Solved if Gay Men Stopped Having Sex

Bryan Fischer Talks Ken Cuccinelli, Homosexuality And Oral, Anal Sex Bans

Bryan Fischer: Don’t think about gay sex, it’s “disgusting”

‘I Was Born That Way’: Bryan Fischer Claims He Was Born Christian, Repulsed By Homosexuality

Bryan Fischer Still Eager To Criminalize Gay Sex Because It’s ‘A Menace To Public Health’

American Family Association host: Persuading 'men not to have sex with men' will end AIDS

Harvard scholar is wrong: Leviticus NEVER approved of gay sex

Bryan Fischer Of American Family Association: Need Photos of Graphic Gay Sex

Bryan Fischer: Seeing Gay Sex Causes God (And Everyone Else) to ‘Recoil From It In Some Kind of Disgust’

'LGBT people urged to be counted in 2020 U.S. Census' & other Wed midday news briefs

LGBT people urged to be counted in 2020 U.S. Census - Damn right. We had better be.

Is the American Family Association lying about support of its anti-Walmart campaign? - My post from last night bears repeating. 

Sen. Kaine introduces bill to protect LGBT kids from child abuse - ALSO a wonderful thing. 

The religious right is claiming Pete Buttigieg isn’t a ‘real’ Christian because he’s gay - I LOVE how he is scaring them.

Is the American Family Association lying about support of its anti-Walmart campaign?

Is AFA lying about actual number of people who signed its anti-Walmart petition?

Much has been said about the American Family Association's attack on Walmart for posting a gay dating ap.  Unfortunately, very little of it has to do with the means AFA is stooping to with its protest. Recently the hate group bragged about an upcoming meeting with Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon. However, there is a good chance that the petition AFA has been circulating to generate this meeting is faulty when it comes to the number of supporters.

From LGBTQNation on Thursday:

To date, over 186,000 individuals have allegedly signed onto a pair of petitions from One Million Moms and AFA accusing Walmart of endorsing the “cultural revolution and [rejecting] the beliefs of its customer base.” 

However, prior investigation into the signature gathering tactics utilized by these groups has shown the numbers are likely inflated. In March, this journalist reported that individuals who wished to sign the petition were able to do so dozens of times from the same IP address, even the same web browser. 

While the online form builder Wufoo allows petitioners to put safeguards in place to ensure their campaigns don’t attract spam bots and fake signatures, One Million Moms and AFA declined to opt into those security measures. 

The bar for signing the petition was so low that typing in random gibberish in the name and email prompts was still accepted as a valid entry. 

This wouldn’t be the first time that One Million Moms and AFA have falsified its campaign numbers or allowed its petitions to be easily compromised. When the groups led a boycott of Target’s trans-inclusive bathroom policies, The Daily Beast and ThinkProgress debunked claims that more than a million people had joined the campaign.

'More than half of banned books challenged for LGBTQ content' & other Tue midday news briefs

More than half of banned books challenged for LGBTQ content - For Pete's sake, what are folks so scared of?

Attorney General will investigate hostile work environment & issues LGBTQ nondiscrimination order - I'll wait on it. 

Pete Buttigieg To Mike Pence: Marrying My Husband ‘Moved Me Closer To God’ - Some of our own don't like the story Pete Buttigieg told about his self-acceptance. I say no one gets to police our stories, including us.

New LGBTQ clinic opening at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines - THIS is wonderful.

Trump told his people to break the law in separating immigrant families but he is still a good Christian. Right?

In the age of Trump in the White House, we are sadly learning that to right-wing evangelicals - especially their leaders - religion nothing more than as a weapon to undermine LGBTQ equality and safety and to serve as an excuse for the excesses of a horrible leader.

