Trump's 'Big Bowl of Bullsh!t Bill' would ban Medicaid and Obamacare from funding trans healthcare care & wreak havoc on the poor

Editor's note - EARLY Thursday morning, the House of Representatives passed what Trump calls his "Big, Beautiful Bill" by one vote. What is should be called is the "Big Bowl of Bullshit Bill." Now it goes to the Senate and I suspect there will be major changes made. Regardless, this bill is a disaster on many levels and not just to the LGBTQ community. A lot of Americans are going to be hurt, while the wealthiest Americans are going to reap benefits. The news briefs below explain how this bill would generate a lot of pain for not only LGBTQ people but the country in general.

Trump’s ‘One, big, beautiful bill’ would ban care for transgender people on Medicaid and Obamacare - Federally funded gender-affirming care would be banned. And for all trans Americans, not just trans kids. I can just hear the nonsense about "It's not banning healthcare for trans people. it's simply saying that taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for it." That explanation only underscores the ignorance this country has when it comes to gender-affirming care, which is a legitimate medical issue and should be covered under Medicaid and Obamacare. Any attempt to undermine federal funding comes from a place of malice. 

Republicans pass ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ banning federally funded gender-affirming care for trans people - This article from the Advocate gives more details. It also includes the following:

 The bill would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and deliver billions in new spending for immigration enforcement and the Pentagon. But it does so at a steep human cost: The Congressional Budget Office estimates 13.7 million people will lose health coverage. LGBTQ+ people — especially those living with HIV, people of color, and low-income families — are among the hardest hit. 

And:

Below are articles which point out the overall chaos this bill would cause the country. Kamala Harris and so many others warned Americans last year about this, but they didn't listen. It sadly goes to show that you can warn people about disaster until you wear yourself out, but they won't listen until they get hit with the disaster. Then they expect someone else to save them from what they themselves could have prevented in the first place.

Here Are the Worst Things in Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill 

"This Is A Sad Day For America" — MAGA Supporters Have A LOT To Say About Trump's "Big, Beautiful" Tax Bill, And It's Not What I Was Expecting

Social Media Tells Ugly Truth About Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

' Trump said 'no more drag shows' at Kennedy Center, but there will be drag anyway' & other Tue/Wed news briefs

Trump claimed that because of his new board, there will be 'no more drag shows' at the Kennedy Center. But 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' a musical about a man who masquerades an elderly woman, and other shows featuring drag will be coming to Kennedy Center. Just write it down as yet another Trump misdirection.

Editor's note - It has been very clear to me that the news media won't do what they are supposed to be doing during Trump's second term. It could be that he is overwhelming them with all of his exploits. Or it could be, as seen by the emergence of that ridiculous book on Biden, that the pundits and the like covering Washington are more concerned with their careers than with giving the public sorely needed education and information. Whatever the case may be, it is crucial that LGBTQ bloggers and independent journalist work diligently to inform, educate, and rally our community during this crucial time iin history. 

Trump promised “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS” at Kennedy Center. Their new season is full of drag. -We shouldn't be surprised here. Trump misdirects and lies so much that it's like breathing to him.

WorldPride—a Massive LGBTQ Celebration—Is About to Collide With Donald Trump’s Washington - Bring it, you orange-faced bitch. 

Supreme Court backs Republican lawmaker in Maine who was punished for transgender athlete remarks - This woman targeted a trans high school student but suddenly SHE'S the victim? Please.

Gay Senate candidate Chris Pappas: The government shouldn’t limit trans people’s health care - From the article: " If U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire’s open Senate seat in 2026, he will become the first out gay man ever elected to the U.S. Senate and only the third LGBTQ+ person. But Pappas, a 44-year-old Democrat now in his third term in the House of Representatives, says his campaign isn’t about making history." 

Virginia Republican candidate for governor addresses grads at extremely anti-LGBTQ+ schools - It's a mess in Virginia. The extremely anti-LGBTQ Lt. Governor is running for governor. Meanwhile the Republican nominee for Lt Gov is an openly gay conservative who is embroiled in a scandal over pornographic pictures. Lawd, hammercy! 

Federal Judge Strikes Down LGBTQ Protections Against Workplace Discrimination - Keep your eyes open on this one. This judge has been a deliberate problem for us ever since he was picked.

Video - Man claims to KNOW that LGBTQ people are trying to create a Marxist, genderless society

I don't know the exact scenario which created the moment below. But I do know that it typifies the idiocy of homophobes. LGBTQ people have been accused of so many things from the standard lie of recruiting kids to the outrageous lie of controlling the weather. 

But I don't think I've ever heard us being accused of wanting to create a Marxist, genderless society. 

The man in the video reminds me one of those pseudo-intellectual, self-righteous individuals in college who you wasted time arguing with for 10 minutes until you've forgotten how said argument began while quietly badgering yourself for wasting time to argue with him in the first place.

