Politifact: Talking about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom is not 'grooming'

It may have taken a while, but thank you Politifact for stating the obvious:

“Grooming” is a term strongly associated with child sexual abuse; it refers to a process or set of behaviors adults use to make it easier to introduce and complete sexual interactions with a child. 

 Talking about gender identity and sexual orientation in the classroom would not be grooming, because it is done without intent to sexually abuse a child, experts said.

 Experts in psychology and child development said they are not aware of any evidence showing that increased exposure to LGBTQ people or topics makes children more likely to join the LGBTQ community. Instead, they said it is likely an environment of increased acceptance allows people to more openly consider whether they might be part of the LGBTQ community. 

Our problem seems to be that so many ignorant people think that talking about sexual orientation and gender identity,  i.e. LGBTQ people, in the classroom is the same as talking about sexual interactions. That's not the problem of LGBTQ people, it's the problem is a society with a twisted mind.

The entire Politifact article is very extensive and deserves a read and a share. I especially liked this excerpt:

Another reading of the "grooming" narrative  . . .  suggests that, over time, children might be taught to or coerced into claiming an LGBTQ identity as their own — even if they otherwise wouldn’t have. There is no evidence of that — and it points to a fundamental misunderstanding of human sexuality and gender identity. 

 Experts said they were not aware of any research or evidence that increased exposure to topics such as gender and sexuality makes people more likely to join the LGBTQ community. Instead, they said, it is likely an environment of increased acceptance allows children to more safely and openly think about, question and discuss their gender identity and sexual orientation. 

 Exposure to these topics "does not change the way people develop," said the University of Minnesota’s McGuire, who studies family relationships and gender identity and the health of transgender youth. 

 "It changes how they feel about how they develop," McGuire said. "Accepting parents don’t change whether or not their kid is trans — they change whether or not their kid hates themselves and gets kicked out of the house for being trans. The kid’s transness is there regardless."

'Florida students win after yearbook censorship drama . . . with a caveat' & other Thur midday news briefs

School Reverses Decision to Cover Up ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protest Images - A win with a caveat is still a win.

As WNBA tips off, 20% of players currently on rosters are LGBTQ and publicly out​ - Yep. 

GOP senator introduces “blatantly unconstitutional” bill to take away Disney’s copyrights - Josh Hawley showing his a$$ in front of the cameras again. 

Sharing LGBTQ Identity A Fireable Offense, Mississippi High School Warned Teacher - This right here is a mess. 

Accusations of 'grooming' are the latest political attack — with homophobic origins - An old attack under a new cover.

Fox News takes time away from accusing Disney of 'grooming' children to celebrate Disney movie

In the past, Fox News has echoed and amplified lies about Disney supposedly 'grooming' children to be LGBTQ and folks have noticed:

Fox's Laura Ingraham makes outlandish claim that Disney is “grooming” children 

Fox News has spent over 3 hours melting down about Disney's support for the LGBTQ community this week

However, the following tweet from its online streaming network Fox Nation celebrating the Disney movie Frozen should raise some eyebrows. Especially when one takes into account the debate on whether or not a main character in the movie, Elsa, was gay.

No matter if you're a fan of Frozen or not, we haven't been able to LET IT GO since 2013! Watch 'Who Can Forget?' now on Fox Nation! https://t.co/DPnOrBi1GO pic.twitter.com/ykrarvvgKd

— Fox Nation (@foxnation) May 11, 2022

What's happening isn't rocket science. Fox News is a propaganda spewing crap shack which feeds off of outrage.  That's how it makes it money and no one employed there cares about propriety or standards because there are no repercussions for the network's hypocrisy. 

'VA delegate Danica Roem announces state Senate bid' & other Wed midday news briefs

Danica Roem

Virginia Delegate Danica Roem announces state Senate bid - Good luck, Danica. Make more history because I know you will be a wonderful state senator. 

Gymnast abused by team doctor comes out swinging at rightwing claims of LGBTQ “grooming”​ - Thank you for doing this. 

