American anti-LGBTQ industry sinking millions in European countries to roll back rights of women & LGBTQ people

Donald Trump's lawyer, Jay Sekulow, is involved in an attempt to roll back the rights of women and LGBTQ people in European countries.

This is something we need to keep our eyes on. The anti-LGBTQ industry is sinking an immense amount of money in Europe.

 From Time magazine:

 Twenty-eight U.S. Christian right groups have spent millions of dollars pursuing conservative agendas that threaten LGBTQ and women’s rights in Europe, a new investigation by British news website openDemocracy found Tuesday. 

The investigation by openDemocracy found that more than two dozen organizations have been involved in legal battles across Europe opposing same-sex adoption, defending legislation against same-sex couples and restricting access to contraception and abortion. According to the report, the majority of the money spent by these groups in Europe came from two Christian legal advocacy groups, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the latter of which the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed as a designated hate group for its support of anti-LGBTQ legislation both in the U.S. and abroad.

 . . . Together, both the ACLJ and the ADF spent more than $3.7 million in Europe in 2018, according to openDemocracy’s findings based on publicly available non-profit tax filings. The 28 organizations surveyed by openDemocracy spent more than $88 million in Europe between 2007 and 2018—an amount greater than anywhere else outside of the United States, followed by Africa, Asia and Latin America. The findings come ahead of the U.S. presidential elections on Nov. 3 and amid what activists say is a worrying rollback of women’s and LGBTQ rights in central and eastern Europe.

According to the openDemocracy report, both groups have intervened in European cases regarding women's reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality. Time magazine said the following:

Both the ACLJ and the ADF have intervened in dozens of European court cases over the past 10 years. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, who served as counsel for the president’s impeachment trial, has been the chief counsel for the ACLJ since 1991. The organization has backed the Polish government several times on its stances on abortion and LGBTQ rights, including submitting arguments earlier this month in favour of the conservative government’s most recent abortion restrictions that have sparked international protests. Earlier this year, the European arm of the ACLJ also criticized the European Commission’s decision to cut funding to Poland’s regions and towns that declared themselves homophobic “LGBT-free zones.” OpenDemocracy says the ACLJ did not respond to its requests for comment. 

 The ADF also has links to the Trump Administration as former staffers, allies and supporters of the organization have been appointed to roles in government, and has significantly increased its funding in Europe, spending more than $2.5 million in 2018 compared to $1.4 million in 2014. According to its website, the organization’s international arm “provides funding for cases with high potential to set major international legal precedents.”

It's another reminder that the most dangerous opposition to our rights and safety come from those who can successfully manipulate behind the curtain. Not those who make public spectacles of themselves.

'LGBT voters on Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation' & other Wed midday new briefs

 

Amy Coney Barret

US election 2020: LGBT voters on Amy Coney Barrett confirmation - Fascinating conversation. 

EPA Cancels LGBTQ Pride And Resilience Event Due To Trump Crackdown - Well shit. 

State Department no longer challenging gay couples’ children’s U.S. citizenship - Good. That's the end of that. At least for now.

Antigay politician admits to secretly prescribing opioids for lover. She’s also his second cousin. - Now see that's just naaaaasty.

Senate Candidate Rev. Warnock on 'Religious Freedom' and LGBTQ+ Rights - Preach!!

GOP smear that Biden supports surgery for transgender children backfires

In the same manner they've targeted LGBTQ people during other elections in the past, GOP operatives are attempting to help Trump by lying about Joe Biden and transgender children.

But in this case, truth smacked them in the face. 

According to Raw Story:

A reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer this week cornered a Trump-loving GOP operative for sending text messages to voters falsely claiming that Democratic presidential nominee supports having 8-year-old children undergo gender reassignment surgery. Terry Schilling, the executive director of the right-wing American Principles Project, defended his organization for sending out text messages to voters that cast false aspersion on Biden’s position that transgender children shouldn’t face discrimination.

The Philadelphia Inquirer said voters across the state of Pennsylvania got a text message telling them to watch a 30 second video in which a narrator accused Biden of endorsing transgender medical procedures for children as young as eight-years-old.

But according to the article's author, Chris Brennan, the claim is a lie:

The video includes images of Biden speaking to Mieke Haeck, the mother of an 8-year-old transgender child at an Oct. 15 ABC town hall in Philadelphia. Biden told Haeck “there should be zero discrimination” against transgender people, including children.