And to add to the stereotype, he is wrong about his facts even though he is so damn sure of them. For one thing, LGBTQ equality will not lead to people thinking that pedophilia is a legitimate sexual orientation. Secondly, Harry Hay did not start the gay rights movement. Our movement for equality began a long time before Hay was even on the scene. In fact, if you wanted to legitimately trace it, you should look up William Dorsey Swann, a former slave and the first person to self-identify as a "queen of drag."

Other than that, I don't know what else to say except for the embarrassing truth that I don't know what Marxism is. The most radical thing I probably want to do as a gay man is to have Anne Murray sing Can I Have This Dance at my wedding.

ngl this scares ts outta me pic.twitter.com/U4YHZXUA6x

— belak🌪️ (@kalebjackson00) May 12, 2025

Transphobic ad blitz fails (former) Omaha, Nebraska mayor in election

Omaha, Nebraska mayor Jean Stothert turned her back on the LGBTQ community and fully embraced transphobia with flyers (top picture) and television ads linking her opponent, John Ewing with the standard bigoted tropes. Ewing didn't distance himself from the trans community, while challenging Stothert's ad blitz head on (bottom picture). At the end of the campaign, Ewing easily won, becoming the city's first Black mayor.

A three-term incumbent mayor (now former mayor) in Omaha, Nebraska found out the hard way that scaring people about transgender Americans can only go so far.

From Queerty:

Jean Stothert governed as a moderate Republican during her tenure as the mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, even creating an LGBTQ+ advisory board to improve her relations with the community.

 But in the waning days of her most recent campaign, the three-term incumbent leaned into anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. She ran a TV ad accusing her Democratic opponent, John Ewing Jr., of wanting “boys in girls’ bathrooms and sports,” tired transphobic lines that Republicans across the country have been trotting out for years. 

 When Omaha residents went to the polls Tuesday, they didn’t buy her fear-mongering. Ewing bested Stothert by more than 11,000 votes, becoming the first Black mayor in the city’s history. Though Omaha has more registered Democrats than Republicans, Stothert was popular and won by 27 points when she ran for re-election in 2021.

LGBTQ online publication THEM pointed out that the Ewing campaign met the ad blitz head on while not distancing itself from trans people and in one case, turning Stothert's ad blitz against her with a flyer of its own.

Stothert was generally favored going into Election Day, as a 12-year incumbent who won her last election with a whopping 64% of the vote. But in the final weeks of the campaign, Stothert and a conservative PAC blitzed Ewing and the Democrats with anti-trans ads similar to those seen in the 2024 presidential election. 

 One TV ad from the Stothert campaign claimed that Ewing “stands with radicals” in favor of “boys in girls’ bathrooms and sports,” according to the Omaha World-Herald. Separately, a mailer paid for by the newly-formed PAC Omaha Leadership Fund — itself funded by another right-wing, anti-abortion PAC called “Common Sense Nebraska” — claimed that Ewing wants to “transition minors without their parents’ consent” and is “backed by radicals who will allow men in girls’ sports and bathrooms,” as seen in what appears to be a photo of the mailer posted to the r/Omaha subreddit last week.

 Ewing’s campaign called Stothert’s claims “utterly false” and demanded that the TV ad be pulled, per the World-Herald. In a statement to the newspaper, Stothert said she had no knowledge of the mailer before it was released, but stood by the TV ad. The claims in that ad were not connected to any statements by Ewing himself, she said, but were instead based on his endorsements from the Nebraska Democratic Party and the Nebraska Stonewall Democrats, the party’s LGBTQ+ caucus. Stonewall Dems oppose LB89, a Republican bill in the state legislature that would ban trans students from using bathrooms or locker rooms, or competing on sports teams, that match their gender; legislators voted to advance the bill last month, after a similar version died as the result of a filibuster in 2024. 

 But though Ewing and the Nebraska Dems pushed back against the Stothert camp’s accusations, they also did not distance themselves from trans people . . .  On May 2, Ewing held a Q&A at Omaha gay bar Flixx hosted by local drag queen Jackie Oh Kennedy. And only a few days before the election, the Nebraska Dems posted an image to X declaring that “Jean is focused on potties,” featuring an edited image of Stothert’s face poking underneath a bathroom stall. (“Ultimately, Jean would rather focus on potties, while John focuses on fixing potholes,” Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Precious McKesson wrote in a May 8 press release.)

Drag queens and Pride organizers win twice in court cases against Florida's state and city governments

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

In court decisions on Monday and Tuesday, drag queens and Pride organizers won over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the state of Florida and a city in Florida.

From CBS News:

Describing the law as "substantially overbroad," a federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a preliminary injunction blocking a 2023 Florida law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, backed the Central Florida venue Hamburger Mary's in a First Amendment challenge to the law. The state appealed in 2023 after U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued a preliminary injunction. 

 Tuesday's majority opinion said that "by providing only vague guidance as to which performances it prohibits, the act (the law) wields a shotgun when the First Amendment allows a scalpel at most." "The Constitution demands specificity when the state restricts speech," said the 81-page majority opinion, written by Judge Robin Rosenbaum and joined by Judge Nancy Abudu.

