'Bill in Congress would ban gay, trans 'panic' defenses' & other Thur midday news briefs

Bill in Congress Would Ban Gay, Trans 'Panic' Defenses - Would be nice if it could pass.

YouTube Walks Back Defense Of Commentator Accused Of Homophobic Harassment [UPDATED] - A slow moving but necessary fight is happening right now.

An HIV+ man was refused service at a barbershop. He just won $75,000 in damages. - Good. Get up off the money. 

See EW's LGBTQ issue cover stars in a special photo shoot honoring 50th anniversary of Stonewall - Okay . . .

Trump's lie about ban on transgender troops showcases his basic incompetence

So that thing which was elected as head of this country in 2016 was in England this week for a visit with the royal family. In between lying about protesters and making an idiot of himself via a ridiculous twitter feud with Bette Midler, the thing - I mean - Donald Trump took special time out to lie about his ban of transgender men and women from serving in the military.

From Think Progress:

 President Donald Trump defended his decision to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military during an an interview with Piers Morgan Tuesday evening, using false claims that contradict what his administration has argued in court. 

The interview came during Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom, one of 19 countries around the world that allow transgender people to serve openly in their armed forces. 

“They take massive amounts of drugs,” Trump said, when asked to square his declared support for the LGBTQ community with his stance on transgender service members. “They have to … You would actually have to break rules and regulations in order to have that.”

ThinkProgress goes on to say Trump's statement was quickly refuted by Morgan. Trump doubled down and then began claiming that transgender military men and women take a large amount of drugs. But according to ThinkProgress:

The RAND Corporation study that prompted President Barack Obama to lift the ban in 2016 estimated that transgender health costs would reach approximately $8.4 million at most, a fraction of the military’s health care expenditures. A report from earlier this year also found that the military had only spent $8 million total since the ban was first lifted, treating more than 1,500 troops. In total, the military spends about $50 billion on health care every year.

Steve Benen of MSNBC also called out Trump's pitiful defense of his ban.

There are a couple of dramatic flaws in Trump’s underwhelming defense, starting with the fact that he’s contradicting his own team’s talking points. The administration’s argument up until now has been that the ban on transgender Americans serving in the military is needed to protect unit cohesion and morale among the other troops. Now the argument apparently has something to do with medications. 

Which leads us to the other problem: Trump’s wrong about this, too.  

The Washington Post spoke to a series of experts who concluded that the president doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about. 

“This statement is incorrect,” said Jane Schacter, an expert on gender and sexuality law at Stanford University. “Many members of the military use prescription medication, and it is made available to them worldwide. Hormone therapy, in particular, is prescribed, including to manage the gynecological needs of non-transgender service members.” 

Joshua Safer, the head of the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, agreed. “The hormones taken by transgender individuals are not prohibited by the military,” he said. “Medication for transgender people in the military would be — and is currently, for those transgender individuals already serving in the military — handled similarly to other prescribed medication where an emergency interruption is not life threatening.” […] 

It’s also important to note that not all transgender people undergo gender reassignment surgery or take prescription hormones, so even if such prescribed drugs were prohibited, it wouldn’t necessarily mean transgender troops would have to be banned from serving. Trump’s comments seem to suggest that these drugs would be required for all transgender troops; they’re not.

This episode highlights the one thing so many of us find annoying about Agent Orange, I mean Donald Trump. He can't even lie on a competent level.

'Boston issues permit for ridiculous 'Straight Pride' parade' & other Wed midday news briefs

See first news item.

Boston has issued a permit for a ‘Straight Pride’ parade in August - It's gonna suck.

Editorial: My Stonewall Is Black - Preach! 

Gov. Whitmer, Michigan lawmakers announce legislation to protect LGBTQ rights - Elections and voting matter. 

Mayor who posted about 'killing out' gays has posted apology - He claims to have been taken out of context . . .

A news anchor came out on air & announced her engagement. Now her fans love her even more.- Kick ass!