The Trans Americans We've Lost to Violence in 2022 - Just read. I have nothing else to say. 

Political Notes: LGBTQ candidates capitalize on leaked draft abortion ruling - They got the right idea. The rest of the Democratic Party needs to catch up.

The latest plot to 'turn' men gay involves . . . sweatpants?

 In the mind of homophobes, practically anything can be construed as a plot to turn someone gay. Between you and me though, I almost wish this were true. Goodness knows I have a list of people I would send these sweatpants to.

'White conservative gay smears Biden deputy press secretary by calling her a 'black lesbo'' & other Tue midday news briefs

Dave Rubin 

White gay conservative Dave Rubin calls Karine Jean-Pierre “a Black lesbo”​ - Ugly thing to say and to have it come from a gay man is equally nauseating. Remember that it was recently that Rubin was getting attacked by other conservatives when he and his husband announced that they were going to be parents. He has learned nothing. 

Florida teacher allegedly fired after discussing sexuality with students - They are trying so hard to push us back into the closet. Not gonna happen, guys. 

This antigay congresswoman was just declared “Worst Boss in Congress” and she seems like a nightmare - She sounds like a sweetheart . . . 

Lil Nas X Wins Outstanding Music Artist at 2022 GLAAD Media Awards (Full Winners List) - I didn't win for 'Outstanding Blog' this year, but congratulations to my friend Susan Kerr who won her second in the category.

Fox News, hate group working together to create false transgender controversy in school

On Monday, hate group the Family Research Council sent out this tweet advertising a segment on its podcast:

If one would believe FRC's spin, it's the latest example of public schools supposedly trying to 'groom kids' into being LGBTQ - especially 'T as in transgender' behind the backs of parents.

In the reality, it's the latest example of conservatives and right-wing groups manufacturing controversies in order to demonize public schools, teachers, and their reliable punching bags - LGBTQ people.

From what I was able to garner (at least for now), here are three facts about this incident:

1. There is no gender transition happening. It was simply a letter about what the child prefers to be called. 

2. The entire 'controversy' is comprised of a VERY biased Fox News article which doesn't even quote anyone except an activist from a far right 'parental rights' group. A second Fox News article is claiming that the school is facing a backlash, but provides no proof of this. No quotes from angry parents, concerned parents, or any parents. It is mainly an interview with the same activist from the far right 'parental rights group' who was quoted in the original article.

3. The idea that anything was hidden from parents is highly specious. We see this in three points.

A. Via the FRC interview itself:

Meg Kilgannon on a School's Attempts to Hide a Student's Gender Transition from Parents. https://t.co/RLNMUzTINR

— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) May 9, 2022

At the beginning, the interviewer, FRC spokesman Joseph Backholm, hints that there was an attempted working relationship with the school and the parents regarding the child in question.

B. Backholm is interviewing Meg Kilgannon, another FRC spokesperson. While they both repeat unproven claims about how this is happening across the nation, Kilgannon seems to be very unsure about the particulars in this case. At one point, she claims that she "suspects" that the parents were getting stonewalled.

C. The original article which formed the basis  of this podcast (coming from Fox News - and we know how biased they are when it comes to transgender issues) says nothing about parents. Even though Backholm claimed that 'reportedly' (his word) the school was acting without parental consent and thereby caused concern, there is nothing in the article which states this.

What this sounds like is yet another attempt to push the lie that schools are pushing being LGBTQ on children, much like the lie used by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to justify his 'Don't Say Gay' bill which was recently passed into law.

Ironically, one of the reasons that the Florida bill passed was because of another false story about a school attempting to turn a child transgender behind his parent's back.

This is how the religious right and their allies in the conservative propaganda news industry work. Fox News publishes story which makes an allegation without backing it up. Then the Family Research Council  amplifies it. Since no one is paying attention, no one refutes it. So then it's believed and continues to be amplified.

By the time it has been refuted, it has done its damage. And then we start all over again with a new fake controversy.

Video - LGBTQ characters in cartoon and animation. Deal with it, GOP.

