Conservative evangelical groups line up behind Trump to defend 'Doctor Demon Semen'

Donald Trump defends this woman, so conservative evangelical groups are also defending her.

Eager to play the central role in what's becoming a political version of the German legend of Faust (a philosopher who sells his soul to the devil), conservative evangelicals groups have given a bit more of their soul to Donald Trump in return for political power.  In all honesty, these groups never had that much of a soul, if any to begin with, but I think they've given so much of what they do have to Trump that they're down to soul "stamps." This latest spiritual capitulation involve an incident on Monday. I think you know what I'm talking about, but I will give a short recap:

The far right publication Breitbart streamed a press conference involving individuals claiming to be medical professionals who proceeded to push insane conspiracies about COVID-19 cures.

According to NBC News:

A dozen doctors delivered speeches in front of the U.S. Capitol on Monday to a small crowd, claiming without evidence that the coronavirus could be cured and that widely accepted efforts to slow its spread were unnecessary and dangerous. It was the latest video to go viral from apparent experts, quietly backed by dark money political organizations, evangelizing treatments for or opinions about the coronavirus that most doctors, public health officials and epidemiologists have roundly decried as dangerous misinformation. 

 . . . Dressed in white coats with "America's Frontline Doctors" stitched on the chest, the stars of the Facebook video claimed that business and school closings, social distancing and even masks were not needed, because hydroxychloroquine, a drug commonly used to treat malaria, could both prevent and cure the coronavirus. In fact, the FDA has warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, citing serious health effects and the conclusions from randomized clinical trials that have shown little benefit from the treatment. "We don't need masks. There is a cure!" said Dr. Stella Immanuel, a licensed pediatrician from Houston.  

In one of the event's most fiery speeches, Immanuel, who claims to have effectively treated 350 COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine out of her medical clinic, but declined to provide data, referred to doctors who declined to treat patients with hydroxychloroquine as "good Nazis" and "fake doctors," and called published research "fake science."

'LGBTQ people clean up at Emmy nominations except for two huge snubs' & other Wed midday news briefs

Pose’s Groundbreaking Trans Cast Members Snubbed by Emmys for Second Year - Billy Porter - last year's Emmy winner - received another nomination but other members of the cast did not. AND the series didn't get the nomination for 'Best Dramatic Series.'

LGBTQ Shows and Characters Pick Up Emmy Nominations - Other than that rather HUGE omission, the LGBTQ community didn't do bad with Emmy nominations.

Local media keep misidentifying trans murder victims, and the police are often to blame - Yes they are. 

Coronavirus kills hospital ICU chief who 'selflessly' cared for patients during pandemic - Hoax, my foot. One of our own just sacrificed his life caring for folks with COVID-19.

The Family Research Council sets aside time to scare people about gays, sex, and children

Aside from attempting to run defense for Donald Trump (via attacking Black Lives Matters and defending his pushing federal agents on cities who clearly didn't asking for them), the Family Research Council devoted a little time to what it's known for:

Scaring people about gays, children, and sex (click on picture to make it larger):

I will wager that FRC is attacking how schools are acknowledging the existence of same-sex parents and gay families raising children. It's not enough that the hate group refuses to acknowledge this fact. Via fear tactics and inferences made to dehumanize same-sex families and parents into objects of sexual behavior, the group seeks to force the rest of us to play it's ugly game of erasure.

Attacks on our lives and families, though less successful than it would have been a few years ago, are still nonetheless vile. And should always be remembered and brought up every time FRC plays the martyr while pushing its false idea of "religious liberty."

'Study says puberty blockers lower suicide risk for trans people' & other Tue midday news briefs

Puberty blockers linked to lower suicide risk for transgender people - Horror stories about puberty blockers shot all to pieces:

Transgender individuals who received puberty blockers during adolescence have a lower risk of suicidal thoughts as adults than those who wanted the medication but could not access them, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Pediatrics. “These results align with past literature, suggesting that pubertal suppression for transgender adolescents who want this treatment is associated with favorable mental health outcomes,” the study states. The finding suggests that a major — and politically controversial — aspect of transgender health care for minors could help reduce the trans community’s disproportionate risk of suicide.

Here’s why ageism takes an especially heavy toll on LGBTQ seniors - A conversation the community needs to have. 

Nigerian man opens 1st NYC shelter for asylum seekers - Way to take the lead in solving a problem!

23 Anti-LGBTQ Moments From TV Shows That I Genuinely Can't Believe Got Aired - This list is very fascinating. It reminds of when I used to spotlight anti-LGBTQ moments from past television shows and movies. It also calls out some stuff I never considered when watching some of the episodes listed.

