DeSantis misled people about incident he claimed was a reason for 'Don't Say Gay' bill

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis misled people about an incident he claimed was a reason for the 'Don't Say Gay' bill.

And here we go again with a scenario so old that I can recite it with my eyes closed.

An alleged incident takes place which puts LGBTQ people in an awful light. The religious right and its allies amplify the incident in the media, Twitter, etc. and that causes LGBTQ people to play defense. After all of the hoopla and the controversy, we discover that said incident was A. not as drastic as the religious right and its allies portrayed it or B. extensively distorted. And when the truth comes out, it's ignored because folks are too exhausted to care.

For this particular episode of the scenario, I present Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his reasoning behind the state's 'Don't Say Gay' bill he recently signed into law.

From CNN:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly pointed to the case of a family in the state's Leon County to explain the need for a controversial new law, dubbed by critics the "Don't Say Gay" bill, that bans schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity, particularly to young children. 

On several occasions since signing the bill into law, DeSantis has highlighted the story of a woman named January Littlejohn, a registered Republican, who says she was not fully consulted about the school's gender-affirming plan for her child. 

"We had a mother from Leon County, and her daughter was going to school and some people in the school had decided that the daughter was really a boy and not a girl. So they changed the girl's name to a boy's name, had her dress like a boy and on doing all this stuff, without telling the mother or getting consent from the mother. First of all, they shouldn't be doing that at all. But to do these things behind the parents' back and to say that the parents should be shut out. That is wrong," DeSantis said during a news conference in Jasper, Florida, on Tuesday.

It turns out that DeSantis's story is wrong. Completely wrong. CNN did a fact check and discovered, according to emails, that Mrs. Littlejohn knew full well what was going on. In fact, she was the one who notified the school about her trans son:

CNN obtained emails that show Littlejohn wrote the school in 2020 and notified a teacher that her child wanted to change pronouns. Contrary to the governor's portrayal of the story, Littlejohn also wrote that she would not stop her child from using preferred pronouns or name of choice at school. Littlejohn references these emails in her lawsuit against the school and they were reported by the Tallahassee Democrat in November. 

 . . In an August 27, 2020, email to a teacher, Littlejohn stated, in part, "This has been an incredibly difficult situation for our family and her father and I are trying to be as supportive as we can. She is currently identifying as non-binary. She would like to go by the new name [redacted] and prefers the pronouns they/them. We have not changed her name at home yet, but I told her if she wants to go by the name [redacted] with her teachers, I won't stop her." 

The teacher thanked Littlejohn and asked if she should share with other teachers. Littlejohn explained it was difficult and confusing, and went on to write, "Whatever you think is best or [redacted] can handle it herself." In another email the same day, Littlejohn told the teacher, "This gender situation has thrown us for a loop. I sincerely appreciate your support. I'm going to let her take the lead on this."

According to CNN, Littlejohn filed a lawsuit against the school because she claimed that after this email, the school went behind her and her husband's back and created a Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Student Support Plan with the child. She also claimed that she was denied access to information.

However, the school district spokesperson said the following:

"From the moment Mrs. Littlejohn first emailed her child's teacher to inform our staff of the situation, this has been handled together in partnership with clear communication. We understand that outside entities have now become involved, but the family clearly instructed the school staff via email to allow their child to 'take the lead on this' and to do 'whatever you think is the best,' " Chris Petley, Leon County Schools communications coordinator, said in a statement to CNN.

The outside entities Petley is talking about are the attorneys hired by Littlejohn. They are from the Child & Parental Rights Campaign, a right-wing anti-trans group.

So basically we are now the tail end of  the scenario I described above.. The only saving grace is that DeSantis and the religious right hopes to drag this nonsense on to the midterms. And that's fine with me because it gives us more time and incentive to bust them for their lies.