 

 By now, you've probably heard the news how some GOP members of Congress have lost their minds about LGBTQ characters on television: 

 Five GOP senators sent a letter to the head of the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board asking that the rating system add new warnings so parents can keep their kids from watching shows with LGBTQ characters. The letter was crafted by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and signed by Indiana’s Mike Braun, Montana’s Steve Daines, North Dakota’s Kevin Cramer, and Utah’s Mike Lee.

 The senators want the TV regulator to put up a warning for shows that feature what in their eyes is “disturbing content” of LGBTQ characters to help parents keep their children from being exposed to gay, lesbian, or trans characters. “In recent years, concerning topics of a sexual nature have become aggressively politicized and promoted in children’s programming, including irreversible and harmful experimental treatments for mental disorders like gender dysphoria,” the senators wrote. “To this end, we strongly urge you to update the TV Parental Guidelines and ensure they are up-to-date on best practices that help inform parents on this disturbing content.” 

 . . . The senators’ demand is the latest in a homophobic and transphobic moral panic from the right that somehow kids are being “groomed” to be LGBTQ by adults who refuse to stigmatize the community. This specific kind of absurd moral panic is nothing new. Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. spent a whole lot of time back in the late 1990s yelling about the Teletubbies and insisting one of the main characters on that children’s show was gay. Social conservatives have for more than a half-century smeared LGBTQ people, and specifically gay men, as pedophiles out to recruit their children to the gay lifestyle—and possibly for sex.

 But the letter marks the latest escalation of official homophobia and especially transphobia on the right.

Bring it on, boys. You've inspired me to post the above videos to amplify the fact that no matter what you try, we are not going back into any type of closet nor will we be ashamed of who we are.  Deal with that.

'Researchers say science behind Texas/Alabama anti-trans policy is full of errors' & other Fri midday news briefs

'Science' Behind Texas/Alabama Anti-Trans Policy Is 'Full of Errors'​ - It's not surprising but it still needs to be repeated. Consistently. 

U.S. Congressman Introduces Bill to Censor LGBTQ+ Content in Schools - Not a chance in hell of getting passed. But that's THIS time.

GOP senators want new TV rating for shows with LGBTQ characters - This right here is NUTS. 

Pete Buttigieg nails rightwing anti-LGBTQ hate in just 15 words - Bring that fire, Pete! 

Almost half of LGBTQ youths 'seriously considered' suicide in past year, survey says - All of this hate is taking a toll and it gets me frustrated. I feel helpless sometimes with watching to what the religious right and their allies are doing to our kids.

Video - Parents of trans and non-binary kids weigh in on ugly year of legislative attacks on their children

 

Dear mainstream media, you are not doing enough to amplify the voices of transgender and non-binary children nor their parents as they are being attacked by conservative lawmakers and legislatures.  Please do better in rightfully presenting their stories, such as what's being done in this video.

Before the GLAAD Awards - An Online Chat with 'Outstanding Blog' Nominees

For those who have never seen me on video, I do apologize for the above video.

Just kidding. 

In anticipation of Friday's GLAAD Awards, GLAAD recently hosted an online chat with the five nominees of the 'Outstanding Blog' category. As folks know, I was blessed to have won the award in 2017 as well as receiving five nominations with this year included.

The online chat was hosted by social media personality Peppermint of RuPaul's Drag Race. I am appreciative to her and to GLAAD for spotlighting the work of us tireless LGBTQ bloggers. We work diligently and with little acclaim to bring news, hope, style, and (in my case) fire to our community and to educate the mainstream about who we are. 

(Memo to myself - next time use some of that Streisand lighting. I was definitely channeling that 'Gloria Grahame went straight from work at the studio to the Oscars' look.)

 (And to answer certain questions, yes those are action figures behind me . . . hush)

From striking down marriage equality to throwing gays off of roofs - far right conservatives spin ideas about what ending Roe would mean for LGBTQs

Ben Shapiro

While we still are up in the air on whether or not SCOTUS will end Roe v Wade, certain conservatives are preliminarily showing their collective asses. We've got the so-called respectable type (which is somewhere near a sewer) like Ben Shapiro saying that SCOTUS should next overturn Obergefell- the decision which made marriage equality legal.