John Lewis was one of the truest allies LGBTQ people ever had

John Lewis was not only one of the greatest Americans who ever lived, he was one of the truest allies ever LGBTQ people had. While he lies in state, I wanted to post a video of him speaking on behalf of our rights. And I didn't just find one. I found many videos encompassing many years of this man standing up for us - especially on the floors of Congress, encouraging us to speak for ourselves, and always reminding us that we are worthy of dignity.

Let's never forget him nor his words of encouragement and power.

'Family of gay officer who died of COVID-19 denied insurance benefits' & other Mon midday news briefs

Family of gay officer who died of COVID-19 denied insurance benefits - Even though the reason right now doesn't sound like homophobia, it's still some shady stuff that insurance agencies are stereotyped to do to keep from paying out claims.

Washington state may elect a progressive bisexual woman to Congress in November - That would be nice. More of us in Congress is always a good idea.

Incidents prompt outrage among rural central Pa’s LGBTQ community, advocates - We have a problem in Penn. 

Anti-LGBTQ+ Professor Found Dead at North Carolina Home - AWFUL man. I won't celebrate his death but he was an awful man.

In remembrance of the 150,000 Americans killed by Trump's incompetence

By the time you read this, 150,000 Americans will have already died from the COVID-19 pandemic. As the video above from last week shows, it didn't have to be this way.

The coronavirus pandemic should be the single most important issue of the 2020 election. Not only because there is no end in sight right now, but because it also underscores the failure of the Trump presidency. For three years, he was coasting on the successes of the Obama administration, bragging about the low unemployment rate, particularly in the black community, when it actually began under Obama. He bragged about the good economy, even though that also began under Obama. He even took credit for stuff which was passed under Obama.

And the mental drug pushers on Fox News, evangelical power hungry fools like Franklin Graham, and low-budget wannabe entrepreneurs wishing to copy his skill in making a fast buck mixed all of his lies together to create buckets of propaganda which Trump sprinkled to his supporters in rally after rally like a farmer feeds garbage to a hogs. In return, they gave him what he craved the most - undying adulation and respect which he used to feed his ego, making himself feel like a success. In reality, he was a low-budget wannabe dictator,  not even on the level of Hitler, but of Mussolini. The only thing missing which separated him from Il Duce was the macho physical posturing

Then came the coronavirus, which exposed it all. Being president is more than soaking in adulation and relying on entities with ulterior motives to place you on a pedestal. Sooner or later, you are going to have to do the work. And the work you do separates the people who were supposed to be in the Oval Office from the poseurs.

 I am probably preaching to the choir, but sometimes if you stop preaching, the choir forgets the words to the song it should be singing. And some of the words to this song was written by former First Lady Michelle Obama:

 "Being president doesn't change who you are, it reveals who you are."

We no longer have to guess who Trump is because we now have 150,000 answers. The question is do we really need to know more?

'LGBTQ groups team up to condemn mocking of trans physician' & other Fri midday news briefs

LGBTQ groups slap Bloomsburg Fair with "demand letter" over controversial Facebook post - As they should. It was an ugly attack on a trans physician who is helping with the COVID-19 response.

Pro boxer James Hawley dropped by management company after anti-LGBTQ video goes viral - You got canceled. Deal with it. 

Transgender man files discrimination suit after Maryland hospital cancels hysterectomy - Go for it! Handle yo' business! 

Donald Trump is trying to distract us from his deplorable coronavirus response - And that ain't gonna happen.

Podcaster Joe Rogan & right-wing author team up to equate trans people with a cult and 'demonic possession'

Joe Rogan should invite people with expertise on trans issues to his podcast.

In case you haven't been noticing, the anti-LGBTQ industry has new scapegoat. Spooking people about LGBTQ folks in general and rights such as marriage equality are still popular, but doesn't get as many hot and bothered reactions as spinning lies about the trans community.. And because of this, many on the right are seeking to add their voices to the cacophony of misinformation in hopes of notoriety and big bucks.

Media Matters spotlit once such example.

In an episode of his show uploaded to YouTube, podcast host Joe Rogan and his guest, Wall Street Journal writer Abigail Shrier, spent nearly two hours spreading misinformation about trans youth, including claiming that being transgender is a contagion comparable to having anorexia, “demonic possession,” and joining a cult. YouTube has policies banning content that claims groups of people are “mentally inferior, deficient, or diseased” and has taken down content similar to the interview in the past. 

Rogan is one of the most influential podcast hosts in the world. He recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement worth more than $100 million with Spotify, where his show The Joe Rogan Experience will begin streaming on September 1. In a press release, Spotify said the show “has long been the most-searched-for podcast on Spotify and is the leading show on practically every other podcasting platform.” It continued, “Bringing the JRE to Spotify will mean that the platform’s more than 286 million active users will have access to one of culture’s leading voices.”