Y'all, the straight folks are jealous about LGBTQ Pride (again)

With LGBTQ Pride Month comes the usual nonsense from some heterosexuals whining about why LGBTQ Pride isn't necessary or why there needs to be a "Straight Pride." This year is no different because some fool has planned a Straight Pride in Boston. Of course it's worth mentioning that, according to Bilerico, the organizer is connected with an anti-Semitic, white supremacist group.

Figures.

However, instead of making a droll joke (such as saying how straight pride parades will be dull because the floats will be flaccid and collapse within two minutes) or an astute observation (about how people wanting a straight pride parade is like a person with a big bag of money getting jealous at his neighbor for having a $20), I will feature this video below via my friend Matt Baume. Of course it probably won't change any minds of those who resent LGBTQ Pride, but who cares what they think. A reminder about how far the LGBTQ community and we have accomplished is always a good thing.

''Christian' Right's 'Project Blitz' spells trouble for America' & other Tue midday news briefs

Here’s a Fantastic Primer on the Christian Right’s “Project Blitz” - And you know this means nothing good for the LGBTQ community.

Jazz Jennings came out as trans at age 5. Now she’s helping The Trevor Project support other kids. - Good for her! She faces a lot of nonsense and should be commended.

Rep. Pressley seeks answers from HUD on anti-trans rule for homeless shelters - This is why elections matter. 

Catholic bishop doubles down after his startlingly homophobic tweet goes viral - Go ahead. Be stupid and double down. We got you.

Hate group can't stand how Target is promoting visibility of LGBTQ youth and families

Hate group American Family Association pulls out antiquated phraseology about gays "recruiting" children.

Hate group the American Family Association and its joke of a subsidiary, One Million Moms, is upset at Target and the LGBTQ community . . . again:

"OneMillionMoms is concerned with Target once again because now they are donating $100,000 to the LGBT nonprofit GLSEN to help promote 'inclusiveness' for kindergarteners through 12th-graders," she informs.

The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) claims to have been "championing" LGBTQ issues in America's public schools for almost three decades.

Cole tells OneNewNow it is shameful that Target is promoting the homosexual lifestyle to school children.

AFA itself sent out an email with the graphic above and information like such:

Target's website has several pages dedicated to products that promote the LGBT lifestyle, many of which are specifically designed for children. For example, Target offers shirts that declare, "Love my dads," and another says, "Love my moms." Others shirts are emblazoned with the rainbow flag bearing the word "pride" superimposed.

How dare Target sell items geared to same-sex families!  Next thing you know, these families will actually be shopping out in the open! And that is a problem because we all know that LGBTQ people don't have families. We survive in the closets and shadows looking for our next sexual fix.

Or something like that . . .

The only reason why I don't completely laugh at this madness is because it does resonate with some people's ignorance. Phrases like "gay agenda" and "promoting homosexual lifestyles to children" tend to set them off in  Pavlovian type tremors.

But I am comforted by the fact that for the most part,  the joke is on One Million Moms and AFA. With more LGBTQ youth coming out (which is wonderful) and more same-sex families becoming visible (as they should), what's being "promoted" here is not an agenda, but plain reality.

And no amount of antiquated language or fear tactics will put this wonderful genie back into its bottle.  Furthermore, GLSEN does wonderful work for our kids and should be commended. And if Target wants to help with that work, it should also be commended.

'Trump attempts to gaslight the LGBTQ community, fails miserably' & other Mon midday news briefs

Donald Trump tries to play the LGBTQ community.

Trump wants credit for acknowledging LGBTQ Pride Month, but he still didn’t proclaim it - That fool must be out of his damn mind to think he could gaslight us like that. 

President Trump’s Anti-LGBT Agenda Is Louder Than His Pride Message - Second verse, same as the first. 

One Million Moms Vs Procter & Gamble - Whatever, One Million Moms. The LGBTQ community will not be invisible. Deal with it.

