Friday, March 31, 2017

'92 reasons to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility' & other Fri midday news briefs


92 Gorgeous Photos That Show What It Really Means To Be Trans - Ninety-two reasons to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility (with the proviso that there are so many more reasons.)  

"Never Give Up": Trans People Share Messages Of Love And Support For Trans Day Of Visibility - Never forget your value and never allow other people to reduce your worth.  

N.C. governor ‘threw the LGBT community under the bus’- Yes he did. No one is happy with that jacked up, screwed up HB2 "repeal." 

The decades-old anti-gay illogic used to demonize transgender people - What I have been saying consistently. The same crap used to demonize gay men is now being using to demonize transgender men and women. The same technique, the same reliance on easily debunked anecdotal stories, the same appeal to people's basic prejudicial ignorance. . .  

Arkansas 'bathroom bill' dead for session, to be studied - For now. Let's not celebrate yet.  

These Photos Posted By People Of Color In Love Make A Beautiful Point - Let's end today's news briefs on a positive note.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Lies about elderly transgender men & women a new, but not unexpected low for religious right


One fact which is consistent with religious right attacks on the lgbtq community is their reliance on boogeymen and horror stories. Anti-lgbtq groups and personalities are always invoking horrible semantics and ugly images of anecdotal stories (usually lies) about what would happen if any bill or action helping our community is advanced.

Anita Bryant was really the first to do this when she claimed in the 70s that a pro-gay law would allow gay men to "recruit" children. This claim was the root of her successful campaign to overturn a pro-gay law in Florida. Since then, this line of attack has been used by the religious right in opposing everything pro-lgbtq from non-discrimination ordinances to marriage equality.

But there is another boogeyman they are using. Via the hate group American Family Association's fake news service One News Now:

Some California legislators are taking another step to make sure transgendered individuals are accommodated by young and old – this time affecting nursing homes. California Senator Scott Wiener (D) has introduced SB 219, the California LGBT Seniors Long-Term Care Bill of Rights, for members of the LGBT community in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. Karen England, head of Capitol Resource Institute in Sacramento, tells OneNewsNow the bill would invade the privacy of everyone in retirement communities "when a transgender wants to come and room with them or shower with them." 
 Columnist John Stewart describes SB 219 as "buffoonery" and says while it contains several provisions most evangelicals wouldn't consider objectionable, it does contain a "glaring" provision that forces employees of long-term care facilities to "use the resident's preferred pronoun." Stewart also points out it's not the first time California has forced the ideology on a vulnerable group. England agrees. England "They [promoted] mandating it in schools, kindergarten through 12th grade," she says. "Now they're mandating it with the elderly who are having to be cared for and who were trusting these facilities to make sure our grandparents and older siblings are taken care of."

Seriously, folks? Spinning tales about horror stories about elderly transgender  men and women? That's  beyond low.

The problem with refuting this is the same as refuting  horror stories about gay men and children. The difficulty lies with the execution of refutation. We have got to start calling these groups, personalities, and lies out in a wider form instead of fighting singular battles. Isn't always convenient that they have an excuse to oppose every pro-lgbtq law, ordinance, and action? And isn't it always convenient that their "reasons" involve horror stories and anecdotal evidence of mayhem, which often doesn't become reality.

So why do we fight every time they come at us with this mess as a singular battle? How often do we call general attention to the tactic they are using?

How often does anyone of us or our spokespeople who have great media exposure say something like, "Look, these groups and people are always bringing up stories about gay or transgender boogeymen. They know that a religious argument alone won't win it for them so they constantly conjure up these lies designed to mess with people's heads, appeal to their egos, or give them false reasons to oppose pro-lgbtq legislation so they don't have to admit to their own homophobia. It's all they got and they know it. They also know that what they say are lies. It's no different than racists claiming that black men live for ravishing white women. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if they hide behind religion, it doesn't matter if it's  about schools, nursing homes, bathrooms, or anything else. We are dealing with organizations and people who are out to hinder the lgbtq community and have no problem with lying to do it because they've have lied so many times in the past with a straight face and clutching the mantle of their so-called religious beliefs."

Now how hard is it to say that and to consistently push that argument until we have a grounds for a fair conversation (for a change) when it comes to this so-called culture battle?
 . . .

'HB2 'repeal' bill not genuine repeal' & other Thur midday news briefs


North Carolina Senate Approves Bill To Repeal HB2, Despite Objections From LGBTQ Groups - There are objections because it is actually no deal. It's not worth the paper it would be written on. Hold firm for full repeal. No deal. 

North Carolina attempts bait-and-switch with NCAA, pushes new anti-LGBT bill - Zack Ford of Think Progress nails it.  