 

 And then you got this nut below from deep below the sewer,. White nationalist Vincent James spews stream of conscious comments hope that the possible overturning of Roe will mean the return of sodomy laws, overturning of marriage equality, and - I kid you not - Justices Alito and Thomas throwing gays off of buildings. Although, I think he is reading comments from viewers of his podcast. Still, it's very disturbing, particularly hearing him laugh about violence against gays.

Radical white nationalist Vincent James celebrates the leaked SCOTUS decision, hoping that it will eventually lead to us seeing Justices Alito and Thomas throwing gay people off of tall buildings: "We shall have our theocracy very soon." pic.twitter.com/uNBy2va1lB

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) May 4, 2022

This is the opposition, folks. Their words may not be similar but the desire certainly is. Anyone who doesn't think certain people aren't eyeing us next should Roe be overturned is either deluding themselves or lying.

Hat tip to Media Matters and Right Wing Watch.

'Lawmakers in 19 states want to provide legal refuge for transgender kids' & other Wed midday news briefs

Lawmakers in 19 states want legal refuge for transgender youth - I am all for this. This is a wonderful idea. 

Supreme Court Poised to Overturn Roe v. Wade; Other Rights at Risk​ - The fallout continues.

Brittney Griner is ‘wrongfully detained’ in Russia, U.S. officials say - Keep your fingers crossed in terms of how this turns out. 

University of Maryland students march for LGBTQ rights on ‘Maryland Day’ - I love this next generation.

What would Alexis Carrington Colby say?

 In light of what's going on with the Supreme Court and Roe V Wade and what it possibly means for the future of LGBTQ Americans, one would probably call this post frivolous. I disagree. There are too many people either prognosticating an ugly future or spinning so many theories it would give you a headache.  The post above is meant to be both relief from all of that and a reminder of what our mindset needs to be on terms of preserving our rights as we navigate through this uncertain time  - cold, calculating, and unapologetically ruthless. 

Like one of my favorite characters - Alexis from Dynasty (the original series. Not that dreadful remake)

''Agents of the devil' - Michigan GOP Secretary of State candidate has a long history of smearing LGBTQ people' & other Tue midday news briefs

   

 “Agents of the devil”: Michigan secretary of state candidate Kristina Karamo's anti-LGBTQ commentary​ - The Michigan Republican party has selected this insane woman as their Secretary of State candidate. It's funny until reality sets in. We have to vote. PLEASE!

John Oliver Blasts Gov. Ron DeSantis, Says He’s ‘Scared of Gay People’ - Actually he wants to use us to get to the White House but go on. 

Anti-LGBTQ laws inspire many LGBTQ people to seek public office - Oh hell yeah! 

Latino authors, activists lead caravan, march against book bans - Go get 'em!

Family Research Council brags about undermining transgender healthcare and rights to create a 'post-trans world'

 Someone needs to seriously ask the Family Research Council what the hell does it mean by this:

For those who are interested, FRC is riding its optimism about a possible SCOTUS overturn of Roe v Wade to the transgender community. The organization has been going on and on about a 'post Roe v Wade' society after the SCOTUS ruling.

We don't know yet if this will be a reality. But we should be alarmed not only about FRC's desire to declare an end to Roe v Wade, and also about the group's desire to talk about a 'post trans ideological world.'  Don't be fooled by what FRC is claiming. Being trans is not an ideology. It is a reality. And it's a reality in which FRC and groups like it are working to undermine as evidenced by this passage coming from the above article:

Right now, the medical and psychological professions do not have answers to the gender identity confusion. In many U.S. states, these professionals are not even allowed to talk about root causes of confusion over biological sex. These professionals (I’m affiliated, too) may only offer affirmation. But as some who have detransitioned have reported, a time can come when the novelty of the transgender procedures wears off and the tide of applause from trans-affirming activists rolls back. After a person’s foundation has been laid bare, what remains is pain, unresolved identity struggles, and the confusion that initiated the desire to be someone else. 