A longtime anti-LGBTQ leader is behind the State Department’s new human rights panel - One of the founders of the National Organization for Marriage is trying to cause the LGBTQ community trouble again.

Vox Journalist Opens Up About Homophobic Mob Harassment He Endures On YouTube - Get it together youtube!

The religious right wants you to pray for Trump while forgetting how they smeared Obama

Franklin Graham doesn't want you to remember how he exploited birther lies about Obama.

Piggybacking from Wednesday's post, Franklin Graham and several so-called Christian (religious right) leaders want Sunday to be designated as a day of prayer for Donald Trump under the guise that he is facing attacks like no president has before. The irony is that a  number of these "concerned folks" spent the last eight years smearing and demonizing President Barack Obama in some of the nastiest tones and untrue claims. From questioning his citizenship to claiming that he is paving the way for the Anti-Christ, their attacks had the same slanderous theme - that Obama was a Manchurian candidate who hated Christianity, hated America, and was doing everything in his power to destroy the country.

Franklin Graham once claimed that Russian president Putin's persecution of his country's gay citizens was more noble than Obama supporting LGBTQ equality?  Graham also helped to spread the nonsense that Obama wasn't an American citizen?

Alan Keyes, who Obama defeated for the Senate seat from Illinois in 2004, once called Obama a "radical communist." He also stoked the birther controversy regarding Obama to the point of pushing an unsuccessful lawsuit about it. In addition, Keyes said that Obama was destroying everything American.

John Hagee charged that Obama anti-Semitic. He also once claimed that Ebola was God's judgment for Obama supposedly dividing Jerusalem.

Liberty Counsel president Mat Staver said that Obama was bringing in Syrian refugees because he doesn't love America. He also said Congress should launch an investigation regarding Obama's birth certificate.

American Values president Gary L. Bauer once said Obama is more interested in defending the reputation of Islam than saving the lives of Christians. He once claimed that Obama and terrorists share the same agenda.

James Dobson once accused Obama of trying to use dictatorial powers to change how men, women and children relate each other and themselves and urged people to protect their children from him.

Former Governor Mike Huckabee once falsely said a domestic terrorism plan pushed by Obama would require Americans to memorize the Koran. Another time, he said Obama pretends to be a Christian.

Alveda King said Obama supports killing babies. 

Former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann once compared Obama to Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 who allegedly deliberately crashed the plane in the French Alps, killing himself and 149 other people. She also accused Obama of supporting the "agenda of Islamic Jihad."

Vision America's Rick Scarborough accused Obama of trying to "de-Christianize" America and also said the country would not survive if he were re-elected.

Robert Jeffress, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, once accused Obama of "paving the way for the Anti-Christ."

Harry Jackson said voting for Obama invites "divine vengeance" on America.

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins once said Obama is hostile towards Christianity. He accused Obama of being harsher to Christians in America than to the terrorist group ISIS and also blamed him for worldwide anti-Christian persecution. In addition, Perkins also exploited birther rumors about Obama by claiming that questions about his birth certificate were "legitimate."

The American Family Association's Tim Wildmon called Obama a "secret Muslim" and "was in love with Islam."

WallBuilders head David Barton repeatedly told the lie that Obama didn't mention God in Thanksgiving proclamations.

I don't know what's worse - that Franklin Graham and company can be so hypocritical AND probably justify it or that the media - particularly cable news media -  would probably allow them to get away with it by not reminding folks about what they did to Obama. 

But let's do remind folks. As often as we can.

Related post - A day of prayer for Donald Trump is a vulgar mockery to everything decent in the world  

'Federal workers intend to celebrate Pride in spite of Trump' & other Thur midday news briefs

Federal workers plan Pride celebrations, despite Trump’s anti-LGBT attacks - We don't need his crusty proclamation anyway.

Hulu’s ‘Bravest Knight’ Will Be Cartoon Fairy Tale Featuring Gay Dads - I love this!