'10 LGBTQ women running to make history this year' & other Wed midday news briefs

10 LGBTQ women running to make history this year - Go, ladies! Go! 

Trump's Policies Tried to Tear This Gay Father and Son Apart — The Dad Won - Another reminder of how the Trump Administration targeted LGBTQ people. 

Georgia Republicans snuck in a last-minute trans sports ban that is expected to become law - Sneaky bastards. 

Jen Psaki Shuts Down Fox News Reporter On Florida's 'Heartbreaking' 'Don't Say Gay' Law - Pete Doocy tried and found himself not ready. 

Library study finds most 'challenged' books soared in 2021 - Five of the most challenged were LGBTQ books.

Mickey Mouse is NOT holding a penis, my friend

All of these accusations of pedophilia against Disney by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Fox News, and the rest of the loony right are dangerous on so many levels. Especially how it encourages copycat behavior like below, courtesy of  Right Wing Watch:

"Do you see Minnie (Mouse) in a dress?" asks Oklahoma GOP state senate candidate Jarrin Jackson. "Or do you see Mickey holding a penis?": "The people at Disney are pedophiles." pic.twitter.com/QTNhVnr4xD

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) April 5, 2022

So can you see Mickey holding a penis? I don't know and I don't care. I don't make it a practice to look for subliminal sexual images in children's products.  But truth be told, I don't blame this guy for being so ignorantly empowered.

The folks who should be blamed are DeSantis, Fox News, and others who know what power of suggestion they have over some people. And have no problem with perverting it.

'Fox News editor covering LGBTQ issues supports 'ex-gay therapy,' says 'transgender identity is dangerous'' & other Tue midday news briefs

Tyler O'Neil,  the Fox News editor covering LGBTQ issues has a HUGE anti-LGBTQ bias.

Fox News editor covering LGBTQ issues is a conversion therapy proponent who says “transgender identity is dangerous” - LGBTQ people have our work cut out for us when the most popular cable news network is gunning for our equality. This fool is simply another coin in the slot. What's next, Fox? You gonna get David Duke to cover African-American issues? 

‘Lie from hell’: Franklin Graham calls for ‘regime change’ in US - Happy LGBTQ people gives Franklin Graham the vapors. 

Books By Trans And Non-Binary Authors To Read On Transgender Day Of Visibility 2022 - Amen. We need more education on trans and non-binary lives and issues. 

GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert Wants an Age Minimum Before People Come Out - Lauren Boebert can go to that hot place that I'm too much of a gentleman to call by name. 

Businesses are speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws - Good. Get more vocal.

Randy Rainbow has hilarious message for DeSantis and Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill

I love me some Randy Rainbow. As everyone reading this blog knows, I focus on anti-LGBTQ lies and smears. But what you don't know is how taxing it gets to post things like that on a daily basis. It gets depressing so much that sometimes you feel your spirit rotting. Then someone like Randy Rainbow comes along and gives me something to smile about. He calls out the liars in a hilarious manner while simultaneously reminding folks to not allow the hatred and lies get to them. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate that. And how I appreciate the below video of him taking Florida governor Ron DeSantis to task for that awful 'Don't Say Gay' bill.

Stars shine at GLAAD awards, Apple lobbying against anti-LGBTQ bills & other Mon midday news briefs

The first half of the 2022 GLAAD Awards were held Saturday night.

Apple wields its lobbying might against LGBTQ laws - This headline is awful. Apple is lobbying against anti-LGBTQ laws. Nevertheless, things are going to get very interesting in the coming months. 

Kacey Musgraves, Lily Rose Among Winners at 2022 GLAAD Media Awards - Congratulations to the award recipients of the first half of the GLAAD awards. My category - Outstanding Blog - will be announced in May. Fingers crossed.

Florida teachers say they plan on defying the state’s new Don’t Say Gay law​ - This is getting good! 

Ariana Grande pledges to match up to $1.5 million to fight anti-trans bills - Way to go!