It’s a first: Johns Hopkins loses points with HRC for anti-LGBTQ stance - Meanwhile, doing what needs to be done to stop the flow of anti-lgbq junk science.  

Wolves in the hen house: Look who Texas recruited to promote its bathroom bill - The trillionth and one reason why it is NEVER a good idea to ignore anti-lgbtq groups. They can sneak alliances with your state legislators. 

 Numerous Anti-LGBT Adoption Laws Are Popping Up Across The Country - Tell me how this isn't about hate. I double dog dare you!

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

'Gays for Trump' depresses the 'gay' out of me

Not every gay person is upset that the Trump Administration won't include questions of sexual orientation and gender identity from the 2020 census, and thereby rendering the lgbtq community somewhat invisible.

A group on Twitter, 'Gays for Trump', is ecstatic.

First of all, is this even an actual group? If so, I apologize in advance for how angry or depressed the following twitter exchange between me and them will make you feel:




I didn't receive an answer back from the group. I would like to think that whoever is in charge of their twitter feed  read what I had to say and had an epiphany of shame. That epiphany of shame subsequently will lead him to resign his membership in such an ugly self-defeating group and he will be  dedicating his life to the advancement of all lgbtq people.

Of course I would also like to think that Rob Kardashian is my love slave and I have a feeling that I have a better chance of Rob calling me "big daddy" than anyone in the 'Gays for Trump' group recognizing their own ignorance.

'Trump creating subtle but disastrous policies against lgbt community' & other Wed midday news briefs

Anyone believing that Trump is pro-lgbt is a SERIOUS dunce.

It would seem that over the past day and a half, the Trump Administration has been making quiet, albeit, disastrous policy decisions against the lgbt community. Do you think it's to distract from the ever growing Russia controversy? There is no telling but if it is, distracting everyone's attention by attacking the lgbt community is a stupid move. You know how we are. We'll screw with Trump so bad that he will be confessing about Russian interference on twitter JUST to get us off of his ass.

Trump Signs Executive Order Giving Federal Contractors License to Discriminate Against LGBT Workers - UGH! 

Trump revokes executive order, weakens protections for LGBT workers - Why the above move is dangerous to the lgbt community. 

 The U.S. Won’t Tally LGBT People In 2020 Census - He did this yesterday . . .  

Trump and Pence want to slash $350 million from HIV/AIDS prevention budgets - Meanwhile, he and Pence wants to gut HIV/AIDS funding.  

Christians are angry Vimeo took down a 'gay cure therapy' channel - My heart BLEEDS for these fake ass Christians.  

Texans' Bob McNair against Texas bathroom bill - All eyes are on Texas where a powerful man can help to sink a very transphobic bill.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Hate group humiliates itself with 'Disney and gay agenda' article

Peter LaBarbera thinks Disney is pushing a 'gay' conspiracy

Angry at the runaway success of the live-action 'Beauty and the Beast' movie in spite of a religious right boycott over the introduction of a gay character, anti-lgbt hate group American Family Association, via its fake news publication One News Now, has published an "expose" on the Disney corporation in general.

According to One News Now, Disney is part of a conspiracy to push the (cue the solemnly dreadful music) "gay agenda."

As the “gay moment” in Disney’s current box office hit Beauty and the Beast continues to shock evangelicals and social conservatives across America who have boycotted the film – believing it is kicking off an LGBT propaganda campaign – many do not realize that Disney has been aggressively promoting homosexuality for nearly two decades. From The Little Mermaid animated sensation that hit theaters decades ago to the more recent Finding Dory and popular animated TV series Stars vs. the Forces of Evil, Disney has been promoting forms of homosexuality on the big and small screen – and even off the screen.

One News Now's "expose" doesn't say as to how 'The Little Mermaid' or 'Finding Dory' is pushing any "gay agenda." The piece seems to be obsessed with focusing on a 1998 incident in which former CEO Michael Eisner allegedly claimed that 40 percent of Disney employees were gay.

'Hate group accuses Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Tom Hanks, & Alec Baldwin of pushing 'aggressive gay agenda'' & other Tue midday news briefs

Anti-lgbt hate group accusing Amy Poehler and Tina Fey of pushing 'gay agenda.'

Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler accused of pushing an ‘aggressive gay agenda’ - The anti-lgbt hate group Liberty Counsel have accused Tom Hanks, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Alec Baldwin of pushing an "aggressive gay agenda" because they are supporting a telethon for the American Civil Liberties Union. I have one question - why can't gay men keep their mouths shut. I mean that's four spies whose covers are blown! #snark 

School Pulls Book About Gender Non-Conforming Kid After Backlash - Meanwhile, those books about a wolf eating a little girl with interesting fashion sense, a blondie breaking and entering a house owned by three bears, and the juvenile living in sin in the forest with seven coal miners will remain. Come on folks. The child is simply wearing a dress. I mean is that so bad?! 

