Anti-LGBTQ activist Christopher Rufo latest conservative done in by 'receipts'

Christopher Rufo

Conservative activist Christopher Rufo recently threatened legal action against the Southern Poverty Center for a report it put out about junk science used against the LGBTQ community. 

According to The Advocate:

The comprehensive study, “Combating Anti-LGBTQ+ Pseudoscience Through Accessible Informative Narratives,” or Project CAPTAIN, revealed during a press conference on Tuesday, details the concerted efforts of these groups to undermine LGBTQ+ rights through the manipulation of scientific realities, particularly when it comes to gender-affirming care and the health care needs for transgender people. R.G. Cravens, lead editor and author of the report, highlighted the alarming trend of using pseudoscience to target these groups. 

 “The gender-affirming care model… represents a global medical consensus. But the attempts to undermine it that we detail in this report are manufactured,” Cravens explained. “If the pseudoscience goes unchallenged… it has real life and often life-threatening consequences for trans and nonbinary people.” The report identifies over 60 groups, including familiar names like the Alliance Defending Freedom and lesser-known entities such as the Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine. It uncovers the connections between these groups and their strategies to influence public policy and opinion. 

 “This report is pretty groundbreaking in how we’re able to look at these connections and help expose all of the groups that are at the center of this moral panic that we’re seeing,” Emerson Hodges, a research analyst at SPLC, said. “This report was ultimately designed to help provide details on pseudoscience and has become a tool to help us map out the far-right and their attempts to manipulate public opinion and advance anti-LGBT policies.” 

 

It is a good report which I encourage folks to read and share. Rufo voiced anger about it in a tweet Wednesday.

As seen by this tweet exchange, Rufo got support from conservative colleagues and various right-wing tweeters as he went through his Joan of Arc act. But Rufo is playing petty game of 'exact wording.' New York Times contributor Ben Ryan called it out:

Christopher Rufo @realchrisrufo has threatened legal action against @SPLCenter for, he said, falsely claiming that he used the phrase "stop grooming our kids" in the context of gender identity. But Rufo has suggested that "schools are 'grooming' kids into gender ideology."

Rufo… pic.twitter.com/pmDnkNCR3Y

— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) December 14, 2023

And of course, I have to get a little piece of the action. 

In June of last year, I published a post revealing how Rufo encouraged supporters to claim that 'trans strippers' were coming into schools. The post included the following tweets.

While Rufo may not have called anyone a groomer, per se, he has more than once implied it. And when he agrees with the claim that he has never used groomer rhetoric, he is lying. As seen in the above examples, he has on more than one occasion dealt in false tropes and blatant mischaracterizations of LGBTQ culture to imply that we are 'grooming' kids. 

And just in case you missed it, here is another example:

' Massachusetts sues neo-nazis after they target Drag Queen Story Hours' & other Wed midday news briefs

Massachusetts Sues Neo-Nazis After They Target Drag Queen Story Hours​ - Good. Stick it to them.

Florida school board votes for Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler to resign - Don't get too happy. The vote is nonbinding. She doesn't have to resign if she doesn't want to. BUT it still doesn't look good for her. She has to face the public and her fellow board members at every meeting should she not resign. 

Hulu documentary follows Iowa natives who fled state after LGBTQ+ legislation - Very much needed.

OutKick host says cyclist who defended trans competitors “is an absolute disgrace, and she has nothing to be proud of” - Simply trashy attack. These people don't care about any athletes. It's all about fueling the outrage.

Conservatives angry because trans girl won an Irish dancing competition (I am not kidding)

Editor's note - Erin Reed is a trans journalist who has been covering legislative and public attacks on the trans community for some time now. I'd venture to say that her work is the best and I consider her as the go-to person for anyone needing to be educated about today's climate of transphobia and the basic bigotry it entails. I invite everyone to support her work. It's top notch.

An effective tactic of the anti-trans crowd is claiming that trans women hold an unfair advantage against cis women in athletic events. The claim relies on a combination of preconceived notions about male and female athletes, stereotypes about female trans athletes in general, and a concern by cis female athletes - and their parents - that they would be cheated out of wins and acclaim.

The tactic is so effective that transphobic folks are attempting to stretch it to fit any category. Even to the point of inanity

From Erin Reed:

On Dec. 3, a young transgender girl won her age category in the 2023 Southern Region Oireachtas Irish Dancing competition in Dallas, Texas. This means she will qualify to compete in the World Irish Dancing Competitions. For those who have been following transgender participation in other events, you can probably guess what happened next. Predictably, a slew of right-wing media articles dropped, claiming the 13-year-old girl had a “biological advantage” in competitive Irish dancing. Right-wing media personalities like Riley Gaines and major conservative outlets such as The Daily Wire and The Daily Signal decried her victory, claiming that she had a “biological advantage” in competitive Irish dancing. 