When this ideology and supposed treatment collapses, we must be prepared! Because, ready or not, they are coming, and the need will be great. Many in the trans-identifying community will realize that they were sold a lie about their identity by some of their closest family members, friends, and authority and political figures. The sense of betrayal and grief, as we have already seen with the first fruits of those who have detransitioned, will be profound. This means the church and those who remain clear and fair-minded need to be ready to receive them with open arms.

 First, we can’t lose hope! Just last week, one pro-transgender group noted that 200 bills had been introduced in 2021 to prevent access to gender-affirming “health care” and aimed at mitigating the problems that arise with social spaces and biological males competing in women’s sports. This all points to a willingness of parents and concerned citizens to lobby their politicians to stand for truth and protect children. 

 Second, we need to learn about the needs of this population and ways we can serve them. The trans ideology has been advertised as a pathway to becoming your “true self” and a grand solution for mental distress. The reality is that many of those who identify with trans-ideology have childhood traumas in their backgrounds. Some may have a diagnosis of autism or were deeply influenced by their peers and social media. This ideology is no substitute for some of these root issues. When they come for help, they don’t necessarily just need someone with a degree in psychology. They will need someone who can listen, empathize with their pain, and show mercy that is tethered to truth.

First of all, let's be clear. Parents are not lobbying for these awful bills. In actuality, parents have been scared and vocal about how these bills are affecting their families and particularly their children. And the 'concerned citizens' FRC spoke of are members of anti-LGBTQ groups - the same groups who crafted these bills and are handing them off to lawmakers.   

FRC claims that undermining transgender healthcare and rights in general will lead people to stop being trans. That's not true and FRC knows it. What the group is hoping is that its undermining of trans rights and healthcare will put more trans people in unhealthy situations in which they are more depressed, more suicidal and more susceptible to other negative behaviors. Then it and other right-wing groups will swoop in and declare being trans as an 'unhealthy ideology' which leads to unhappiness and death, when in actuality it's their actions which are leading to the misery.

If you recognize the modus operandi, it's because it has been the same playbook FRC and other conservatives have used against the queer community in general - undermine our rights and visibility to position us in mentally, physically, and emotionally negative states and then try to make us believe that our supposed lifestyles are the problems instead of their hatred.

It's the same game plan, right down to the over emphasis on detransitioning. In my day it was called 'ex-gay' therapy.

'Russia's new reality show takes homophobia to a weird new level' & other Mon midday news briefs

Russia has lost it's d@mn mind.

WATCH: Russia’s new reality show takes homophobia to a weird new level - Y'all ain't gonna believe THIS mess . . . 

17 LGBTQ+ Films and TV Shows to Watch in May​ - Get excited.

Most Americans don't support politicians punishing firms for their views, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds - The question is would Americans punish these politicians at the polls.

Megyn Kelly claims “crazy trans activists” are trying to convert gay men into women - Megyn Kelly is a racist who is always full of sh!t. End of story.

Justice Department challenges Alabama law criminalizing transgender health care for minors - Meanwhile, more proof that elections matter. The Trump Administration would have never challenged this awful law.

Conservatives would rather see LGBTQ kids dead instead of affirmed

There are bunch of conservative individuals and organizations lurking about claiming to have the best interests of parents and children at heart. They claim to be working for the all-around safety and well-being of children, but their actions are having an opposite effect. All they are accomplishing is making LGBTQ kids less safe, more depressed, more in danger of violence and rejection, and basically less healthy.

In the past months, these groups and individuals (we all know who they are):

Republican lawmakers are banning affirming healthcare for trans kids in several states in spite of the research showing that it's a positive. They inundate the conversation with horror stories and semantical lies about children being 'groomed by pedophiles' and mutilated while their allies in places like Fox News and podcasts (hello, Joe Rogan) and far-right publications such as The Federalist hold one-sided debates designed to amplify the lies while stifling the voices of trans people and credible medical professionals. They work to deliberately miseducate people about the truth and complexities involving trans children and the care they need.