 "Requiring clarity in speech regulations shields us from the whims of government censors. And the need for clarity is especially strong when the government takes the legally potent step of labeling speech 'obscene.' An 'I know it when I see it' test would unconstitutionally empower those who would limit speech to arbitrarily enforce the law. But the First Amendment empowers speakers instead. Yet Florida's Senate Bill 1438 (the law) takes an 'I know it when I see it' approach to regulating expression."

 . . . The law, dubbed by sponsors the "Protection of Children" bill, sought to prevent venues from admitting children to adult live performances. It defines adult live performances as "any show, exhibition, or other presentation that is performed in front of a live audience, which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or specific sexual activities, … lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts." It would allow regulators to suspend or revoke licenses of restaurants, bars and other venues that violate the law. Also, it would prohibit local governments from issuing public permits for events that could expose children to the targeted behavior. 

 While the law does not specifically mention drag shows, it came after Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration cracked down on venues in South Florida and Central Florida where children attended drag shows. It also came amid a series of controversial laws passed by Republicans in Florida and other states about transgender-related issues. 

 Tuesday's majority opinion focused, in part, on the use of the words "lewd conduct" in the law. It said the term is overbroad and that Rosenbaum and Abudu "understand the act's prohibition on depictions of lewd conduct to reach speech that is constitutionally protected, even as to minors."

And then, courtesy of LGBTQ Nation was a decision handed down on Monday against the efforts of a city in Florida, Naples, to limit open drag performances and charge Pride organizers a $36,000 security fee:

A federal judge has approved a preliminary injunction against the city of Naples, Florida, that will allow the annual Naples Pride event to host outdoor drag performances viewable by people of all ages. The judge also ruled that the city must re-evaluate the $36,000 security permit fee that it tried to charge the event to protect it from anti-transgender protestors. 

 Last month, organizers of Naples Pride sued the city government after the city tried to force the event to only admit adults over the age of 18 and tried to charge event organizers a $36,000 security fee. Organizers refused, stating that all drag performances will be family-friendly and that the security fee was much more than what’s required for similarly sized events or what Pride organizers were charged since the event started in 2017.

 . . .On Monday, Judge John E. Steele, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida appointed by President Bill Clinton, ruled that neither the city nor its police force can require the Pride event to move its drag show indoors.

 Steele also ruled that the city must reevaluate its $36,000 security permit fees. The judge wrote that the city’s demands “threatened injury to [the Pride organizers’] First Amendment rights,” which “outweighs the harm a preliminary injunction may cause to [the city or its government].”

'Man burns 100 library books about Jewish and Black history, LGBTQ education' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Man burns 100 Beachwood Public Library books on Jewish, African American, LGBTQ+ education: report - I wish I could be completely shocked, but a part of me isn't.  While this incident isn't solely about trans people or LGBTQ people in general, it's a reminder how those who use oppressive tactics against us have no problem using them against other groups. Folks need to remember that the next time they hear the Trump Administration slam trans people. 

Nation’s largest pediatric group slams Trump’s “inaccurate” anti-trans health report - The American Academy of Pediatrics stand on the side of trans Americans against the Trump Administration.

Speaking of Trump's inaccurate anti-trans health report - Roundup: Experts Condemn Trump Pseudoscientific Anti-Trans "Report" 

A reflection on Black queer memory, meaning, and the words we write to our mothers - Amen.

Most Americans support Donald Trump when it comes to trans issues - THIS is a major problem. It stems from general lack of knowledge about trans issues combined with the misinformation swarming with regards to gender-affirming care, trans athletes, etc.  We need more pro-trans visibility as well trans people and families with trans kids telling their story. One difficulty exists, however. There are LGB people working actively against the trans community without the common sense to know that whatever is used against trans people will be used against them.

Arkansas LGBTQ+ organizers crowdfund to make up for fewer Pride sponsors in time for June - Because of Trump Administration threats, some companies aren't sponsoring upcoming Pride events. It's actually a plus for the LGBTQ community because it provides the opportunity to raise funds in different manners. And to show that Pride has never been about corporate sponsors. I'm glad to say that this Pride in Arkansas is one of MANY which are rising to the challenge.

Anti-trans Congresswoman Nancy Mace now waging war against single-stall unisex restrooms

Nancy Mace is feeling left out of the public spotlight, so she starts another inane attack on transgender Americans.

To say that SC Congresswoman Nancy Mace has a reputation for being rabidly publicity hungry is an understatement. I'm of the personal belief that she would rent out members of her family to the devil for 10 minutes on Fox News or a couple of thousand hits on Twitter.

Some would say that my statement was a bit harsh, but I stand by it. Especially after her latest exploit Tuesday:

Spotted in Austin: “All gender restroom.” On a recent trip to Texas. Um, no. There are only two.