 Irish dancing is a style of dancing well suited for competition. It typically features quick and graceful foot movement combined with a rigid upper body. According to the Teelin School of Irish Dance, judges grade on things such as good timing, pointed toes, graceful and energetic movement, confidence, and pleasant affect. It is a competition where grace, poise, and technique matter. On that same note, supposed “natural advantages” of transgender competitors after transitioning do not appear to be relevant to participating. 

 . . .According to reports from the event, parents of girls who lost later discovered that the winner was transgender. These parents then reached out to conservative media outlets, claiming the transgender girl “cheated” by competing according to her gender identity. In an exclusive article from The Daily Signal, one parent expressed that the transgender girl's victory was so upsetting, it made her want to cry. Another adult competitor, who is also a legislative strategist for Conservative Women for America, Maggie McKneely, clearly outlined that a transitioning dancer would likely face disadvantages due to having to learn differences in the dance style, in an attempt to portray the girl’s participation as wrong. 

Erin pointed out how the various anti-trans activists, seeing an opportunity for a spotlight, all took their turn attacking the young girl. The links to their attacks can be pulled up via Erin's original article. She has them there for the sake of clarity. I refuse to allow those bullies to invade my space:

 Following the article’s publication, right wing conservatives took to twitter to attack the 13 year old girl. Riley Gaines, the swimmer who tied for 5th place with Lia Thomas and has used that event to lobby against transgender people in congress, stated that “a boy stole a qualifying spot for the upcoming World Championships in Irish dancing” and then urged people to sign a petition. Prisha Mosley, an anti-trans political detransitioner, thanked her for “bringing awareness and attention to these issues” and “the girls and families affected.” James Lindsay, who has been credited as one of the people responsible for the “groomer” slur towards LGBTQ+ people, said that “the trans menace in women’s sports is even showing up in Irish Dancing.” Colette Colfer, an anti-trans activist in Ireland, decried the girl’s participation and proclaimed, “Irish Dancing has fallen.” 

The trans girl is getting a lot of support, though. And that includes a petition which you can sign here.

'Conservatives blow up field trip misunderstanding into lawsuit against trans kids' & other Tue midday news briefs

CO: Conservative Parents Disrupted a Trans Girl’s Field Trip, But That Wasn’t Enough​ - Anatomy of a right-wing smear on trans children. As the article points out, the conservative ecosystem pushed up salacious inferences about sex and the possibility of sexual assault. What it may turn out to be was an innocent misunderstanding. However, thanks to conservative ecosystem and the anti-LGBTQ hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom, this has blown up into an ugly and needless lawsuit. This article points out how certain entities omitted a key part of the story (which was given by an area television news station): 

 In a statement to Crisis in the Classroom (CITC), JCPS (Jefferson County Public Schools) said "student safety is paramount and partnership with families is a priority." The district noted it is "still determining facts" as it was only "recently informed" of what allegedly occurred during the trip. "However, it appears that the student’s transgender status was not known when room assignments were made and our understanding is that as soon as their transgender identity was known, room assignments were adjusted," JCPS told CITC.

 Basically, this situation didn't warrant the controversy it is receiving except for how some people are salivating to use it against trans people, especially trans children. 

Drag queen & venue refuse to back down after bomb threat targets all-ages holiday brunch - Good. DO NOT back down. Not an inch. 

State Economies Suffer When Lawmakers Pass Anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Abortion Laws: Study - If they are willing to pass these awful bills, then they should be willing to pay the price.

  'Maestro,' 'Rustin' and 'Nyad' score Golden Globe nods for portrayals of LGBTQ trailblazers - Award season has arrived.

SCOTUS refuses to hear case challenging 'ex-gay therapy' ban. Alito and Thomas continue hostility against LGBTQ community with disagreement.

From Ian Millhiser of Vox:

In an unexpected move, the Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will not hear a lawsuit challenging Washington state’s restrictions on an anti-LGBTQ practice known as “conversion therapy” — meaning that the restrictions will remain in place. Conversion therapy is a discredited method of counseling that attempts to turn LGBTQ patients into cisgender heterosexuals — or, at least, to prevent them from expressing their actual sexual orientation or gender identity. 

As a federal appeals court that upheld the restrictions explained in its opinion, “every major medical, psychiatric, psychological, and professional mental health organization opposes the use of conversion therapy.” Because the justices decided not to hear this case, known as Tingley v. Ferguson, and because the appeals court upheld Washington’s law, the state’s limited ban on conversion therapy remains in effect for now.