E.W. Jackson: Gay People ‘Can’t Really Be Parents’ - Keep talking, E.W. 

On PBS Newshour, Anti-Violence Project's Beverly Tillery highlights the epidemic of deadly violence against trans women of color - Again, we need more attention about this.

A day of prayer for Donald Trump is a vulgar mockery to everything decent in the world

Franklin Graham wants a special day of prayer to the guy on the left.

If Donald Trump's constant screwy behavior is causing you to become desensitized, then allow  Franklin Graham's allowances and justification of that behavior make you reclaim your feelings of anger:

Franklin Graham, a prominent evangelical supporter of President Donald Trump, is calling for Christians across the country to set aside this Sunday as a “special day of prayer” for the president. 

Graham, son of the famous American evangelist Billy Graham, told his substantial Facebook following over the weekend that this is a “critical time” for the country ― and for Trump.

“President Trump’s enemies continue to try everything to destroy him, his family, and the presidency,” Graham wrote. “In the history of our country, no president has been attacked as he has. I believe the only hope for him, and this nation, is God.”

Seriously? What kind of wacky nonsense is this? Either Graham is embarrassingly stupid or worse yet, thinks the rest of us are. Donald Trump is a vulgar, amoral liar. He is in the White House partially because of Russian interference and partly because he is the unfortunate personification of America's desire for money and tendency to mistake items of material wealth as emblems of truth and nobility.

 But even if we were to ignore Trumps' many faults, what about those of Graham. He claims that no president has ever been attacked as Trump. But is that the truth?

Wasn't Graham the one who attempted to ride President Obama negatively throughout his entire presidency, once claiming that Russian president Putin's persecution of his country's gay citizens was more noble than Obama supporting LGBTQ equality? Wasn't it Graham who helped to spread the nonsense that Obama wasn't an American citizen?

'Murder has black transgender women in Dallas scared' & other Wed midday news briefs

Black Transgender Women In Dallas Are Worried They’ll Be Killed Next - We need more media focused on this.

The World Health Organization Will Stop Classifying Transgender People as Having a 'Mental Disorder'- Good!

New Documentary Examines ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ As Lesbian Icon For The Ages - Was never a fan of the show, but go for it! 

Pride in Pictures: Toronto Pride is one of the largest in the world - Enjoy the pictures. 

Wexton seeks to block HUD from gutting trans protections at homeless shelters - Yes, please do!

16 healthcare groups and doctors announce lawsuit against Trump Administration's anti-trans, anti-abortion regulation

I told you when I wrote about it last night that Trump's latest attack on the transgender community wasn't going to go unanswered.

From Buzzfeed:

Sixteen health care groups and doctors sued the Trump administration Tuesday to block a rule that enables health workers to refuse to perform abortion or sex reassignment surgery. 

The 183-page lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in Santa Clara County, California, argues the rule sends a message to health care providers around the country that they should limit or stop providing abortion care and sex reassignment or risk losing vital government funding. 

This, the advocates behind the suit argue, will make abortion and transgender services even less available in rural areas where state laws make it increasingly difficult to access that care. 

Trump’s rule, released in early May, states its aim is to protect “providers, individuals, and other health care entities from having to provide, participate in, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for, services such as abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide,” if they have a moral or religious objection to those procedures. 

 . . . “This rule is yet another example of the Trump administration turning religious freedom into a weapon to discriminate,” Genevieve Scott, a senior staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights told BuzzFeed News. “The rule encourages religious and moral views to overwhelm the medical needs of a patient … which has enormous consequences for the patient including the possibility of death.” 

. . . Among the groups and doctors suing over the rule are several LGBT community centers and health groups, Medical Students For Choice, gynecological centers, and Santa Clara County, in conjunction with CRR, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and Lambda Legal, a legal defense fund focusing on LGBT issues. They’re not the only ones suing, however. Last week two dozen states, counties, and cities sued the Trump administration over the rule as well, in a federal court in Manhattan, arguing that the rule aimed to “coerce” states into limiting access to abortion, assisted suicide, and transgender health services.