During the July 16 interview, which has been viewed over 1.8 million times on YouTube at the time of publication, Shrier promoted her new anti-trans book Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughter and, alongside Rogan, encouraged parents to reject the identities of their trans kids. Rogan has previously used his podcast to oppose gender-affirming health care and to lead a crusade against trans mixed martial arts fighter Fallon Fox, including calling her a “fucking man.”

 Joe Rogan is a former actor whose podcast obviously exploits the talk radio technique - talk shit because you don't know shit. Just make your voice loud and ultra macho sounding and people think you're some type of expert. Abigail Shirer sounds like the latest dime-a-dozen predatory parasitic right-wing "writer" feeding off of an LGBTQ issue and counting on the extensive conservative network to buoy her on podcasts, talks shows, and other speaking engagements while buying bulk copies of her book to shoot her name up best seller lists.

'Awful joke about shooting gay men for holding hands rocks sheriff's race in Michigan' & other Thur midday news briefs

‘Where is my fricken gun?’: Homophobic texts rock Alpena County sheriff’s race - Not funny you jerk.

Transgender man named Michigan Teacher of the Year - I love it! Positive visibility for the community, particularly our transgender kids.

Police chief to retire over alleged remarks about gay deputy's COVID death - Bye!

North Dakota GOP approves anti-LGBT rhetoric in policy statements - WOW! This was crude.

Family Research Council eagerly supports Trump's 'surge' of federal agents to Chicago

By now, you have heard of Trump's latest attempt to divert attention away from how he screwed up the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and catch up to Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the polls.

Just in case you haven't -

President Trump is sending federal troops across the nation — but says it won't be another Portland-style siege. 

As federal agents arrested protesters in Portland, Oregon's streets, some for seemingly no reason, Trump warned he might send more agents to other cities if their protests against racism and police brutality continued. And on Wednesday, that threat became reality, with Trump announcing he was deploying "hundreds" of federal agents to Chicago and "other cities," including Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

"Murderers and violent criminals are breaking a wide range of federal laws," Trump said on Wednesday to justify his deployment of FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA and ATF agents to Chicago. But Operation Legend won't be a "Portland-style deployment," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday, citing what the Trump administration told her. These forces will apparently bolster current law enforcement efforts, not patrol the streets like they have been in Portland, Lightfoot said.

Justifiably, Trump's plan is being blasted because many rightfully see it for authoritarian hot mess which it is. Trump can't come up with a decent pandemic response, but we're supposed to believe that his sending federals agents to Chicago won't be a disaster?

One group supports him, though. Guess who?

In a tone of nonsensical hysteria it generally reserves for LGBTQ people, anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council organized and ran an ad in the Washington Times supporting Trump's latest nonsense.

I hope no one reading this is fooled. This has nothing to do with rioting or supposed lawlessness in American cities. It's about an incompetent bozo creating one disaster to take attention away from his first disaster. But no matter what incompetent junk Trump does, he can always count on support from the Family Research Council because the group cares more about the access he gives it than being a voice of morality.

If Trump were to urinate on himself in the middle of a press conference, the Family Research Council would credit him for watering the grass. 

'Four myths about trans athletes, debunked' & other Wed midday news briefs

Four Myths About Trans Athletes, Debunked - And it's about time, too. Please read and share this information. There is a LOT of ignorance out there when it comes to trans athletes and the trans community in general.

Dem AGs sue Trump admin. to stop reversal of transgender health protections - A coalition of 23 states. Good for them.

COVID-19 is quietly ravaging the LGBTQ community - Take it from me. This piece don't lie.

Finally! The United States condemns queer purges in Chechnya - It certainly took you long enough.

'Trumpfeld' - all interviews with Trump should include a laugh track

By all counts, Trump's interview with Fox News journalist Chris Wallace was yet another disaster for the Orange Menace. However the Lincoln Project added a little something extra which accentuates the point - a laugh track. Check out 'Trumpfeld.' It would be funnier if it wasn't reality.

'Hockey commentator claims NBC firing was anti-straight discrimination' & other Tue midday news briefs

Hockey commentator claims NBC firing was anti-straight discrimination - Oh please. He made a vulgar comment and paid for it. 

The right is dominating Facebook engagement on content about trans issues - This is not good. People seem to like arguing more than educating.

Trump’s ‘Unalienable Rights’ commission brands LGBTQ equality a ‘divisive social and political controversy’ - Slowly moving from supporting LGBTQ rights and safety on a worldwide scale. 

18 Hilarious Gay Tweets From This Week - We all need this.

Homophobic black conservative comes for John Lewis. Not today, fool!

While the late civil rights movement legend and Congressman John Lewis (first picture) is honored for his service, Jesse Lee Peterson (bottom picture) took it upon himself to attack Lewis and his legacy. Not today, fool!!