Presidential nominee Pete Buttigieg has raised many eyebrows with his calling out of the hypocrisy of Trump and his evangelical conservative supporters. And he is pissing off the right people:

Via @crooksandliars: Fox And Friends Smears Pete Buttigieg Over Religion https://t.co/UKAR8jK111 pic.twitter.com/js4qDxXXCW

— bɹǝʇ ɟnɔʞ!ʇoן (@crewislife) April 8, 2019

And then there is the fake news "Christian" publication One News Now:

It is widely contested that evangelicals were the main demographic group that put Trump in the White House, and most have justified their support for him by pointing to his vows to champion biblical principles while in office, while recognizing that the president is a sinner – like all Christians – with a repentant heart to do what is right before God. 

 . . . Evangelical leaders, including Rev. Franklin Graham, Dr. James Dobson and Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr., have often come under attack by the leftist media for supporting the president – as reporters typically either resurface actions the president has admitted and apologized for or recite anti-Trump allegations that have been vehemently challenged as false.

Lastly, there is Fox News host Laura Ingraham:

It's rather ironic, but also fitting that on the same day in which these folks are attacking Buttigieg for calling out Trump and the hypocrisy of  his Christian evangelicals supporters that we find out Trump was ordering border patrol agents to break the law and lie to judges, pushing hard to resume forced separations of immigrant children from their parents at the border, and firing his Secretary of Homeland Defense when she tried to prevent him from breaking the law.

'Religious right trying to sow its homophobia in Europe' & other Mon midday news briefs

The religious right thinks that Europe is now fertile ground for its anti-LGBTQ agenda - Using the same tactics they are using in America. The same lies. The same dog whistles.

Pete Buttigieg To Mike Pence: Marrying My Husband ‘Moved Me Closer To God’ - Being an LGBTQ is not opposite of being religious or having any type of faith. I like how Buttigieg is pushing that fact.

Bulgarian politician threatens to use “illegal means” to stop an LGBTQ photography exhibition - Like I said- the struggle is real and it is universal.

LGBTI activists urge Vatican to condemn homosexuality criminalization laws -Do the right thing.

More companies boycott Brunei over anti-gay laws - Speaking of which.

‘It’s dangerous to go out now’: young, gay and scared in Brunei - Goes without saying.

Pete Buttigieg calls out hypocrisy of Trump's conservative evangelical supporters

Pete Buttigieg

Say what you want about presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg or his chances of getting the 2020 nomination,  one thing is for certain. He is using his candidacy to call out the right-wing evangelicals who support Trump. And that is something which needs lots of attention.

WATCH: How does Mayor Pete Buttigieg explain President Trump's support from the evangelical community? #MTP #IfItsSunday@PeteButtigieg: Scripture talks "about lifting up the least among us, and taking care of strangers, which is another word for immigrants." pic.twitter.com/sVzOxAJHWz

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 7, 2019

From Raw Story:

Speaking with host Chuck Todd, the possible Democratic presidential contender got right to the point. 

 “It’s something that really frustrates me because the hypocrisy is unbelievable,” he told the NBC host. “Here you have somebody who not only acts in a way that is not consistent with anything that I hear in scripture or in church, where it’s about lifting up the least among us and taking care of strangers, which is another word for immigrants, and making sure that you’re focusing your effort on the poor.”

Related posts:

Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg calls Mike Pence 'cheerleader for porn star presidency'

'Christian' Trump supporters spew nasty rage at presidential candidate who called out Mike Pence's hypocrisy

'GOP staffer apologizes after claiming no one cares about trans troops' & other Fri midday news briefs

A Republican Staffer Told Progressive Activists “No One Cares” About Trans Troops - The fact that he apologized - even though it was two days later - refuted that nonsensical statement.

Mormon church drops antigay policies to ‘reduce hate & contention’ in society - Hmmm. The jury is still out. 

GOP was determined to exclude protections for trans people from VAWA - And you know they tried their worst to be evil about it. 

Where We Call Home: LGBT People in Rural America - a very MUCH needed spotlight. 

Carson: HUD won’t issue LGBT guidance because ‘you would dislike’ it - Figures.