Hold the line. Biology isn’t bigotry. pic.twitter.com/TreAFaV6U7

— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) May 7, 2025

For those who aren't aware, Mace has made a name for herself by dipping deep into anti-trans rhetoric and actions from causing a ridiculous ruckus about trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride using the ladies room to having a trans ally arrested for merely shaking her hand to highjacking Congressional committee meetings to whine about trans women to never missing an opportunity to publicly demean trans women. 

But, as hard as it is to believe, this one right here takes the award for "Best Brazen Attempt to Grab the Spotlight." As you can see by the Community Note (and by the comments below the tweet which you can read if you click on it), responses to her tweet aren't in her favor. 

But I doubt she cares. Besides being completely inane, Mace's tweet is deliberately dishonest. And she knows this. Nancy Mace is not a stupid woman. She knows exactly what she's doing by her ridiculous attack on a single stall, unisex bathroom - generating controversy and publicity. 

So why am I helping to amplify her? Because it would be dangerous to simply laugh at Mace or ignore her in hopes that she goes away. Congressional leaders like Mace don't go away by being ignored or laughed at. She represents the poison tainting this country's politics. Immersed between decent politicians are the ones like Mace - power hungry demagogues more concerned about how high they can go up the ladder than doing their jobs.  These are Congressional leaders who lack values or honesty but are heavy on bravado and cheap tactics designed to distract voters or trick them into playing the blame game against marginalized groups who can't fight back. 

Or to put it plainer - Nancy Mace is trash and folks need to recognize that. She is a low-grade dollar general store Margaret Thatcher/Eva Peron wannabe.  The only woman she cares about is herself and the only thing she cares about is her political future. The one thing she is correct about is that we do need to hold the line.  And raise hell when folks like her step over it.

Video: Journalist David Shuster touches on needed conversation about Trump and dementia

 

While it's easy for folks to make jokes about the notion of Trump and dementia, journalist David Shuster actually brings up some good points here. 

Settlement gives Maine a victory over Trump Administration in funding fight about trans athletes

In February, Maine Governor Janet Mills told Trump that she would see him in court if his administration tried to freeze federal funds from the state for noncompliance with his executive order against trans athletes.

Trump froze the funds.

Mills and the state of Maine sued. 

On Friday, Mills and the state of Maine won. 

From The Associated Press:

President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday agreed to halt all efforts to freeze funds intended for a Maine child nutrition program after initially suspending those dollars due to a disagreement between the state and Trump over transgender athletes.

 In response, the state will drop its lawsuit that had been filed against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced. “It’s unfortunate that my office had to resort to federal court just to get USDA to comply with the law and its own regulations," Frey said in a statement. 

"But we are pleased that the lawsuit has now been resolved and that Maine will continue to receive funds as directed by Congress to feed children and vulnerable adults.” An email message seeking comment was sent Friday to the Agriculture Department.

In February during a meeting for the National Governors Association at the White House, Trump and Maine's governor, Janet Mills had a verbal altercation with regards to trans athletes.

During the 2024 election, Trump continuously decried the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports. Since taking office, he has attempted to ban trans athletes from women's sports via an executive order. Many have pointed out that the executive order has no power, but Trump tied it to whether or not states will receive federal funding. 

That was what sparked February exchange: 

 “The NCAA has complied immediately, by the way. That’s good. But I understand Maine – is Maine here? The governor of Maine?" Trump said. 

 “Yeah, I’m here,” responded Mills, a Democrat. Asked by Trump if she would abide by the executive order, Mills responded, “I’m going to comply with state and federal law.”

 “Well, we are the federal law,” the president retorted. “Well, you better do it. You better do it. Because you’re not gonna get any federal funding at all if you don’t.” 

 Trump then boasted about his performance in Maine in the 2024 election while serving a warning to Mills. “And, by the way, you’re population – even though it’s somewhat liberal, although I did very well there – it doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports," he said. “So, you better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding.” 

 Mills shot back: “See you in court.” 

Trump welcomed the opportunity. “Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one,” the president said, before claiming Mills’ position on trans issues doesn’t bode well for her political future.

Federal funds to Maine which were to go to a child nutrition programs were subsequently frozen. Maine subsequently sued.

 . . . the state's attorneys argued that the child nutrition program received or was due to receive more than $1.8 million for the current fiscal year. Prior year funds that were awarded but are currently inaccessible total more than $900,000, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit also said that the program was anticipating about $3 million that is typically awarded every July for summer meal program sponsor administration and meal reimbursement.

Last month, a federal judge handed Maine a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration's actions:

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze funds intended for a Maine child nutrition program that were suspended amid a disagreement between the state and the president over transgender athletes. District Court Judge John Woodcock issued a temporary restraining order on Friday in a case brought by the state of Maine against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 . . . The court’s order came the same day Maine officials said the state would not comply with a ban on transgender athletes in high school sports in the wake of a Trump administration finding that the state violated antidiscrimination laws by allowing the students to participate. The U.S. Education Department said in March that an investigation concluded the Maine Department of Education violated the federal Title IX law by allowing transgender girls to participate on girls’ teams.

 That decision is probably what led the Trump Administration to settle and allow Maine access to the federal funding. 