That was it. The statement which led APP to make its claim. 

When confronted by Brennan, Schilling, head of the APP,  said that Biden's statement could be extrapolated to mean that he does in fact support surgery for transgender children  It was obvious by the interview that Schilling was attempting to create another fake controversy against Biden not unlike the recent flop regarding his son's "emails." Brennan pointed out that the Biden camp didn't take the bait, but Mieke Haeck, the mother of the transgender child, was furious about how Schilling's group  exploited her family:

She called APP’s claims a “blatant lie” and considered the PAC’s video so over the top in its attempt to be scary that it was “almost laughable.” Haeck would have told Schilling that, if his PAC had reached out to her. “It has nothing to do with medical intervention, medication or surgery,” she said of her question for Biden. “That’s not what we’re talking about. It’s about my daughter using she and her pronouns, growing her hair and being who she is in her heart.”

Also, Brennan pointed out that the Associated Press had already debunked the lies about Biden and surgery for transgender children.

To reiterate,  the GOP sought to exploit fears and ignorance about the LGBTQ community in order to create a fake controversy against Biden. None of the parties they were targeting seemed to be biting. But those who were biting took a chunk out of their asses. So to speak.

'For transgender Americans, election stokes hopes and fear' & other Tue midday news briefs

Editor's Note - by the time you read this, Amy Coney Barrett will be a SCOTUS judge. There was no doubt that it would end this way. But there is much doubt that is THE END at all for us, our safety, and equality. Don't ever lose hope. And above all, get out there and vote if you haven't already.

For transgender advocates, election stokes hopes and fears - Yep and for the rest of us, too. But the trans community has a deeper stake because Trump devoted much of his anti-LGBTQ policy against them. 

One in 10 LGBTQ+ Teens Identifies as Asexual or Ace Spectrum - Time for more education. 

Gay state senator in New Mexico flees home after threatening phone calls - Good grief! 

Another gay teacher fired. LGBTQ students face expulsion. Discrimination continues in Florida schools | Commentary - From a publicly funded voucher school. So they want our tax money and also the ability to fire us for being LGBTQ.

The Lincoln Project recreates Trump's presidency as an animated, dismal fairy tale

 

 

Of all the ads the Lincoln Project has come up with to call out Donald Trump, I think this is one of the most incredibly potent. And that's saying a lot because the group has been a shining star throughout this entire election season. But this ad, which portrays the years of the Trump presidency as a dark fairy tale full of grim tidings, should be remembered. Particularly the lesson at the end.

'Study says Trump's State Department is ignoring anti-LGBTQ abuses abroad' & other Mon midday news briefs

 

Study: Trump's State Department Ignores Anti-LGBTQ+ Abuses Abroad - So much for decriminalizing homosexuality worldwide. 

Keiynan Lonsdale Channels LGBTQ Rights Icon Bayard Rustin In HBO Max’s ‘Equal’ - Good series and wonderful spotlight. 

PHOTOS: History of gay relationships chronicled over 100 years - A good look into our history. 

Don’t let Pope Francis’ nice words confuse you. The Church is still discriminating against us. - The Pope may have vocally supported civil unions for gay couples, but let's always keep one eye open.

Top 10 LGBTQ+ Couples on Animated Shows

 

 

This list came out last month and I'm rather fond of it. When I was a little boy - hell even when I was a teen and young adult - they wouldn't dare have LGBTQ+ characters on animated shows. Now it's happening on not only one show, but several at the same time. And without hardly any controversy. It's always a good thing when progress is made, but progress made without folks acting like fools is extra special.

'Eight queer candidates to watch closely on Election Day' & other Fri midday news briefs

 

Ritchie Torres

8 queer candidates to watch closely on Election Day - Our community will be getting more members of Congress.

Support for gay marriage reaches all-time high, survey finds - 70 percent. Not bad.

Susan Collins ‘Truly Grateful’ For Endorsement From Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Abortion Group - Oh Sue! You have fallen!

Anger and Concern in Hollywood’s LGBTQ Community Ahead of Senate Vote on Amy Coney Barrett - We ain't exactly thrilled about it outside Hollywood either.

Trump Evangelical - If Christians (like him) don't vote, bestiality will become accepted in America

 

 

Feel free to laugh as long as you remember that people like him vote. We should be voting too.  