Visual montage - Just a few of the times conservatives have accused LGBTQ people of 'indoctrinating,' 'recruiting,' or 'grooming' children

So now in defense of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law, folks are labeling LGBTQ people as 'groomers' who are targeting children for sex talk. It's an ugly claim, but it's hardly new. In fact the most potent weapon in the arsenal of the anti-LGBTQ industry for decades has been the accusation that gays are 'indoctrinating children,' 'recruiting children,' or (as it is spoken now) 'grooming children.'

It's powerful because it touches on the most primal fear of parents - that their children are going to be harmed. That fear coupled with the continued ignorance about  LGBTQ lives and our families (some people aren't even aware that we are raising children) becomes a powerful weapon which can be used to undermine our equality time and time again.

Below are just a few examples of conservatives and religious right playing the 'gays want your children' card over the years. Some go as far back as the mid 1980s

The images above were taken from the booklet Deathstyle, a vile anti-LGBTQ comic book.

Check out who endorsed Deathstyle:

I own a copy of  Deathstyle  but you can go here and here to see excerpts from it.

Amplifying that lie that LGBTQ are attempting to 'indoctrinate' or 'groom' children has been the conservative go-to tactic for a number of arguments against LGBTQ rights or as a general fear. Other examples are below:

 

From 'recruiting' to 'grooming' - how the right has continues to smear LGBTQ people as child predators

The old has become new again. And in this case, that is unfortunate for LGBTQ people.

Media Matters breaks down how the right is reframing the old lie that LGBTQ people are trying to 'recruit' children. Only now, they say we are 'grooming' children.  The entire piece deserves a read but below is an excerpt.

It has been 45 years since voters in Dade County, Florida, voted to strip nondiscrimination protections from LGBTQ people after a campaign by singer Anita Bryant called “Save our Children,” yet the myth that LGBTQ people put children in danger has pervaded since then, with a frightening recent escalation. Right-wing media are intensifying a years-long push to falsely accuse LGBTQ people – along with major corporations like Disney that oppose Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” bill – of “grooming” children to be gay or trans, or promoting sexual activity. 

While accusations that the public existence of LGBTQ people somehow poses a sexual threat to minors have a long and ugly history, the recent wave of attacks reached a fever pitch with the passage of HB 1557, the “Don’t Say Gay” or trans bill in Florida. The bill bans discussion of sexuality or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, though its vague wording could be used to prevent such discussions at any grade level. DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw tweeted on March 4 that “the bill that liberals inaccurately call ‘Don’t Say Gay’ would be more accurately described as an Anti-Grooming Bill,” going on to accuse opponents of grooming 4- to 8-year-olds: 

 . . . right-wing media promptly took Pushaw’s messaging advice. The next day, a headline in The Post Millennial proclaimed that “Florida's anti-groomer law protects kids and parents from activist educators.” On March 9, the chyron on Fox News’ The Ingraham Hour falsely stated that “Liberals are sexually grooming elementary students.”

 . . .And after a leaked video surfaced in which a Disney executive talked about having more LGBTQ storylines in the company’s material, right-wing media figures on Fox and elsewhere all jumped on the argument that this represented the grooming of children for sexual activity; Carlson even claimed that Disney was acting like a “sex offender.”  

  . . .The language these media figures and outlets are using to attack LGBTQ people and conflate them with dangerous pedophiles matches the rhetoric used nearly five decades ago in Bryant’s Save Our Children campaign, a six-month tour of hate that led voters in Dade County to repeal one of the first ordinances in the country that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Bryant claimed, falsely, that gays and lesbians were “trying to recruit our children into homosexuality.” As Zack Ford wrote in Xtra, “The nefarious tropes of the 1970s and ’80s never actually went away.” .

'Fox News smears Disney for its opposition to 'Don't Say Gay' bill' & other Thur midday news briefs

Fox News picks up video from CRT alarmist to claim Disney is sexualizing children​ - Yep. It's been a war on Disney led by Fox News ever since the company announced it would work to repeat Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill. 