 But before anyone celebrates, Millhiser points out that SCOTUS may hear a case challenging an 'ex-gay therapy' ban in the future. And should that time come, we already know where two justices stand. And it shouldn't surprise anyone.

From Business Insider:

In written opinions, Justices Alito and Thomas both suggested the ban violated the First Amendment. Conservative Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas both suggested that laws in dozens of states banning conversion therapy could violate the First Amendment. The Supreme Court published the two justices' opinions on Monday in connection to the high court officially denying a petition to adjudicate the Tingley v. Ferguson case regarding the state of Washington's ban on conversion therapy on minors, SB 5722.

 In his opinion, Thomas noted he would've agreed to hear the case as "this question has divided the Courts of Appeals and strikes at the heart of the First Amendment." "Under SB 5722, licensed counselors cannot voice anything other than the state-approved opinion on minors with gender dysphoria without facing punishment," he wrote. "The Ninth Circuit set a troubling precedent by condoning this regime." 

 In a separately published opinion, Alito concurred with Thomas about how conversion therapy bans encroach on the First Amendment. "It is beyond dispute that these laws restrict speech, and all restrictions on speech merit careful scrutiny," Alito wrote.

Video - GOP Debate Recap - a hot mess in 1:51 minutes

 The above video features the Wednesday's GOP debate. The video is only 1:51 minutes but that's about all I could take. To put it lightly, it was an abysmal exercise of transphobia, homophobia, conspiracy theories, bigotry all combined in a nauseous mixture. And Donald Trump wasn't even there.  For those whining about Joe Biden, take a good look at the opposition: four of Snow White's seven dwarfs - Awkward (DeSantis), Posturing (Haley), Bullying (Ramaswamy), and Grumpy (Christie). Even if Biden was as old as Methuselah, I'd still vote for him over these clowns and that INCLUDES the absent Donald Trump or as I hope his name will be as the fifth dwarf, Jailbird

Why Moms for Liberty is a hate group - GLAAD breaks out the 'receipts'

 

When we call out Moms for Liberty for denigrating LGBTQ people and various other vile acts, it's vital that we have the specifics. In today's vernacular, those specifics are known as 'receipts.' Luckily for those wanting to those 'receipts,' GLAAD has published a detailed invoicing of the many ways Moms for Liberty has attacked, lied about, and basically stigmatized our community.

Among other things, Moms for Liberty members and supporters have called for LGBTQ students to be put in separate classes, have spread lies about LGBTQ books,  blamed the trans community for a school shooting, have called for violence against librarians and trans teachers, have been arrested for harassment, smeared school board members who oppose them as pedophiles, and filed a false charge of child abuse against a school board member and then shouted “Be careful, your mommy hurts little kids,” at her five-year-old child. And that barely scratches the surface.

Moms For Liberty (M4L) was founded in January 2021 claiming it will “organize, educate and empower parents to defend their parental rights.” This advocacy has included calls for book bans, classroom censorship, and bans on teaching about slavery, race, racism and LGBTQ people and history. Moms for Liberty bills itself as a “grassroots organization of moms,” but its founders and founding chapter have strong ties to high-ranking elected officials and financial support from national anti-LGBTQ groups including the Heritage Foundation. 

 —Spreads inaccurate and inflammatory claims about LGBTQ books, including the memoir of Black and queer author George M. Johnson All Boys Aren’t Blue, for so-called “racially charged commentary” and “alternate gender ideologies” as well as sexually explicit passages, alcohol and drug use, and profanity. Johnson’s book was named a 2020 Best Book of the Year by Amazon, the New York and Chicago public libraries and Kirkus Reviews.

 —Crystal Alonso, member of Moms for Liberty, Miami-Dade County, FL, says LGBTQ students should be separated into their own special class: “The kids that do have their, you know, they’re confused, or they are gay or whatnot that the way they’re trying to go about it is to make it an open conversation and an open thing in classrooms … But like for example children with autism, Down Syndrome… they have to be put into separate classrooms. I understand, because it’s a different type of education for children with those disabilities, but I think that for children that identify differently, there should also be like a specialized … something for them, so that they feel that they’re important enough that they’re being counseled…I think for the same reason why teachers wouldn’t just bring a child with autism in front of the class and be like, hey, he’s got autism. Embarrassment …” 

 —School board member details how Moms for Liberty targeted county guidelines to protect students’ right to dress and use bathrooms according to the gender they identify with, falsely calling school board members “pedophiles.”