From Right-Wing Watch: 

 Frank Amedia,  . . .  who founded the POTUS Shield prayer effort to wage spiritual warfare on behalf of President Donald Trump, released a video last Friday in which he claimed that God told him that he is going to shift the polls in key races heading into the election so that Republican candidates gain 5 points, while Democratic candidates lose 5 points. And to drive home the point of just how important it is for Christians to vote, Amedia warned that failure to do so would result in an America where “animalism” is accepted and “somebody can marry a cow and have perverse sex with them.”

 . . . “This is about morality,” he said, “This is about same-sex marriage not being approved and blessed in this country. This is not about us changing genders into five and six different meanings now. Even sexual preference has all of a sudden been changed in the dictionary to where it’s offensive. How far do they want us to go? Wait until animalism becomes acceptable and somebody can marry a cow and have perverse sex with them. You think I’m laughing. That’s what’s going to come.”

'Trump's SCOTUS nominee was trustee at private school with anti-gay policies' & other Thur midday news briefs

 

Amy Coney Barrett

Barrett was trustee at private school with anti-gay policies- I dare anyone to act surprised. 

Nonbinary Actors and Creators Have Some Advice for Hollywood - Pay attention, Hollywood. 

United States to team with countries who persecute LGBTQ people for 'pro-family' manifesto, including 'Kill the Gays' bill sponsor Uganda - My post from Wednesday deserves repeating. 

West Hollywood officials vote to appoint a “Drag Laureate” to help promote the city - Sounds like a good idea to me. I'm all for it.

United States to team with countries who persecute LGBTQ people for 'pro-family' manifesto, including 'Kill the Gays' bill sponsor Uganda

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

This is dedicated to those in our community who seem to think that Donald Trump is pro-LGBTQ, particularly Brandon Straka, Chadwick Moore, and Richard Grenell.

According to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch, the Trump Administration, led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is making a move on the international stage with regards to women's health and the LGBTQ community.

And it's not a positive one:

On Thursday, Oct. 22, less than two weeks before an election that could bring the Trump administration to a close, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar are scheduled to join Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, and Uganda in sponsoring a virtual ceremony to sign the “Geneva Consensus Declaration,” reports the Independent, which notes that, other than the U.S., the sponsoring nations involved “have strict laws on both abortion and same-sex or ban each entirely.” 

 The HHS announcement of the event says the declaration “further strengthens a coalition to achieve these four pillars: (1) better health for women, (2) the preservation of human life, (3) strengthening of family as the foundational unit of society, and (4) protecting every nation’s sovereignty in global politics.”

 The event appears to be a culmination of Pompeo’s intensive efforts to build opposition to any international recognition of a right to reproductive choice—and his zeal to undermine international recognition of the rights of LGBTQ people while celebrating governmental enforcement of “traditional” religious values on gender, sexuality, and family.

The article from the Independent said the following:

Appointed by the president in 2018, secretary Pompeo has been seeking to push a pro-life US foreign policy during his time in office. Late last month he attempted to use a US-sponsored UN event as a platform to redefine international human rights and prioritize “religious freedom” over LGBTQ equality. But the event was boycotted by most EU member states. 

 In a speech titled 'Promoting and Protecting Human Rights: A Re-Dedication to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights', secretary Pompeo told those nations in attendance that international human rights protections are in “crisis". At the meeting he also touted a recent Trump commission report which elevated rights such as religious freedom as "unalienable", meaning they can't be taken away. The report also dismissed abortion and same-sex marriage as "divisive social and political controversies".

Points 1 and 2 of this "manifesto" seems to be a clever way of standing for the restriction of abortion, which is bad enough. Points 3 and 4 should bring chills to LGBTQ people because even though we aren't mentioned per se, we would be negatively affected, Particularly point 4 with regards to "sovereignty." It means the United States would not say a word if a foreign nation chooses to persecute its gay citizens.

And that would be a huge point to make when one takes into account the nations participating in this "manifesto." At least two are infamously known for their opposition to LGBTQ rights and their persecution of their own LGBTQ  citizens.

According to PinkNews, Hungary's LGBTQ community have faced concentrated attacks by its government. Prime Minister Viktor Orban made it his mission to persecute LGBTQ people from creating false panics that they are after children to attempts to eliminate transgender rights. 

And then there's Uganda, where persecution against LGBTQ people became an ugly international incident in 2009 when a bill was introduced which sought to execute people for being LGBTQ.  Uganda faced a huge backlash which lasted for years. The bill was changed from the penalty being death to that of life imprisonment and Uganda's parliament made it a law in 2013. In 2014, Uganda's Constitutional Court struck it down based on a technicality.