Cases in point:

Fox News contributor: Disney wants to “sexualize our children” 

Fox contributor defends Florida's “Don't Say Gay” bill, blames “the left” for “sexualizing children” 

One sided pablum by a bunch of propaganda slop artists 

In other news:

Arizona governor signs bills limiting transgender rights, abortion - This madness continues.

Buttigieg Slams Rep. Greene's Taunt to 'Stay Out of Girls' Bathrooms' - Speaking of madness

Child sex abuse scandal in TX foster care system should undercut Abbott's attack on trans kids and their families

 

TX Governor Greg Abbott attacks trans kids and their families while there are sex scandals in the state's troubled foster care system.

There is a huge foster care scandal happening right now in Texas. It's significant on its own, but reaches a higher level of concern when one takes into account the recent attacks the state is inflicting upon the LGBTQ community, particularly trans kids and their affirming parents. Tx Governor Greg Abbott is attempting to remove trans kids from the households of affirming parents by falsely declaring trans healthcare as child abuse. But based upon what's been going on, the actual abuse is happening in Texas foster care facilities.

From the Austin-American Statesman:

A federal judge, expressing disappointment with Texas law enforcement, is now seeking a federal investigation into allegations of child pornography at a Bastrop County foster care facility for victims of sex trafficking. During a virtual court hearing Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack raised concerns about the allegations, which involve staff at the Refuge Ranch residential facility for minors. Court monitors, who are tasked with overseeing the improvements in the Texas foster care system, this week said they found holes in the investigation undertaken by Texas Rangers into the allegations.

 Earlier this month, the Department of Family and Protective Services had alerted the court monitors of an urgent situation concerning the safety of children at the Refuge. The department reported that it had received several reports since Jan. 24 to the statewide intake hotline alleging sexual and physical abuse; sexual exploitation; neglectful supervision; and medical neglect at the facility.

According to a March 21 article in Courthouse News Service, the alleged incident involved an employee who gave two of the girls a cellphone to take nude pictures of themselves. The pictures were then sold for drugs (Percocet and Xanax). The article also said:

The Refuge promptly notified the sheriff’s office about the photograph seller and its investigation is ongoing. But after the shelter’s problems were publicized in a March 10 filing and hearing in the class action, sparking widespread media coverage, Governor Greg Abbott ordered an immediate probe by the Texas Rangers.

The Austin-American Statesman said the following about the investigation:

On March 10, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas Rangers from the Department of Public Safety to investigate the trafficking allegations at the Refuge. The facility has been temporarily closed. Less than a week later, the Texas Rangers’ investigation said that initial allegations of sex trafficking were inaccurate, but that allegations of nude photography of teenage girls were still under investigation. In a letter to Abbott, DPS Director Steven McCraw wrote that Texas Rangers found "there was no evidence that any of the residents at the Refuge shelter have ever been sexually abused or trafficked while at the shelter." 

 But, according to a March 28 edition of The Texas Tribune: 

 Court-appointed watchdogs of Texas’ troubled foster care system found "ample evidence" that former sex trafficking victims were abused at a foster care facility, contradicting the Texas Rangers’ findings earlier this month. After reviewing thousands of documents and recordings, the monitors said in a court filing Monday there is evidence to substantiate allegations of child sex abuse, exploitation, neglectful supervision and physical abuse at The Refuge Ranch in Bastrop. 

The monitors also called a letter from Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw to Gov. Greg Abbott, which said there was no evidence kids at the shelter were sexually abused or trafficked, “was, at best, premature.”