 —Supporters including Florida state representative Randy Fine posted a school board member’s cell phone number on Facebook. A school board member who defeated one of the founders of Moms for Liberty says opponents filed a false claim of child abuse against her, and protestors shouted at her five year old child outside her home. 

 —Eulalia Jimenez, chair of Moms for Liberty, Miami Chapter, spread disinformation about a shooting massacre falsely identifying the Uvalde, TX, elementary school shooter who killed 19 children and two adults, as a trans woman.

  —Lied to the parents of a young person that the Rainbow Youth Project, an organization promoting the health, safety, and wellness of LGBTQ youth, was trying to “convince [their child] to have his private parts removed and changed.”

 —The chairperson of the Monroe County, PA, chapter was arrested on a “summary charge of harassment” after allegedly repeatedly harassing an individual with messages.

 —The head of communications of the Lonoke County, AR, chapter threatened gun violence against librarians

. —Ed Kelley, a Moms for Liberty-affiliated Charleston County School Board (SC) member, attended a Moms for Liberty meeting and publicly stated that he would bring a gun to the home of his child’s teacher if the teacher came out as trans.

Sounds like a hate group to me.

Moms for Liberty try to distance themselves from sex scandal but social media won't let them

Based on tweets like this, Moms for Liberty won't be able to distance themselves from the Ziegler sex scandal any time soon.

The scandal involving Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler and her husband, Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler continues while Moms for Liberty leaders try to distance themselves from the once conservative power couple:

From the Sarasota Herald-Tribune:

In a statement sent Tuesday, Moms for Liberty's co-founders distanced themselves from Bridget Ziegler, another of the organization's co-founders and current Sarasota County School Board member, following accusations of sexual assault against her husband, Christian Ziegler, by a woman with whom he and Bridget had a three-way sexual relationship. 

 Former Brevard County School Board member Tina Descovich and former Indian River County School Board member Tiffany Justice, together with Bridget Ziegler, founded Moms for Liberty in January 2021. Moms for Liberty is now a conservative education activist group with more than 120,000 members and almost 300 chapters across 44 states. 

 Descovich and Justice issued a joint statement Wednesday afternoon reiterating that Bridget Ziegler had resigned from the organization within the same month of its incorporation. The statement came as several local activist groups prepare to rally at an upcoming Sarasota School Board meeting on Dec. 12 to call for Bridget Ziegler's resignation.   . . . The statement emphasized the nature of the allegations against Christian Ziegler and said any allegation of sexual assault should be taken seriously and fully investigated. 

 Despite leaving Moms for Liberty, Bridget Ziegler has defended the group. However, she is not listed as one of the founders on the Moms for Liberty website. Christian Ziegler, while not directly professionally involved with Moms for Liberty, spoke at the organization's national summit in Philadelphia last summer, advising in a media training session for participants to "Never apologize. Ever."

Whiles Moms for Liberty leaders are trying to distance themselves from the Zieglers, many on Twitter are not letting them off so easily. It's relatively easy to be amused by these tweets, but we shouldn't forget two things.

1. At the heart of all of this is an allegation of rape. There is a woman who didn't ask for any of this and now her life has been turned upside down.

2. It's easy to claim that the tweets below are cruel because they are. But we shouldn't forget the nuance of their so-called cruelty. They were merely reactions to Mothers For Liberty's attacks and scapegoating of books and the LGBTQ community. Moms for Liberty will no doubt play the victim while wanting you to forget the reasons why they are considered a hate group. Don't do it. (this link from GLAAD details the different ways Moms for Liberty have denigrated LGBTQ people.) The tweets below, no matter how rude they seem to be, are a symptom of the ill will Moms for Liberty has created for themselves.  People tend to rejoice when bullies fall on their faces.

#Moms4Liberty #MomsForLiberty pic.twitter.com/7umBypJFEq

— XchelleX🙄 (@mermchel) December 6, 2023

Moms For Liberty….. pic.twitter.com/VkcurstNXf

— Annie (@AnnieForTruth) December 3, 2023

Have a blessed day Moms for Liberty pic.twitter.com/B7NrRcQZiE

— Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) December 3, 2023

...and just like that, this book began to hit a little differently for Moms For Liberty. The End. pic.twitter.com/Qcajd7rwVZ

— Craig Nixon (@CraigNi40397745) December 1, 2023

Hey Moms for Liberty, it's time to get up for church pic.twitter.com/H2feQcJgtB

— Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) December 3, 2023

New Logo for Moms for liberty has been updated pic.twitter.com/3vPqwaJcP9

— Gary 🏳️‍🌈🌊 (@GayresisterGary) December 1, 2023

"Are you staying in this hotel?" Asked the Moms for Liberty pic.twitter.com/Q1lTGsMCdu

— Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) December 4, 2023

Moms for Liberty new slogan: pic.twitter.com/NBvEObFd4X

— curt (@casbeataol) December 4, 2023

Moms for Liberty wants to protect children from filth. pic.twitter.com/y00Sm8T8Lm

— ** STAY WOKE AND VOTE ** (@RealMTrombley) December 5, 2023

'Tucker Carlson producer sued for allegedly sexually assaulting gay man' & other Tue midday news briefs

Justin Wells

Tucker Carlson Producer Sued for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Gay Man​ - And allegedly, Fox News knew about it. 

This article posted last year by Michelangelo Signorile talks all about the producer. Not saying he is guilty of the charge, but he still isn't a very nice guy - The powerful gay man behind Tucker Carlson's bloodcurdling hate 

Ron DeSantis’s administration compares kid’s book on gay penguins to Nazi propaganda - Say what? 

Russia’s Court Ban of the ‘LGBTQ Movement’ Is the Latest Global Move Against Inclusion - The struggle is real, and it is worldwide. 

Efforts to block LGBTQ+ issues in schools are finally backfiring, new report says - It's about time.

When you want the Bible to be taught in schools AND banned from schools

Couple wants Bible to be taught in schools AND banned from schools.

The point of this post is not to make fun of the folks interviewed in the clip below. The point is merely to show how book banners rely on shock tactics (such as showing graphic pictures and reading graphic passages from book) to trigger emotion.  As seen here, that tactic work can work with any book. 

(Hat tip to the Good Liars, who conducted the interview)

Talked to people who think the Bible should be taught in schools. They also think the Bible should be banned from schools. pic.twitter.com/HNMvaJ17tq

— The Good Liars (@TheGoodLiars) December 4, 2023

Moms for Liberty founder and Florida's GOP chairman both embroiled in sex scandal with allegations of rape, group sex, and videotaping

 

Moms for Liberty founder Bridget Ziegler (top picture) and her husband, Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler (bottom picture) are embroiled in a scandal with allegations of rape, group sex, and videotaping.

A huge scandal is brewing in Florida which not only caps off an extremely bad month for SPLC-designated hate group Moms for Liberty but also threatens to engulf the state Republican Party. And in a dose of karma, the scandal involves sex.

From The Florida Trident:

Christian Ziegler, Florida’s GOP chairman and husband of Sarasota County School Board member and Moms of Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under criminal investigation after a woman filed a complaint with the Sarasota Police Department alleging the longtime Republican official had raped her, according to a heavily redacted police report obtained by the Florida Trident. 

 The complaint was filed on October 4 and the alleged sexual battery occurred inside the woman’s home in Sarasota on October 2, according to the report. Among the few words that went unredacted in the report are “rape” and “sexual assault complaint.” 

 The woman, according to sources close to the investigation, alleged that she and both Zieglers had been involved in a longstanding consensual three-way sexual relationship prior to the incident. The incident under investigation by Sarasota police occurred when Christian Ziegler and the woman were alone at the woman’s house, without Bridget Ziegler present, the sources conveyed. 

 Sources also corroborated that a search warrant was executed on Christian Ziegler’s cell phone and that investigators continue to conduct a forensic examination of the electronic device. Christian Ziegler is also alleged to have secretly videotaped the sexual encounters between the couple and the woman, which had been occurring for the past three years, sources said. 

 There have been no charges filed in the case and the Trident is unaware whether the woman’s allegations have been substantiated. A voicemail was left with Mr. Ziegler for comment and a message was left at Bridget Ziegler’s school board office. Neither had been returned prior to publishing this story.

After the news of the scandal came out, Moms for Liberty tweeted but then deleted the following message in support of Ziegler.

As I said before, November has been a bad month for Moms for Liberty. 

Earlier, they lost several school board elections across the nation,

Then they faced questions of affiliations with nationalist hate The Proud Boys after two chapter leaders got caught taking a picture with Proud Boys members while flashing white power signs, 

And finally, a pastor who coordinated faith-based outreach for them was discovered to be a registered sex offender.

Update - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Christian Ziegler should resign from chairmanship of the state Republican party:

Speaking to reporters after his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sean Hannity's Fox News show, DeSantis called the allegations "serious" and said Ziegler should resign.

"I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations," DeSantis said. "And so, I think he should step aside. I think he should tend to that. He’s innocent until proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny. And so, I hope that — I hope the charges aren’t true. I’ve known him, I’ve known Bridget, they’ve been friends. But the mission is more important."