Mills told The Associated Press in a statement:

“The state of Maine went to court and fought this unlawful attempt to freeze critical funding for our school lunch program – and we won. I applaud the work of Attorney General Frey and his staff in representing the state in this action against USDA, and preserving healthy school meals for 172,000 Maine school children.”

No doubt after the bravado he used to call out Mills in February, this has to be an embarrassing public loss to Trump and his administration. And we know how Trump hates being embarrassed, particularly in public.

'Donald Trump humiliates his cabinet during meeting' & other Wed/Thur news briefs

This picture, while seemingly over the top, is the best way to describe what Trump made members of his cabinet do Wednesday.

12 Most Painfully Sycophantic Comments From Trump’s ‘Kim Jong Il-Style’ Cabinet Meeting - Unbelievably humiliating. Trump holds a cabinet meeting where each member of his cabinet poured praises on him. It just goes to show how low some people will stoop to attain and keep power. Dignity is luxury you have to surrender when you work for Donald Trump. 

For example, this is what Attorney General Pam Bondi said: 

 “President, your first 100 days has far exceeded that of ANY other presidency in this country. Ever. Ever. Never seen anything like it. Thank you.” 

Youngkin calls on gay Va. GOP LG candidate to exit race over alleged ‘porn’ scandal - Well THIS is happening under everyone's nose.

Illinois governor says don’t blame trans kids for losses by ‘do-nothing Democrats’ in fiery speech - THIS is how you do it, Gavin Newsom. 

Democrats reintroduce landmark LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill - It's a nice thought but with Republicans in charge, I fail to see the why and how. 

'Hetero Awesome Fest' planned for Idaho capitol during LGBTQ Pride Month - I'm curious to see just how awful and dull this will be. 

Canadian Transgender People Avoid Crackdowns With Liberal Election Victory - As Canada proved this week, elections matter. Folks need to remember that and not get distracted again.

Poll: Most Americans oppose trans women competing in female sports, including 2 of 3 in Gen Z - Notice how the poll mentions just trans women. Trans men seem to never be talked about with regards to this issue. That's the crux of it all and there needs to be lots of work done to educate people.

Video: Donald Trump's 100 days of disaster. Americans get what they voted for whether they like it or not (they don't like it).

 

The first 100 days of Donald Trump's second term is over. To put it nicely, it's an epic disaster punctuated by rampant chaos, super ineptitude, disturbing levels of corruption no one could have ever imagined possible and lies so egregious that they would make Nixon rise from his grave to slap the shit out of somebody.

During Trump's first term, other countries laughed at us behind our back. After Trump's first 100 days of his second term, they now laugh in our faces.  And when they aren't doing that, they act like the best friend of a reality tv celebrity; the friend whose vocabulary is punctuated by squeals of "oooooh gurl!" while watching the mounting madness of said celebrity's life.

America was warned. Kamala Harris, Black Americans in general, and so many others told the voters that this would happen if Trump was put back in office. Hell, even Trump's first term should have been a warning. 

Too many people got lazy, angry stupid, or forgetful and here we are. 

Presently, Trump is holding a rally in Michigan where he is freely lying in front of an enthusiastic (and highly stupid) audience. But as the videos above and below show, all of the lies in the world can't cover up the truth. And that truth is America's in trouble and voters have no one to blame but themselves.

What the hell were they thinking?

     

 Related posts: 

Trump has lowest 100-day approval rating in 80 years: POLL 

Poll: After 1st 100 days, Trump's approval rating continues to crater as 57% say he's 'gone too far' on tariffs 

Trump's first 100 days are the worst for the stock market since Nixon 

‘A complete disaster for Arizonans:’ Trump’s first 100 days hits employment, healthcare, and education 

‘I didn’t picture it being this bad!’ Non-MAGA voters eviscerate Trump 

‘Trump’s first 100 days have been a disaster‘: Colorado Lawmakers react to President Trump’s term so far 

Trump made good on cruel promises, ruining countless lives. It's made America worse.

'Wolf in the sheep fold - Anti-LGBTQ activist now heads DOJ Civil Rights Division' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Harmeet Dhillon, who now heads DOJ Civil Rights Division, has a long history of undermining LGBTQ civil rights.

Harmeet Dhillon’s civil rights record raises alarms for LGBTQ+ advocates​ - This is NOT good. It's like a wolf spending years terrorizing the sheep and then is chosen to guard the sheep. 

NYT: Mass Exodus At DOJ’s Civil Rights Division - And here we go. 

Investigation of Dr. Michael Brown Substantiates Reports of Misconduct - Anti-LGBTQ activist Michael Brown is in trouble for ugly sexual misconduct against two women. For the record, I sparred with Brown on more than one occasion about marriage equality. 

North Carolina group changes Pride event name following 'nasty' response - You start it, we finish it. 

I'm proud to be gay. Trump's hate-filled first 100 days won't take that from me. - Preach!!

Log Cabin Republicans group turns its back on LGBTQ families

It turns out that my burst of optimism regarding a recent case argued in front of SCOTUS could have been wrong.