The entire article is here and worth a read and share.

'Trump's plan to allow taxpayer funded adoption agencies to discriminate against the LGBTQ community' & other Tue midday news briefs

Scoop: Trump's plan to let adoption agencies reject same-sex parents - WHILE continuing to receive tax dollars. DON'T leave that part out. The right wing media will try.

Public School’s LGBT-Supportive Mural Deemed ‘Obscene’ by Church So Administrators Have It Painted Over - This right here is nonsense.

These stunning photos shows the dual-identities of LGBTQ military veterans - Don't forget these folks fighting for our freedoms. 

Dad Teaches Transgender Son How To Shave In Emotional Gillette Ad - THIS is wonderful.

Trump Administration's latest attack on transgender health and LGBTQ community will not go unchallenged

Since Friday, we learned about the Trump Administration attempt to undermine the transgender community's access to healthcare and homeless shelters. Quite understandably folks have been either raising hell or freaking out. But we haven't heard what is going to be done to combat this mess. My friend Matt Baume just released a video giving a brief, but substantial view about how states and organizations will be fighting.  If it's a fight the Trump Administration wants, then it's a fight it is going to get. Our community has survived so many bigots and so much mess. We will survive and overcome this, too.

SC anti-LGBTQ activist's love of Confederate past comes back to haunt him

Oran Smith

In my lovely state of South Carolina, a long-time anti-LGBTQ activist nearly became executive director of SC's Commissioner of Higher Education. But on Thursday he was passed over and not because of his anti-LGBTQ activism. Another interesting item in his past may have torpedoed his appointment.

Oran Smith, who once edited a neo-Confederate magazine called Southern Partisan, will not become executive director of South Carolina’s Commission on Higher Education, it was announced Thursday. 

The body that oversees the Palmetto State’s colleges and universities announced Thursday that commissioners have chosen Rusty Monhollon to be the commission’s next leader instead. Monhollon is currently an administrator with the Missouri Department of Higher Education. 

 Smith’s bid to lead the commission sparked controversy after The State reported he spent a decade editing a magazine called Southern Partisan, from 1989 to 1999. The Southern Poverty Law Center credits the magazine with jump-starting the “neo-Confederate” movement.

The magazine published articles that defended the South’s secession from the union and cited biblical justifications for slavery. One author published in its pages went on to promote a “white genocide” conspiracy theory that was cited by the Charleston church shooter who killed nine people in a racially-motivated slaying. 

Smith told The State in an interview that his interest in the Civil War was historical, and his views changed after the killings in Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church. He even wrote on op-ed in The State calling for the Confederate flag to be removed from the State House grounds.

For 17 years, Smith was the head of the Palmetto Family Council, one of those noxious so-called pro-family (but actually anti-LGBTQ) groups.  The group was instrumental in banning marriage equality in the state via a 2006 referendum. This was overturned in the 2014 ruling of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Bostic v. Rainey. In 2015, Clemson Tigers football coach Dabo Swinney disassociated himself from PFC - refusing to attend a banquet sponsored by the group - because of its anti-LGBTQ activism.

'23 cities and states sue to block Trump's 'religious freedom' to discriminate rule' & other Thur midday news briefs

23 cities and states sue to block Trump from letting doctors be bigots - About time. I hope we win this one.

Ben Carson guts homeless shelter gender protections 24 hours after telling Congress he wouldn’t - Ben Carson is no longer a welcomed addition to Black History Month. He has tainted himself beyond repair. 

Bryan Fischer: ‘A Homosexual in the White House Must Be Unthinkable’ - Bryan Fischer is talking about gay sex again, y'all. 

Trans lawmaker Danica Roem’s GOP opponent is an anti-LGBTQ extremist - Hoping that Danica Roem gets re-elected. Particularly because her opponent is a nightmare.