'Book-banner claims book with a kiss in it turned her into a porno addict' & other Thur midday news briefs

Book-banner claims a book with a kiss in it turned her into a porn addict at school board meeting - This is scooping at the bottom of the barrel right here.

Speaker Mike Johnson to Address Hardline Christian Nationalist Organization​ - Our Speaker of the House is a wannabe Cotton Mather.

Opponents want Montana drag ban declared unconstitutional without a trial - It would be nice if it were successful. 

Vermont Christian School Sues State After It Was Penalized for Being Anti-Trans - Guess who's weaponizing religious beliefs again?

18 Republican attorney generals want to weaponize religious beliefs against LGBTQ foster children

Seems to me that if there had to be a choice between the rights and welfare of LGBTQ foster kids versus the religious beliefs of potential foster parents, the rights and welfare of LGBTQ foster kids should win. Too bad 18 Republican attorney generals don't think so.

From LGBTQ Nation

Eighteen Republican attorneys general have signed a letter opposing a proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would require foster care agencies to place LGBTQ+ minors with foster care providers who will respect their identities. Agencies that don’t would lose federal funding.  The attorneys say the rule will infringe on providers’ religious liberty, arguing that trying to get LGBTQ+ kids into affirming homes harms religious conservatives’ rights to impose their views on kids.

The HHS Administration for Children and Families’ proposed rule is meant to “address the extensively documented risk factors and adverse outcomes” that LGBTQ+ children in foster care often experience, the department wrote. LGBTQ+ kids in foster care have experienced higher levels of misgendering, bullying, abuse, forced isolation from other kids, inability to access LGBTQ+-affirming resources, and placement into so-called “conversion therapy” programs that aim to change their sexual orientation and gender identity, HHS wrote. 

Such mistreatment has been linked to an increased risk of depression, suicide, homelessness, food insecurity, illegal drug use, and other serious health risks. The rule requires agencies and providers to offer training materials that aid in caring for an LGBTQ+ child’s cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being. Agencies and providers must have review systems in place to house kids in safe, supportive environments.

 . . .  The 18 Republican attorneys general who oppose the proposal, led by Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee, claim that the new rule will hinder agencies from finding care providers for foster kids in need and drive dedicated care providers out of the system. The attorneys also say the rule goes “far beyond [HHS’s] statutory authority,” violates constitutional rights, and contradicts state bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (many of which have been blocked by courts). 

 . . .  The letter claims that Tennessee and other states have determined that gender-affirming care is “unproven and unsafe,” even though its methods have been used safely for decades and are deemed safe, effective, and essential by all major medical associations. The letter also claims that the new rule will lead to the persecution of religious families who restrict minors’ access to LGBTQ+-affirming media, social groups, and medical care. 

 However, the HHS’ proposed rule specifically says that it “would not require that every provider become designated as a safe and appropriate placement for LGBTQI+ children.”

Seattle middle school students tell Moms for Liberty to back off

SPLC-designated hate group Moms for Liberty is having a bad November. Their candidates were rejected by voters earlier this month. Now middle school students are calling them out for their bullying tactics.

From The Advocate:

Seattle Public Schools are spending class time indoctrinating and weaponizing your children.

The building of the Red Guard in America. pic.twitter.com/qB77Aw7Ypb

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) November 26, 2023

Students in the Seattle Public Schools have clapped back at Moms for Liberty, sending the far-right group handmade cards bearing pro-LGBTQ+ messages. Moms for Liberty, which campaigns against LGBTQ+ content in schools, supposedly in the name of parental rights, shared several images of the cards Saturday on its X (formerly Twitter) feed. One reads, “LGBTQ+ rights are human rights.” Another says, “Gay is slay, stop being a rat.” Another says, “My heart when people are homophobic,” with an image of a broken heart in rainbow colors. Most of the cards use the colors of the rainbow. 

 Moms for Liberty did not approve, to say the least. In the tweet showing the cards, the group wrote, “Seattle Public Schools are spending class time indoctrinating and weaponizing your children. The building of the Red Guard in America.” A Seattle Public Schools spokesperson said that creating and sending the cards was “an independent activity and not part of the school curriculum.” The cards were sent last spring.

Point of fact, Moms for Liberty - these kids are not being 'indoctrinated' as you like to put it. Some of them are LGBTQ, some come from homes with LGBTQ parents and siblings, while others probably have LGBTQ friends. Whatever the case may be, they all recognize that you are the outsiders or the wannabe indoctrinators. They recognize that no one in your group gives a damn about them and that you see them as only a prop or an excuse to undermine the rights, health, and safety of the LGBTQ community in general. To them, you are the enemy and deservedly so. Like in so many instances, the children plainly recognize what adults fail see. They cannot be fooled by phonies.