Apparently, this incident (and the reasons why court-appointed watchdogs were put in place to monitor Texas's foster care system in the first place) is merely the latest in an 11-year class action lawsuit against the state of Texas involving foster care. Apparently the state is being sued for providing inadequate care for the kids in its foster care system. In January, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack blasted the state for not even having a system to keep track of children in foster care:

From MSN:

More than a decade into an ongoing lawsuit surrounding the state's troubled foster care system, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack was angry when she asked the state if they have a system to keep track of where foster children are and the head of the agency said they don't. When Jack asked Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters for an update on the system, Masters said IT is still working on it. 

 "Oh, for God's sake. I just don't understand this incompetence ... You don't know where the children are," Jack said. "Now we know today, 11 years into this lawsuit, that no one knows where these children are placed. I'm just - I'm speechless. You are the parent. I don't want to hear that IT is still working on it." 

 Several minutes later, Masters received an update that IT would go live with the system in July. "Sorry I acted so angry," Jack said. "It's actually because I am angry."

According to Fox 4 KDFW, during that same hearing:

Three experts were hired by the state in response to a federal lawsuit. They explained in a Tuesday hearing that the state needs to avoid placing children in group homes and needs to stop sending children without placements out of the state. U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack made it clear she is not happy with how the state is handling children without family placements. "Texas, in spite of 11 years of litigation, was not prepared for closing all these unsafe GROs and thrust all these children into hotels motels and offices," she said.

Seems to me that taking Abbott's side when it comes to trans kids and their families is the equivalent of kicking Little Red Riding Hood  out of grandma's house and into the jaws of the hungry wolf.

'Neb lawmaker apologizes after spreading debunked rumor about students self-identifying as cats' & other Wed midday news briefs

Nebraska lawmaker apologizes after perpetuating debunked rumor that schools are supplying litter boxes for students who self-identify as cats - You look like a fool and are getting what you deserve for acting like one.

DeSantis rails against Disney for condemning the “Don’t Say Gay” law​ - He thinks that's going to get him closer to the White House. 

17 LGBTQ+ Celebrities Who Walked the 2022 Oscars Red Carpet - What slap? I don't remember any slap. 

Despite ‘relentless attacks,’ optimism for future of LGBTQ movement - That's right. We don't slip. We don't fall. We don't back down.

Franklin Graham gives DeSantis 'Putin-like' praise for signing 'Don't Say Gay' bill

No matter how Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and his supporters attempt to spin the 'Don't Say Gay' bill as something to protect children, reality smacks them in the face.

And on Tuesday, that reality came in the form - of all people - Franklin Graham:

 Graham's comments should surprise no one. He is a bigoted homophobe who would praise anyone for any undermining of LGBTQ lives, no matter how big or small. Graham would even compliment Russian president, Vladimir Putin for anti-LGBTQ persecution. 

In fact, he has. 

In 2014, Graham praised Putin for signing a somewhat harsher law in Russia. The bill, passed in 2013, criminalized all positive LGBTQ speech and advocacy:

“In my opinion, Putin is right on these issues,” Graham writes. “Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation’s children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda.” “Our president and his attorney general have turned their backs on God and His standards, and many in the Congress are following the administration’s lead. This is shameful.” With the caveat that “I am not endorsing President Putin,” Graham nonetheless praised Russia’s get-tough approach toward gay rights. “Isn’t it sad, though, that America’s own morality has fallen so far that on this issue — protecting children from any homosexual agenda or propaganda — Russia’s standard is higher than our own?”

In 2015, Graham went further in his defense of Putin and his attack on LGBTQ people:

I have met the president on several occasions. He’s a very nice person. But he supports and promotes policies that contradict the teachings of God. As a Christian I believe that abortion is murder, he supports it. Homosexuality and same-sex marriage — those are sins against God, and the president is promoting them. I’m not against homosexuals as people. But God commanded that marriage should be between a man and a woman. And I very much appreciate that President Putin is protecting Russian young people against homosexual propaganda. If only to give them the opportunity to grow up and make a decision for themselves. Again, homosexuals cannot have children, they can take other people’s children. I believe that President Obama (and I’ll repeat, he’s a very nice person) is leading America down the wrong road. He’s taking a stand against God.