Megachurch pastors whine that Equality Act is work of Satan

People ask - at times very angrily - why should those of us who care about LGBTQ equality give visibility and platforms to the anti-LGBTQ industry. The answer is very simple - because when we do, they generally prove all of our points about their motives and hateful or self-righteous attitudes.

Case in point are the following videos below. The Equality Act recently passed by the House would simply give federal non-discrimination protections to the LGBTQ community. However some folks disagree.

From Right Wing Watch:

Last week, right-wing pastors George and Terri Pearsons led their congregation at Eagle Mountain International Church in Fort Worth, Texas, in prayer, calling on God to unleash an “emergency intervention” to stop passage of the Equality Act (H.R. 5) in Congress. Terri Pearsons, who is the daughter of megachurch pastor Kenneth Copeland, declared that those in Congress who support the Equality Act are “haters of God” and “haters of all that’s good” and are under the control of Satan.

To put it mildly, girlfriend flipped out.

'Trump set to appoint anti-LGBTQ figure to senior DHS position' & other Wed midday news briefs

Ken Cuccinelli

Right-wing pundit Ken Cuccinelli is an anti-LGBTQ bigot, and Trump is set to appoint him to a senior DHS position - Cuccinelli in the Department of Homeland Security. What could go wrong except for everything?

Senate Advances Trump Court Pick Who Fought Marriage Equality For Years - Siiiigh! 

The GOP is trying to find a way to stop disgraced judge Roy Moore from running for Senate again - Good luck you creeps. 

The Maine Millennial: Speaking out against Franklin Graham’s anti-gay gospel - This is awesome!

Maine Legislature Passes Bill to Protect LGBTQ Youth From Dangerous “Conversion Therapy” - Good for Maine!

Anti-LGBTQ industry spinning violent sexual and homophobic fantasies about Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg

Say what you will about Pete Buttigieg, I have enjoyed his presidential campaign for a number of reasons, particularly the spotlight he places upon Mike Pence's homophobia and the outpouring of homophobia thrown his way via some members of the anti-LGBTQ industry.

Granted, the bigwigs such as the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom are careful not to focus on Buttigieg's sexual orientation in specific details, But second stringers have thrown caution to the wind, such as Meeke Addison, an employee of hate group the American Family Association. She took it upon herself to create interesting images of Buttigieg's alleged sex life on an AFA program:

From Right Wing Watch:

  

Host Perry Atkinson couldn’t believe that America has reached a point where people have “accepted the commonality” of having “an openly gay man” being married and running for president, demanding to know why Christians don’t “have the fortitude to stand up” and decry Buttigieg’s campaign. 

“Excuse me for what I am about to say,” Addison responded. “We are talking about a man who engages in violent sexual acts with a person he claims to love. Now that’s ugly.” 

“Let’s just stop for a second here and let’s realize that our defenses have been eroded,” she added. “We have been fed a narrative for so long that now we have unrighteousness that we accept … A man who marries a man and says that this could potentially be the First Gentlemen of the United States and we’re supposed to talk about his policies? I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Do you understand the type of judgment that will be brought upon our country?” 

“When we no longer fear God,” Addison said, “this is what we get.”

I wish Addison was the only one conjuring up this stuff, but she wasn't. Compared to this next guy, her statement was rather lightweight.

'Tucker Carlson, religious right, fake feminists amplify transphobia' & other Tue midday news briefs

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson hosted a coalition of anti-trans advocates from the evangelical right and a fake feminist group - Tucker Carlson, just like Shannon Bream, will use Fox News to amplify transphobia while not even inviting one transgender activist or medical professional on his show.

Two senators that oppose LGBTQ rights were ‘honored’ at a gay Republican fundraiser - Unbelievable bull. 

Birmingham head teacher threatened over LGBT lessons - We gotta fight everywhere, England included.

Puerto Rico’s first center for LGBT elders opens - Sweet!