'Rep George Santos could face expulsion from the House this week' & other Tue midday news briefs

Rep. George Santos

Rep. George Santos could face expulsion from the House this week​ - Bye, bye George.

20 of 2023’s LGBTQ-Inclusive Early Readers, Chapter Books, and Early Middle Grade Titles - Make that Christmas list for reading material. 

Queer activists: ‘I told you so’ as DeSantis escalates queer erasure - Yep, DeSantis is going to try to make it all worse. 

‘We are not a threat’: Danielle McGahey reacts to ban on trans women in international women’s cricket - Amen. 

Republicans want to give transphobic employees more legal protections - Of course those bigots do.

Chaya Raichik, Libs of TikTok upset that Fruit Loops are encouraging children to read

Seems to me that Chaya Raichik and Libs of TikTok is running out of material. They are leading a comical charge of conservatives on Twitter attacking Fruit Loops cereal for encouraging kids to read.

From The Advocate:

Froot Loops cereal boxes feature a promotion offering free access to a digital library focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion in Canada. The initiative, LOOP TOGETHER, was launched in collaboration with BGC Canada and Kids Can Press to foster discussions about diverse topics among families. The library includes books on various subjects such as gender, immigration, multiculturalism, and disability, with titles like Maggie’s Chopsticks, My City Speaks, and Razia’s Ray of Hope. 

This campaign has attracted criticism from conservative circles. Libs of TikTok recently expressed disapproval on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The account wrote, “Fruit Loops promotes free access to a digital library on their cereal boxes for kids. The library offers a range of books to teach kids themes of “equity, diversity, and inclusion.” @KelloggsUS wants to indoctrinate your children with breakfast cereal. Stop giving them your money!” 

Other conservative commentators criticized Kellogg’s for encouraging children and their families to engage with various literature. Some social media users have called for boycotting Kellogg’s, drawing parallels to previous boycotts against brands like Bud Light.

Gasp! How Fruit Loops encourage kids to read! The horror of it all!

 I fail to see the problem with what's being done here. When I was a child, we had the RIF library come to our schools and allow us to pick out a free book. There is no difference between that and what is being done now.

The story here shouldn't be about Fruit Loops, although its program should be celebrated and encouraged. The story here is about pathetic, bottom-feeding, rage-farming bigots who are desperate for constant engagement. It's becoming ridiculous how they are making even the most simplistic things - such as literacy encouragement - about conspiracy theories and sexual indoctrination. It's getting downright tiring. And annoying. People need to recognize how pathetic people like Chaya Raichik and entities like Libs of TikTok are. And laugh at them. Constantly.

Repost - How Donald Trump's incompetency made the COVID pandemic worse, told as a motion comic

Editor's note - with the 2024 election coming up, I'm reposting this as a reminder. Some folks in America seem to have serious memory issues with regards should be our leaders. Voting is a duty and an obligation. It's not giving orders in a restaurant and it's not American Idol. Choose the wrong leader and stuff like this happens.

The 2024 elections are coming up and though the campaign a little over a year away, folks have been predicting things. One prediction is that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee four years after he lost the presidency. I don't particularly care for Trump or his chances, so no one should assume that I'm pushing the above motion comic from Business Insider as some desperate attempt to stop his supposed ascendancy.

 I hope you can take nine minutes out of your day to view it. AND share it. What I want is people to remember what this man caused with his inept response to the COVID pandemic. Donald Trump is responsible for the deaths of scores of Americans. He may not have personally touched them, but his shitty and highly selfish leadership is partly the reason why COVID's death toll is high. And even though President Biden did what he could after winning in 2020, but patterns were set and they couldn't be eliminated completely before more lives were lost. 

 Please bear in mind that I said Trump was partly the reason why the COVID death count is high. He had help from Fox News as the above video will show.

 And aside from Trump, this is the saddest part of it all. Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Tucker Carlson, Kayleigh McEnany, Maria Bartiromo, Mollie Hemingway, and so many others at Fox News bear responsibility for the COVID deaths. Far-right Christian evangelicals such as Mike Huckabee, Robert Jeffress, Alveda King, and Franklin Graham, though not mention in the video, also have blood on their hands. None of these folks did anything but kiss his ass and reap the benefits of making Trump their golden calf.