Great company you're in, DeSantis. 

A bloodthirsty dictator  who signed a law which criminalized all pro-LGBTQ speech and a religious hypocrite who praised him for it

'President Biden blasts DeSantis for signing 'don't say gay' bill' & other Tue midday news briefs

President Biden

Biden, Florida officials and Disney blast DeSantis’ signing of ‘don’t say gay’ bill - Thank you President Biden for being a real president. 

Disney Vows to Help Repeal Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Legislation - Get to work, Disney. 

The 7 queerest moments from an unforgettable Oscars ceremony - The slap aside, it was a very good night. 

Utah Students Organize Queer Prom After State Passes Anti-Trans Bill - Good for them!

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs 'Don't Say Gay' bill during creepy photo op enlisting children as props

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hands out pens to children after signing the state's 'Don't Say Gay' bill into law.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed his state's 'Don't Say Gay' into law during an absolutely creepy photo-op as seen above. Throughout this entire drama, DeSantis has been attempting to portray himself as a protector of children. But signing a bill which sends a message to children that their families are somehow inferior isn't exactly a message that a protector of children would send. And then exploiting kids as figurative co-signers of that message is downright shameful. 

DeSantis is exploiting same delusionary mindset that Donald Trump has about the 2020 election, i.e. that he is on the side of good fighting evil and corruption.  The fantasy would be amusing except for the reality it obscures. The 'Don't Say Gay' bill is a fraud. It attacks a 'problem' which doesn't exists. It exploits a fear which shouldn't exist. It scapegoats an innocent group of people, which includes children. And its benefits are also nonexistent.

The only thing which exists right now is the fact that DeSantis eagerly exploited children in his attack on LGBTQ kids and families. The bill was unnecessary. The photo op was simply evil.

And the most tragic thing is that it's all performance. DeSantis is a very calculating politician. He knows that his bill is red meat to feed the GOP base and get him closer to the White House. In the long run DeSantis doesn't care about protecting children; not LGBTQ kids and certainly not the kids he enlisted in his photo op.

Ron DeSantis only cares about Ron DeSantis and he has no problem building a road to the White House paved with the the bodies, wrecked self-esteem, and spiritual ruination of LGBTQ people. But now, he has invited children to help him pave that road.

Americans should be more concerned with what DeSantis is teaching our kids. He seems to be the one doing the indoctrination.

UPDATE - and what's more, the signing was rushed. So much for fanfare. Cowardice seems to be the order of the day for DeSantis.

'DeSantis expected to sign 'Don't Say Gay' bill at charter school which has two anti-LGBTQ clubs' & other Mon midday news briefs

DeSantis expected to sign ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill at Florida taxpayer-funded charter school that has two anti-LGBTQ clubs - We now return you to your regularly scheduled bigotry.

Billboards saying “GAY” are up in Florida in protest of the Don’t Say Gay bill​ - Keep the fight up. DeSantis is a coward and hasn't signed the bill as of yet. 

A Gay Florida Educator on the Terror of What's to Come - And keep up educating people about it.

13 LGBTQ art shows worth traveling for this spring - This is hot!

Congresswoman mixes up her homophobia with transphobia, demands that Pete Buttigieg and his husband stay out of female restrooms

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene isn't too bright from the get-go. But it's rather embarrassing for her to mix up her homophobia with her transphobia.

Marjorie Taylor Greene goes on a strange rant about Pete Buttigieg and says he “can stay out of our girls bathroom” pic.twitter.com/mflOliqc5R

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 26, 2022

From Business Insider:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband should stay out of girls' bathrooms while speaking at Donald Trump's rally in Commerce, Georgia, on Saturday. "You know what? Pete Buttigieg can take his electric vehicles and his bicycles, and he and his husband can stay out of our girl's bathrooms," Greene said at the rally. Greene seemed to be referencing ongoing debates about what bathrooms transgender people should use– but Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten are gay, not transgender.