In yesterdays' news briefs, I said that a case of parents demanding opt-out choices with regards to LGBTQ lessons in classrooms won't be a win for said parents because it could cause a lot of chaos. However, court watchers and reporters gave a different opinion. To them, it will probably be another decision in which SCOTUS stretches the definition of religious freedom, while giving us LGBTQ folks another back hand slap.

One national LGBTQ group is hoping that this will be the very outcome. And it's not difficult to guess who. None other than the "House Negroes" of the LGBTQ community - the Log Cabin Republicans

Schools don't have the right to force young children to be exposed to LGBT-centric curriculum without parents' consent.

This case isn't about gay rights. It's about parental rights and religious freedom, a bedrock of our Constitution.

Sounds like SCOTUS sees it the same way. pic.twitter.com/kxnkyqd4zd

— Log Cabin Republicans (@LogCabinGOP) April 23, 2025

This entire case has to do with parents wanting to op-out their kids if lessons encompass LGBTQ people or books containing LGBTQ people are read. It sounds simple, but we all know that simple cases have wide implications. It's not farfetched to point out that an anti-LGBTQ ruling could be used to erase any mentions of LGBTQ people from classrooms, even if children in said classrooms are coming from same-sex households. 

With regard to the Log Cabin Republicans, I don't know what's worse - that the group is repeating the gaslighting phraseology - "forcing young children to be exposed to LGBT-centric curriculum" - or the implications behind the group publicly turning its back on LGBTQ families.

The entire narrative of Log Cabin Republicans is that they are supposedly the "normal gay folks." They like to cast themselves as supposedly being as regular as heterosexual folks while the rest of us in the community are the ones causing the problems by being loud, intolerant, and pushy.  According to them, the basic problem of our community doesn't lie with bigotry or homophobia per se, but with those of us trying so hard to stand out instead of trying to fit in or "assimilate."

But what's more assimilating than LGBTQ people trying to raise children in this society? What's more normal than children attending our schools and being vocal about their families regardless of if they come from a LGBTQ or heterosexual household? 

In the end, these are the ones who could be hurt the most by the latest attempt to gaslight this country into reducing the lives of LGBTQ people (and families) to lascivious caricatures. And they are the ones who the Log Cabin Republicans should be standing with.

Don't be fooled by the fake simplicity of this case or the naked pandering of the Log Cabin Republicans. This is just the latest example of how the conservative right weaponizes faith and Christianity against LGBTQ people. And let's not forget how they are now aided and abetted by a court slowly but steadily pushing the boundaries of religious freedom to the dark area of Christian nationalism, even if they have to misrepresent cases on occasion to accomplish this goal.

'Report claims Trump bragged about using trans people as pawns to fire up his base' & other Tue/Wed news brief

Trump Has Meltdown in Oval Office with NATO Leader - This article was posted on March 13 by Ben Meiselas and Meidas Touch Network, and it details an incredibly insane meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It's a long article but the part concerning transgender Americans stands out: 

Then, Trump pivoted to his usual bigotry. Instead of talking about defense cooperation or global security, Trump bragged about how he uses transgender people as political pawns to rile up his base before elections — saying Republicans should “bring it up a week before the election” to win votes. In other words, he openly admitted he sees cruelty and manufactured culture war nonsense as a campaign strategy. Despicable.

This shouldn't be a surprised to anyone. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't remind people about this every chance we get. It underscores just what an opportunistic bloodsucker Trump is. 

The fact that the following incident allegedly took place last month and wasn't covered widely says two things and they are both awful:

1. The media doesn't seem to care too much about just how trans people are being used as scapegoats.

2. The Trump Administration's tactic of overwhelming us all with constant bullshittery is real.

Nancy Mace barks anti-trans slur right at college student’s face then whines that she’s the victim - Speaking of opportunistic bloodsuckers, Nancy Mace is the queen. It's beginning to be a routine with her - 1. Publicly say something foul (mostly about trans people) 2. Getting challenged. 3. Posting the video of it all while playing the victim (making sure she says that she's "holding the line) 4. Appearing on Fox News or other right-wing news sources while stretching the victim card wider than a girdle on sale. In this particular case, number four hasn't happened yet. But I'm sure it will. 

Minnesota attorney general files preemptive lawsuit against Trump on transgender sports ban - Good for Mr. Ellison. It's on! 

19 Pictures That Absolutely Scream "Straight People Culture" - Some folks may get offended by this, but it's spot on. 

Gay asylum-seeker's lawyer worries for the makeup artist's safety in Salvadoran ‘hellhole’ prison - It's good that folks are giving Trump hell for Abrego Garcia, but this needs as much attention.

Supreme Court conservatives sympathize with parents objecting to LGBTQ-inclusive books - I hope I'm right when I say I genuinely believe that the court will not rule in favor of the parents. Creating something like this would open a door to demanding opt-out policies for everything in school.