 All of them knew that the things they were saying and the narratives they pushed were lies, but none of them cared. And what's worse is how they are presently pretending as if none of this stuff ever took place. They are pretending that Trump did not botch the COVID pandemic response, and that people didn't die because of it. Even when some of those people worshipped in their faith, sent them money, were fans of their network, or followed them on social media. 

 Even if Trump faces some sort of punishment for what he's done, these bottom feeders will be allowed to sneak away and continue to do the things they do which undermines this country and puts so many people in mortal jeopardy. They will continue to collect their paychecks, get their notoriety, and amplify the next bloodsucker. 

 In their minds, the people Trump's incompetence hurt never existed.

Related post: Video - How Fox News helped Donald Trump bungle the COVID pandemic response (and kill scores of Americans)

Moms for Liberty leader is a convicted sex offender

Definition of irony - Mom for Liberty, an organization which accuses LGBTQ people, librarians, and teachers of sexually grooming kids, is affiliated with a convicted sex offender.

From Raw Story:

A Republican pastor who coordinates the faith-based outreach for the Philadelphia chapter of Moms for Liberty was convicted a decade ago of sexually abusing a teenage boy.

 Phillip Fisher Jr., who leads the Center of Universal Divinity in Olney, helps connect the right-wing group with local faith leaders to boost membership, and other leaders say they're shocked to learn he pleaded guilty in 2012 to a felony count of aggravated sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy when he was 25, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

 Fisher blames his conviction on a political action committee for perennial presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche, which he had worked for but was trying to break free of what he now calls a "cult." “It was a political situation that happened between me and Lyndon LaRouche,” Fisher said. “It was a member of his camp, his party, that made the accusation. They pushed it through. It was really a railroad job.” .

 . . A national spokesperson for Moms for Liberty did not respond to a request for comment, but Sheila Armstrong, another GOP ward leader who chairs the local Moms for Liberty chapter, expressed surprise, saying that she had just received from the state Department of Human Services a “child abuse history certification” in Fisher's name so he could volunteer for an upcoming Christmas party for an autism nonprofit that she leads. Fisher was sentenced to three years in prison and given credit for spending nearly 20 months in jail awaiting trial, and he said he agreed to plead guilty to get out of jail, where he said he experienced violence from other prisoners.

This latest embarrassment for Moms for Liberty comes on the heels of the organization being thoroughly rejected by voters on election day and the expulsion of two chapter leaders for taking a picture with nationalist hate group the Proud Boys while flashing white power signs.

"GLAAD calls outrage over LGBTQ+ inclusion in Macy's Parade a 'desperate plea for attention'' & other Fri midday news briefs

Outrage Over LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Macy's Parade 'Desperate Plea For Attention,' GLAAD Says​ - I may have to watch the parade now seeing how the haters can't stand us being included in it.

Right-wing media boost anti-LGBTQ outrage against Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Case in point.

Book banners came for this Colorado town. They didn’t anticipate resistance. - This is how you fight back against the haters. 

California's first lesbian Senate leader could make history again if she runs for governor - Can she do it?

Billy Porter hits the dance floor on his fifth album with the goal of 'trying to heal people' - Work it, Billy!

Supreme Court hands DeSantis a big loss on anti-drag law

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis

It was a 6-3 decision. I bet you can easily guess who were two of the votes on the losing side.

From CNN

The Florida law that limits drag shows in the state will remain blocked, the Supreme Court said Thursday, dealing a blow to a key initiative championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida had asked the high court to narrow a lower court’s injunction that stopped the law from being enforced statewide. The justices declined to do so.  

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would have allowed the law to take effect. In a brief statement agreeing with the court’s decision, Justices Brett Kavanaugh, joined in part by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, addressed the First Amendment complexities of the case and said the case was an “imperfect vehicle” for deciding some of the questions at the center of the dispute. 

 Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody argued that the law – dubbed the “Protection of Children Act” – was designed to “prevent the exposure of children to sexually explicit live performances.” The 2023 law makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly admit a child to a sexually explicit adult live performance that would be obscene for the “the age of the child present.” 

 A district court judge blocked the law while an appeal of it played out, holding it likely violated the Constitution’s free speech and due process protections and that it was unconstitutionally vague. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals declined Florida’s emergency application for a stay of the district court’s injunction, triggering the state’s ask to the Supreme Court for relief. 

 The law was originally challenged by a popular Orlando restaurant – Hamburger Mary’s – that hosts drag brunches and claimed that the new legislation resulted in a loss of business. Florida had asked the justices to slightly narrow the state-wide injunction so that the law could be enforced against every business except the restaurant that was challenging it.