In Texas, the governor has gone after the parents of trans kids, branding affirming healthcare as child abuse and directing social service agencies to investigate the families, causing several of them to flee the state for fear of receiving the proverbial  'dreaded knock at the door.'

Again in several states, but this time under the guise of parental rights, lawmakers are cutting off resources such as books, and support from safe zones and teachers to LGBTQ kids in general. In fact, they are attempting to make school officials out these kids to their parents in spite of the possibility of violence and rejection. Under the guise of not talking to children about sexual behavior, they have undermined needed conversations and discussions about the existence of LGBTQ people and families in classrooms, as if these entities are anomalies instead of actualities of the daily American experience.

And now to top it all off,  several conservatives are now going after suicide hotlines, such as the Trevor Project, which are devoted to giving LGBTQ kids someone they can confide in.

They claim to be doing this for the safety of the child, but the outcomes have nothing to do with safety. It's more about boxing LGBTQ kids in a corner, cutting off any possible avenue of support while sending them the message that they are worthless and deserve to be hated. It's about attempting to create a self-fulling prophecy that being queer - particularly trans - is a "dangerous lifestyle" which should be condemned because no happiness comes from it. 

In a proper society, there would be outrage at the targeting of children, but unfortunately we don't seem to live in a proper society. We live in a society where it's almost as if the witches and goblins of yore have left the gingerbread houses and the river's edges where they once lurked to lure children to their deaths. Their new stations is being authors of bigoted books, proprietors of podcasts spewing one-sided garbage, pundits on propaganda news services and far right publications, masters of fiery Twitter addresses maligning and slandering innocent parties, and basic - very basic - spokespeople for astroturfed groups with who pepper their names with terms like 'traditional,' 'morality,' or 'family.' All  working in coordination to fulfill the same goals of exploiting fear, amplifying terror, and justifying prejudice. All working to feed their misinformation into the minds of the gullible and programming them to go to school board meetings and public forums and cause general chaos, which serves to justify their attacks on LGBTQ kids.

That's the difference between yesterday's mythical ghouls and present day very real ghouls. Our ghouls are smarter. They don't go after all children. Just the 'right type' which no one seems to give a damn about.

Conservatives label LGBTQ suicide hotline as pedophilia, get brutally dragged all over Twitter for the lie

 The entities accusing LGBTQ people of grooming children have focused on a new target. And they are finding out there is such thing as doing too much.

According to LGBTQNation:

Conservatives have spent the last couple months calling everyone who disagrees with them a pedophile, and now they’re setting their sights on the Trevor Project, an organization that runs a hotline and other resources to fight LGBTQ youth suicide.

 As per their standard operating procedure, many of them have taken one factoid and amplified it to their supporters on Twitter.

This is a part of a nationwide trend by conservatives and the religious right to brand everything pro-LGBTQ as an attempt to sexually groom children. This attack on the widely acclaimed Trevor Project takes this attack to a new level because conservatives are now saying that  protecting LGBTQ youth from suicide or abuse is actually sexual grooming. 

Here is the delicious denouement of it, though. These accusations are getting a loud and brutal pushback. These folks accusing the Trevor Project of 'grooming' children have been dragged on Twitter all day and night with deservedly brutal responses. Here are just a few:

'LGBTQ in Alabama: Students, parents affected by new laws respond in emotional video' & other Thur midday news briefs

 

LGBTQ in Alabama: Students, parents affected by new laws respond in emotional video​ - Telling our stories is how we win. 

Literary-themed drag shows in St. Petersburg strike chord over recent LGBTQ issues - Also, do not back down an inch. The folks in this article got that message. 

Russian court dissolves country’s main LGBTQ rights organization - Russia is doing what the religious right and their supporters want to do in America. But at a quicker pace. 

Anti-LGBTQ+ Russian Propagandist Launches I'm Not Gay Reality Show - Laaaawd! This funny. Not even a little bit.