 

It's both funny and exhausting. Funny because of obvious reasons. Exhausting because someone actually elected this woman to Congress, thereby elevating her power and voice. Every time you're tempted to laugh at her comment, pay attention to the folks in the clip cheering her on. They don't care what she said or how idiotic she sounds. As long as it reinforces their hatred.

TX attorney general Ken Paxton targeting LGBTQ people and 'Pride Week' to distract from brutal primary, legal troubles

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton seems to have a vendetta against the state's LGBTQ community. Weeks after issuing an opinion based upon distorted information which justified investigating affirming parents of trans kids for child abuse, he is at it again.

From The Hill:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said in a letter to the Austin Independent School District (AISD) this week that its Pride Week was "breaking state law." Paxton wrote Tuesday that by hosting pride week, the district "has, at best undertaken a week-long instructional effort in human sexuality without parental consent. Or, worse [the] district is cynically pushing a week-long indoctrination of [students] that not only fails to obtain parental consent, but subtly cuts parents out of the loop." The Texas AG also wrote that the Austin ISD's curriculum and lesson plans "deal head-on with sexual orientation and gender identity—topics that unmistakably constitute 'human sexuality instruction' governed by state law."

According to LGBTQNation:

Paxton didn’t send the letter privately – he posted screenshots of it to Twitter with the message, “Liberal school districts are aggressively pushing LGBTQ+ views on Texas Kids! All behind parents’ backs! This is immoral and illegal.” He then referred to LGBTQ people as “sexual propagandists and predators” and demanded they be held “accountable.”

But The Hill said he is getting pushback:

District’s superintendent Stephanie Elizalde responded to Paxton in a tweet, writing: “I want all our LGBTQIA+ students to know that we are proud of them and that we will protect them against political attacks.” District spokesman Jason Stanford told The Washington Post: “We’re going to react to this by doubling down on making sure our kids feel safe and celebrating Pride."

There are a multitude of reasons why Paxton has chosen to target the LGBTQ community and none of them are good. But the simplest reason is obvious. He's afraid of losing his job on two fronts.

Paxton is in a hotly contested run-off primary with 'further to the right than Atilla The Hun'  Congressional representative Louis Gohmert.  Paxton is also facing a corruption probe for bribery charges and allegations that he misused his power. And to top it all off, he also faces possible disbarment over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election on behalf of Donald Trump.

In his targeting of LGBTQ Texans, Paxton seems to be less concerned about protecting kids and more about protecting himself.

'Commentary - It's Not Just Florida. The GOP is pushing 'don't say gay' bills in 15 states' & other Thur midday news briefs

It’s not just Florida. The GOP is pushing “Don’t Say Gay” bills in 15 states now. - Oh it's on now. As much as part of me hates this mess, I like a good fight. "We didn't ask for this war, but it's on!" 

North Texas superintendent orders books removed from schools, targeting titles about transgender people​ - Constitutional concerns are being raised. 

Groups opposed to gay rights rake in millions as states debate anti-LGBTQ bills - Money doesn't take the place of truth. Your lies may get you over for a while, but truth always wins.

Joe Biden helps LGBTQ Ukrainian refugees with fast-tracked US resettlement - Trump would not have done that. 

Utah governor cites suicide rates for transgender youth in vetoing sports ban bill: ‘I want them to live’ - Facts.

Gay conservative Dave Rubin cancelled by his allies on the right after announcing that he and his husband are having kids

Prominent gay conservative Dave Rubin recently announced that he and his partner are going to become fathers. His colleagues on the right have been vocal with their disdain.

I don't like the 'I told you so' narrative about this but just because I don't like it doesn't mean it isn't important.