Civil Rights legend and long-term Congressman John Lewis passed away last weekend at the age of 80. Tributes from all over poured in to honor this wonderful man who spent a good portion of his life fighting for justice and equality for all people, including the LGBTQ community. And unfortunately, with the good comes the bad, courtesy of right-wing radio host and all-around bozo, Jesse Lee Peterson. Peterson, a black conservative who is the head of a phony organization, makes a name for himself by being saying things about black people which white racists love to hear.

He's a regular Candace Owens with very little charm. And Candace Owens has no charm to begin with.

From Right-Wing Watch:

“I can think of many words to call ex-Congressman John Lewis,” Peterson said. “Hero would not be one. Well, maybe he is a hero, because she [Oprah] is a daughter of Satan and he is a son of Satan, so maybe in that world, he’s a hero in that he pushed evil.” 

“Congressman John Lewis—he dead—was a race hustler, a loser,” Peterson continued. “John Lewis was not a hero. He was a zero, not a hero. … We knew he was a race hustler. He divided the races, he did not unite them, and just because he marched in a rally down in Alabama or Georgia or wherever he was, that doesn’t make him a hero. John Lewis did not do anything to earn becoming a [member of] Congress for so long. He didn’t make things better. He made them worse.” 

“John Lewis did not apologize for dividing the races, for calling America a racist society,” Peterson added. “He was a phony. He was a race hustler. I don’t know where he went when he died, but I do know according to all reports, he dead. But he was not a good man. I don’t know what he said to God before he died, but I know he did not apologize to this country for dividing and lying and doing what he did to America. He used black people for his own personal gain. John Lewis was an evil man.”

Oh really? Let's compare Lewis and Peterson.

'Sec of State Pompeo says U.S. should limit which human rights it defends' & other Mon midday news briefs

Sec of State Pompeo

Pompeo says U.S. should limit which human rights it defends - I am not liking this direction at all.

LGBTQ rights supporters remember civil rights icon John Lewis - A good man and a strong ally of LGBTQ people took his final rest last weekend. 

John Lewis Was A Vocal Champion Of LGBTQ Rights During A Time When It Had Little Public Support - More about Congressman Lewis.

New military ban on Confederate flags also bans LGBTQ Pride flags - "Well thanks for the sour persimmons, cousin." 

LGBTQ-Inclusive Movies Rise As Racial Diversity Plummets, GLAAD Report Finds - Folks like me can't have "one or the other." We have to have both - LGBTQ-inclusive movies and racial diversity.

Equality Forum announces list of honored icons for upcoming LGBT History Month

October is LGBT History Month and the Equality Forum isn't going to let a pandemic keep it from its annual event of devoting each day of the month to honor an icon of our community. The video above announces the honorees of 2020. The list contains quite a few newly crowned icons and some which will lead you to say "what took them so long to be honored."

And, on the risk of sounding egotistical, I hope that one day in the future, I am included in this list. Of course any actions I do for the cause of LGBTQ equality and safety isn't for honor or glory. However, it would be a personal victory for myself in terms of who I am, how far I have come as a gay black man, and the folks who sacrificed to get me here.

'The White House claimed that Trump is pro-LGBTQ. The 'receipts' say different' & other Fri midday news briefs

The White House claimed Trump is pro-LGBTQ. His policies show he isn’t. - Nope, nope, nope. You are NOT gaslighting LGBTQ people!

LGBTQ political representation jumped 21 percent in past year, data shows - Good. It's time more of us ran for public office. People can't victimize us by the political progress if we are inside legislatures instead of outside. 

Facebook said it will ban content promoting conversion therapy. It should start by removing these pages. - Get to work, Facebook.

Hallmark promises to make the yuletide extra gay this year - I'm already enjoying the thoughts of a possible right-wing freakout.

#NotMyChild ad says Trump willing to sacrifice America's children for his re-election

I thought the Lincoln Project ads were brutal to Trump. This one from Don Winslow Films pretty much tops them all. And it's facts. It also pertains to the LGBTQ community. We are also raising children and they, just like the rest of America's children, are being used as props for Trump's re-election desires via his demand that school reopen in spite of the country still being crippled by COVID-19.

'15 Cartoon Shows with Awesome LGBTQ+ Characters' & other Thur midday news briefs

PBS animated series 'Arthur' is one of 15 cartoons with a decent LGBTQ character

15 Cartoon Shows with Awesome LGBTQ+ Characters - Not bad. Not bad at all. It's a simple reflection of reality.

We Asked 3 Bisexual Men to Weigh In on Their Lack of Representation in Netflix Shows - We've got a long way to go, but we've already traveled many miles.

Transgender women win elections for the first time in West Virginia & Louisiana - And the transgender community continues to win in elections. 

Russia Begins Targeting LGBTQ+ People, Per Putin's Orders - What Putin is doing in Russia is what the religious right wants to do in America. Count on it.