''Mr. anti-DEI' Pete Hegseth could be on his way out after continued gross incompetence' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Pete Hegseth, Trump's secretary of defense

How it was going then:

Pete Hegseth Orders Diversity Purge of DOD's Websites, Social Media 

How it's going now: 

Turns Out It Wasn't Such a Great Idea to Put Pete Hegseth in Charge of the Military

It turns out that the person who obviously Didn't Earn It was Hegseth. Rumor control is that he is on his way out after his gross incompetence has created a huge turmoil in the Department of Defense. As the latest news came out, Hegseth sent out a defiant tweet which included a negative smack against the transgender community. It didn't help him. 

In other news 

Supreme Court considers parents’ efforts to exempt children from books with LGBTQ themes - This is ridiculous. I can see opt-out policies in terms of sex education, but when it comes to simply acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ people? Really? This is a weaponization of religion and a smack in the fact of same-sex families and their kids. 

LGBTQ and women’s reproductive rights groups react to death of Pope Francis - Pope Francis passed away Monday morning. His record when it comes to the LGBTQ community was a breath of fresh air to some folks. Others may disagree, though.

Pope Francis dead at 88: Looking back on his LGBTQ+ rights legacy - More about Pope Francis.

Donald Trump’s crusade against “anti-Christian bias” is a major scam - No shit. 

LGBTQ people find confidence and community in self-defense classes - Good. And we should have more classes like this across the nation.

'Trans 'Drag Race' queen gets last laugh on MAGA bully who harassed her' & other Thur midday news briefs

 

Before you read the news briefs, check out the above nonsense which someone sent to me on Twitter. Of course it pisses me off.

For one thing, I would never wear thigh high boots over fishnet stockings. That's simply doing too much.  Not to mention that the boots don't even match the leotard, which I would also never wear because I'm more of a basic black or blue pants suit.  With matching shoes.

Next let's talk about the cape . . . Ew! Okay that's enough about the cape. 

And then there is the wig? Really?

I know the artist's goal was to convey a point, which obviously seems to be that LGBTQ people are loud, oppressive, anti-Christian and cannot dress for shit. I'm not in agreement with the first three points, but I can deal with them

But the tacky dress part? Don't make me pull out my razor.

Onto the news briefs:

A Trumper harassed & shouted slurs at a trans “Drag Race” queen. She got the last laugh. -"Drag Race alum Jasmine Kennedie posted him to social media. Turns out he worked for a gay establishment.... "(Editor's note - he USED to work for a gay establishment. Guess what happened to him?)

Washington State Passes Bill To Cover Some 12-Month Hormone Therapy Stockpiles - A wonderful bill was passed. 

Isaac Julien’s debut U.S. exhibition ‘I Dream A World’ is a retrospective of Black queer existence, resistance & excellence - "British artist and filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien has spent over two decades pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling, establishing himself as a pioneering voice in Black queer art — his art house film Looking for Langston is a Black queer cinema classic. Julien’s first-ever exhibition at an American museum I Dream a World is a testament to his impact, creative vision, and the powerful messages he shares through his multimedia works." 

Get ready for a safe and fabulous LGBTQ+ travel experience - For your travel needs. 

 Planned Parenthood resumes gender-affirming care after patient backlash - Arizona branch of Planned Parenthood briefly gave in to bullies and got reminded by the community it serves to not give in.

Is Nancy Mace trying to dog whistle her way to the SC governor's mansion?

 Rumor control is that SC Congresswoman Nancy Mace is considering a run for Governor. If it's true, then the recent tweet she sent out might give an indication of how she plans to attract voters:

I want our kids to learn about A-E-I-O-U instead of L-G-B-T-Q.

— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) April 14, 2025

Mace has in the past made a spectacle of herself by picking fights with the trans leaders, allies, and the community in general.  And all the name of "women's safety, 

At least that's her claim.

Thus far, she has continuously verbally targeted trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride, threatened to fight another Congresswoman (Jasmine Crockett) for daring to question her motives, and had a trans ally arrested for assault (the charges were later dropped) when all he did was merely shake her hand.  And the day after the alleged incident, she was seen several times in the halls of Congress walking around with her arm in a sling.

With the above tweet, Mace could be indicating that she is stretching her net of scapegoating to ensnare entire LGBTQ community She is embracing the very old, but very effective, lie that schools are somehow teaching students to be LGBTQ and even the acknowledgement to kids that LGBTQ people exist is akin to teaching them about sexual intercourse, encouraging them to be transgender, or whatever the bigoted narrative may be at the time. The irony is that Mace was an "ally" to our community, but she claimed that the trans community was the reason why she turned against us.

Her eagerness to embrace the ugliest smears about our entire community pretty much says that she was lying.

Or in layman's terms, full of shit.

According to Mace's former employees (Mace was labeled as a toxic boss with a 100 percent turnover rate in The New Republic), she absolutely craves attention. There is even a story confirmed by former staffers that Mace wanted to confront the mob who rioted at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 with the goal of getting roughed up.