Last year however, Ugandan officials began looking to resurrect the law. And this time, should the law be resurrected and Trump receives a second term, don't count on the United States being in the chorus of countries condemning it.  So much for Trump's supposed effort to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide. Of course that effort was bogus. And this act by Pompeo merely cements that fact.

Just something to think about when you're in the voting booth. That is if the Trump Administration hasn't given you enough already to think about.

'Political candidates face increase in anti-LGBTQ attack ads' & other Wed midday news briefs

Political candidates face uptick in anti-LGBTQ attack ads - Nothing like a political race for people to show their true faces. Or asses.

Billy Porter Helps Examine Origins Of LGBTQ Rights Movement In New Docuseries - This is needed because I've noticed that some of us are woefully inadequate about our history. 

Dear SCOTUS: LGBTQ+ People Are Religious and Also Deserve Liberty - That's right!

Drago Renteria is the father of Deaf queer activism - Love this profile.

Tiffany Trump gets 'Twitter-dragged' because of awful 'Gays for Trump' event

News and video came out on Monday about gay pro-Trump event held by his daughter, Tiffany. It's one in a series of pro-gay events the Trump campaign has held in an attempt to gaslight the LGBTQ community into believing that he supports us. Apparently the Trump family thinks we have short memories when it comes to the attempts to eliminate our rights these past four years.

The event was a disaster. And the icing on this stale cake was Tiffany's speech:

This may be the worst speech I’ve ever seen.

pic.twitter.com/5wWDXMXRBA

— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) October 20, 2020

According to Raw Story: 

The event was said to have around a dozen people in attendance and was co-headlined by former White House official Richard Grenell. “I know what my father believes in,” Trump said at one point. “Prior to politics, he supported gays, lesbians, the LGBQIA plus!” Many commenters noted that she omitted the “T” from LGBTQ, which stands for transgender people.

That's not all commentators did.  Apparently it was "let's drag Tiffany Trump on Twitter" day as folks called her out on everything from the dress, to her alleged inebriation, to wondering if she has moved past Eric Trump when one thinks of the Trump sibling with, shall we say, less upstairs. Some tweet are as follows:

'Man drove 500 miles in attempt to kill his lesbian daughter' & other Tue midday news briefs

 

Man drove 500 miles to kill his lesbian daughter after she came out - She is safe. He didn't get to lay a hand on her but good mercy! Let's never forget how universal our struggle is. 

Political & judicial appointments for LGBTQ people are also on the ballot - It's about much more than who the president gets to be. 

Anchorage chooses 1st woman, openly gay acting mayor - The irony is that this happened because of a heterosexual sex scandal. 

Joe Biden Calls Transphobic Violence ‘Epidemic That Needs National Leadership’ - Preach!!

Franklin Graham wants you to pray for his golden calf

With the election two weeks away, you can feel both sides getting more and more anxious. While there have been predictions as to who will win, folks on my side of the aisle have been pushing heavily for us to not get complacent and vote in large numbers. The debacle of 2016 which left America trapped in the lowest pit of hell - i.e. at the mercy of a Trump administration - has been a great motivator. Over 29 million American have already voted early and that number is going to increase.

On the other side of the spectrum, there is a fearful weariness that it may be all over and the bill is coming for some of them who sacrificed their names and integrity for a little power and some conservative judges.

Naturally I am talking about Trump evangelical Franklin Graham. Graham went all in for Trump by ignoring or making excuse for his excesses. And as we near election day, there is a fear one can sense in his tweets:

Don't let Graham's eagerness to deceive fool you. This is what he's wanting you to pray for:

   

Don't mistake this post for gloating. Graham holds sway over thousands of people and they will be voting. I can attest to that. We have to go out in larger numbers and with more enthusiasm. We already have the numbers and enthusiasm. Now it is imperative that we follow through with action.

But to the post at hand, pray that Trump receives a second term? How about we pray that sanity rules this time and that Americans learn the lesson of how important our votes are so that in the future, we don't get complacent. And last but not least, how about we pray that those who designate themselves as our religious leaders put sincerity and love over their desire for personal power.

'Biden makes pledge to trans people' & other Mon midday news briefs

 

Joe Biden

Joe Biden makes a pledge to trans people: “I believe that Trans Lives Matter”- Hold his feet to the fire if he wins.