Dave Rubin is a prominent gay conservative. Forbes describes his clout as such:

Rubin has been cultivating an intolerant audience for several years, with his talk show The Rubin Report functioning as a cushy platform for hate-mongers like Stefan Molyneux and Milo Yiannopoulos, a safe space where all the questions are softballs. According to Rubin, his show is "a hub for misunderstood or canceled people or to-be-canceled people to express themselves honestly." Rubin has previously compared progressivism to a “mental disorder,” and through his talk show, attempts to push the idea that leftists and liberals are the real bigots, and that conservatives are more accepting of dissent. However, Rubin has struggled to prove this notion, hindered by his own audience’s refusal to accept his sexuality.

Rubin, a gay man in a socially conservative space, has never been been fully accepted by a vocal segment of his audience, or even his peers and supposed “friends.” This is underlined by an infamous conversation Rubin shared with fellow culture warrior Ben Shapiro, in which Shapiro flatly refuses an invite to Rubin’s anniversary party, citing Rubin’s sexuality as the reason he wouldn’t attend. Rubin passively accepts Shapiro’s intolerance as a reasonable reaction, calling his response ”interesting.”

"Passively accepting intolerance" shown towards him by his conservative colleagues seemed to have been a price Rubin willingly paid for the prominence and bank account which comes with being a "gay conservative." But as of recently, things have changed considerably. You see, Rubin and his partner announced that they are going to become parents. And many of his conservative colleagues have been, shall we say, not eager to congratulate him. On the contrary, some folks have been downright nasty towards him:

Edward Szall and Gillyan Christensen say that Dave Rubin and his husband adopting children "is the most evil thing that you could ever do" and call them "the spiritual version of neo-Nazis" for doing so. The only solution, obviously, is "to ban all gay people." pic.twitter.com/es8y8HgYP4

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 23, 2022

'Former gay' Milo Yiannopoulos, whose nonsense Rubin amplified, had this to say:

The American Spectator has this to say:
 

While people cheer the happy baby news, each step of the baby-making, having, and parenting process uses, abuses, and negates women. More than that, it denies the humanity and needs of the child. Less than a baby to nurture, the child is a commodity. The child is a product. The consumer is an adult who cannot obtain progeny by natural means and so must buy one by artificial means.

And then we get the word from Jenna Ellis about sin. This is the SAME Jenna Ellis who consistently lied about voter fraud to get the 2022 election overturned. I guess she is so busy talking about the 'sin' of homosexuality' that the sin of lying totally escaped her:

And I won't even MENTION the comments on the far right conservative site Free Republic. They range from simply ugly to downright bloodthirsty.

I do NOT care for Dave Rubin for obvious reasons. But I support his right to have a family. I support the right of all LGBTQ people to create and have families. 

BUT I also have a message to Mr. Rubin

Attack us, malign us, or disrespect us 'on the left' all you want, just so long as you remember who was talking shit about you, your husband and your kids. That would be your friends on the right. 

The verbal blowback you are receiving is only a smidgen of what us less prominent LGBTQ folks have gotten from your allies. It's something you helped to happen.

How does it feel to realize that you too are on their menu?

Big hat tip to Forbes magazine.

'Ketanji Brown Jackson schools GOP senator who ranted about marriage equality' & other Wed midday news briefs

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson schooled GOP senator who ranted about gay marriage​ - Only took her nine words to do it.

More Than One-Third of Trans Kids Are At Risk Of Losing Gender-Affirming Care - This is terrible. There is a reason why the right wants us distracted by lies regarding trans athletes. So folks can ignore this. 

Fox News hosts launch dehumanizing anti-trans attacks against Adm. Rachel Levine and UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas - Trash is trash. 

Disney employees stage walkouts to protest company response to Florida bill - That's right Disney. We haven't forgotten about yo' ass. 

Raven-Symoné and Cast of Raven's Home Walk Off Set Over Florida's 'Ridiculous' 'Don't Say Gay' Bill - Good for them!