From The Huffington Post:

Former staffers who spoke to the (Washington) Post on the condition of anonymity said Mace was furious with the former president for inciting the riots and believed video of a violent altercation would “give credence to her anti-Trump position.” 

 Three sources who spoke to The Daily Beast corroborated the Post’s report, saying they heard Mace explicitly telling staffers she intended to “get punched in the face.”

 “She literally begged us to let her leave the office and head to the floor so she could ‘get punched in the face’ and ‘get media attention,’” one former aide told The Daily Beast. “That’s word for word what she requested.” The source added that there were “several of us in the office who heard it.”

No doubt Mace is counting on the (maybe fair, maybe unfair) reputation of South Carolina as a redder than red state to ride a wave of bigotry and ignorance to the governor's mansion. Whatever the case may be, I would suggest that South Carolina's LGBTQ community start preparing themselves just in case.  

And above all, be ready for anything.

Mace has also been called a joke by former staffers, but that doesn't mean her possible political aspirations shouldn't be taken seriously.  As the present situation in the White House should tell us, political jokes who actually win are no longer funny. 

And that's probably because the voters get hit with the punchline.

'The courts hand Trump a loss in his transphobic war against Maine' & other Mon/ Tue news briefs

Editor's note - Just doing my part for the anti-Trump resistance. We won the first war in 2020, but apparently some folks got forgetful AND stupid. So, we are at an ugly moment in this country's history which is akin to the Friday the 13th horror movie franchise mixed with George Orwell's book, 1984.

Trump administration ordered to unfreeze funding in dispute with Maine over transgender students - Trump is already disregarding court decisions in two other cases. Will this be number three? Still, glad to see the courts trying to put a roadblock against his stupidity. 

How one Maine high school became the center of Trump's war on trans student athletes - This is how it all began: 

It started with a track meet. A transgender girl on the Greely High School track team in Maine had won a pole-vaulting event, and a state politician took to Facebook to complain. The lawmaker not only circulated the girl’s name but included a side-by-side image of her competing in the boy’s division two years before. As the Feb. 17 post went viral in conservative media, it drew the attention of the Trump administration, which had, in an executive order, effectively banned transgender students from participating in girls' and women's sports.

 President Donald Trump confronted Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, demanding that her state comply with the order. She hasn’t agreed. And the school district hasn’t backed down. Now Greely High School is at the center of a conflict over Title IX, the civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. On Friday, the Trump administration moved to pull all federal education funding — a major escalation risking over $200 million per year for Maine schools. 

Transgender pilot falsely linked to DC plane crash sues conservative influencer, alleging defamation - And I hope she wins. 

Hungary passes constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events - The struggle is always worldwide, y'all. 

Bowen Yang opens up about 'healing' after his parents put him in conversion therapy - Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang gives a powerful story about having to go through 'ex-gay' therapy. 

16 gay NFL players who proved that LGBTQ+ athletes belong in football - HELLO! We are representing in pro football!

J.K. Rowling throws hissy fit after John Oliver nukes hysteria about trans athletes

 

Comedian John Oliver calls out the hysteria about trans athletes for the lie that it is and gets (former gay ally and present transphobe) Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling all upset. His entire segment is above for those who want to see it. Rowling's hissy fit and Oliver's response is below. 

Good job, John!

John Oliver Stirs J.K. Rowling Outrage After Criticizing Right Wing ‘Obsession’ With Banning Trans Athletes; Rowling Tells Him to ‘Read the F—ing Room’ 

John Oliver Says It Feels ‘Weird’ to Get So Much Hate From JK Rowling, Given His Resemblance to Harry Potter | Video

Pictures: 'Hands Off' protest in Columbia, SC hoping to send a message to Donald Trump and Elon Musk

On Saturday, my city of Columbia, SC joined a vast multitude of other cities across the nation in "Hands Off" mass rallies and protests. Folks were expressing their anger at various actions of the Trump Administration including illegal deportations, tanking the economy via brainless tariffs against our allies, allowing billionaire Elon Musk to gut government agencies, attacks against African-Americans, the LGBTQ community, and other non-white communities, etc etc.

For me not to feel like a hypocrite in posting the following pictures, I admit that I was reticent about these mass protests. A lot of African-Americans feel the same and some of us made the point to say we were staying out of it. 

I'm not trying to speak for everyone, but a lot of us feel a general sense of betrayal due to the election. We showed up and did what we were supposed to, but some folks and groups who should have known better (particularly members of the Muslim and Latino communities and progressives) deliberately failed to do their duty on election day. They either did not vote at all, voted for Trump, or voted third party (hello Jill Stein) under the delusions that they were somehow "punishing" the Democratic party for certain offenses or that Trump could be trusted.

These people know who they are, and I know that a large number of them took place in Saturday's protests without any self-realization (or maybe with full self-realization) that if they weren't so damn stubborn, Trump wouldn't be perched in the Oval Office now like some vulgarly orange vulture.

Having said all of that, Saturday's mass protests was a good step in the positive direction. But it remains to be seen whether folks will keep up the anger AND FOCUS when it's time to vote again.