Spirit Day 2020: Celebs, lawmakers, athletes send messages to LGBTQ youth - Took place last week and highly successful. 

Oreo releases beautiful film about a homophobic dad coming to his senses - We need to make more situations like this become actualities. 

Billy Porter Says To 'Get Your Little Asses to The Polls!' - Who can argue with that? Not me.

Donald Trump's Dance of COVID Deaths

While the coronavirus rages, Donald Trump still has no plan to combat it. He's surrendered to it. Instead he holds superspreader rallies against the advice of health officials, where he dances rather badly while encouraging unhealthy behavior which will only make infections and deaths increase. The only thing Donald Trump will accomplish if he does receive a second term is the killing of more Americans. Think about this if you are undecided, leaning towards voting for him, or not voting at all.

Anti-gay congressional candidate storms out of interview when 'receipts' are pulled out about her support of QAnon conspiracies

Angela Stanton-King (seen here with Donald Trump) storms out of interview when confronted about her QAnon conspiracy theories.

I do adore this development: 

 On Wednesday, Angela Stanton-King — a Trump-loving GOP candidate running for the late civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis’ congressional seat in Metro Atlanta — was interviewed by The Guardian‘s Oliver Laughland, and angrily cut short the interview when asked about her past tweets appearing to reference the QAnon conspiracy theory. Believers of QAnon, which holds that Trump is secretly working to bring down a Democratic-controlled ring of cannibalistic, Satanic pedophiles, have dabbled in anti-Semitism and have been flagged as a source of domestic terrorism. As a result, some Republican candidates who have affiliated themselves with it now try to deny their involvement — as Stanton-King tried to do.

As you can see in the tweet below, girlfriend tried Laughland and he pulled out the receipts:

'We're done, let's go': QAnon-believing Republican candidate walks out of Guardian interview after facing questions about her support for the baseless conspiracy theory.

Click 'watch now' for the full episode of Anywhere but Washington pic.twitter.com/riEKgXSG7D

— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) October 15, 2020

I especially loved this because earlier this year, I had a blow up with Ms. Stanton- King when she accused gay men of being violent pedophiles. 

Ms. Stanton-King learned on that day. Just like she learned Wednesday. And as long as she continues to proudly drape herself in ignorance, she will continue to learn.

'Two article prove that LGBTQ Trump supporters are clueless' & other Thur midday new briefs

Definition of dumbassery - A group of LGBTQ people endangering themselves in support of Trump while Trump's party uses transphobia and homophobia to attack an LGBTQ Congressional candidate:

LGBTQ Trump supporters held a big boozy gathering to plot election strategy. No one wore masks. 

GOP launches anti-LGBTQ attack ads against out Congressional candidate Gina Ortiz Jones

In other news:

This small town's battle over gay Pride flags is helping fuel a national debate - Another fight 

begins.

Human Rights Campaign Highlights Election's Urgency With New Ads - So true.

New Texas rule lets social workers turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability - This right here is some bull.

Ignoring Barrett's relationship with anti-LGBTQ hate group is a mistake by the media

The media is trivializing SCOTUS nominee Amy Coney Barrett's (top photo) relationship with hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom (bottom photo).

There are so many issues which the media can pull from the Amy Coney Barrett hearings.  But sadly, one is being overlooked. Barrett has a relationship with anti-LGBTQ group the Alliance Defending Freedom. and the media is being rather lackadaisical about exploring it. 

One prominent publication, Mediaite, framed it as such:

Barrett spoke five times beginning in 2011 to students participating in the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, a program operated by the Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, The group has successfully litigated cases before the Supreme Court including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, in which the court ruled that a Colorado baker could not be legally compelled to make a cake for a gay wedding.

Democrats widely disdain the organization and have sought to raise doubts about Barrett’s qualifications in connection with her past speeches. Hawley suggested Democrats were seeking to make Christians “second-class citizens.” 

“Are you aware of anything in the Constitution or our laws that say that it is a disqualification for office for a believer of religious faith to go and lecture to law students of a similar faith, in her area of expertise?” Hawley added, addressing Barrett. “I want to be careful that I’m not veering into answering hypothetical questions, but I certainly don’t think there was anything wrong with my going to speak to a group of Christian law students about my expertise,” Barrett replied.

The article is missing a lot of context and comes across as dismissive. Here are details it should have included.