How a Gay Employee Fought Horrific Discrimination and Won a Major Legal Victory - Good for him! I hope he wins.

 Debunking the New Atlantis Article On Sexuality And Gender - Siiiigh! As usual, the anti-lgbtq right is always trying to sneak in a fake study on us.

Monday, March 27, 2017

Franklin Graham called out for homophobia & Trump hypocrisy

Charlotte Observer writer calls out Franklin's hypocrisy.

I hate it when I nearly miss good posts calling out the religious right, such as this one. Over a month ago, Issac Bailey of The Charlotte Observer called out Franklin Graham in a wonderful column Franklin Graham's God isn't mine; is he yours? 

The column blasted Franklin's hypocrisy  about Donald Trump and manic devotion to linking Christianity to conservative politics. Over a month later, it's still causing a buzz.  Check out this snippet:

I am a Christian, born and raised in a Christian family, a man who attended a conservative Christian church for nearly two decades and had my kids dedicated there. But I do not serve the God Graham serves. His God is vengeful and petty. His God favors the already-privileged and doesn’t mind condemning the already-marginalized. His God prefers preserving tradition to saving lives, or even souls. His God wouldn’t care much about the findings in a new study from Johns Hopkins’ School of Public Health, which showed that gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers have been less likely to try to kill themselves in states that embraced gay marriage.  
.  . . It has always fascinated me that a God who Graham says is never-changing always finds a way to morph in ways that seem to parallel shifts in the Republican Party. The GOP targeted abortion in the 1970s; Graham’s God has been condemning abortion since. The GOP decided to view transgendered Americans as a grave threat to the social order; lo and behold, now so does Graham’s God. After the GOP says a thrice-married adulterous man caught on video bragging about casually sexually assaulting women – after spending years elevating a bigoted conspiracy about the nation’s first black president – is the perfect standard bearer for the party of values voters, Graham’s God miraculously sees past sins for which Donald Trump never repented and elevates him to the highest office in the land. 

'Trump's actions greenlighting the harassment of transgender children' & other Mon. midday news briefs


Trump is greenlighting the harassment of transgender kids - "Make America Great Again," my ass. In the future when some folks vote, they need to think of all of the possible repercussions:

“Ever since Trump rescinded the guidance, I’ve been harassed and bullied and yelled at in the halls,” said Howard, a sophomore at Ozark High School in southwest Missouri. “I have been declared not a person. I am an ‘it.’” Howard, a transgender boy, says he had been using the boys’ bathroom at his public high school since the beginning of the school year without any problems. But that changed last month, when the Trump administration reversed Obama-era guidelines affirming transgender students’ right to use the bathroom in line with their gender identities. One day later, Howard says, he was chased into a bathroom stall by another boy, who banged on the door and yelled in the halls that there was a woman in the wrong bathroom. As he sees it, the timing of the incident was no coincidence. 

This Video About A Dad’s Acceptance Of His Lesbian Daughter Will Hit You Right In The Feels - I LOVE this . . . and I know you will too. 

 North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ law is costing the state’s economy hundreds of millions a year - And those who don't learn the lesson from this will no doubt repeat it.

 In West Virginia, LGBTQ advocates see a shift toward support - Hope for the future. 

Anti-LGBT Doc Paul McHugh: I Will Not Be Silenced - And neither. will. we. You damn right we are an army because people like you have been getting away with your trash for too long.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Family Research Council fails to clean up sleaze of its attack on transgender children

Yesterday, the anti-lgbt hate group Family Research Council exploited the alleged rape of a Maryland high school student in order to smear transgender children. Now the organization is attempting to play a pathetic form of defense for the offending post:


In a follow-up to yesterday's Update story on the Rockville High School tragedy, a handful of critics have accused FRC on social media of somehow exploiting the rape to advance our privacy agenda. In their opinion, if anyone saw the 14-year-old girl go into the boys' bathroom, they would have reported it. However, one of the defense attorneys told Fox News's Bret Baier last night, "This is a bathroom in the middle of the day, where it doesn't appear that she was screaming or that anybody heard anything going on. And there were other kids that apparently saw her going in..." We may never know what role the district's transgender bathroom policy played in this horrible incident. But we do know one thing: it's just one more obstacle to ensuring the safety of students like this one.

On the risk of sounding egotistical, the "handful of critics" FRC alluded to may have been just little ole me. For one thing,  I published a post last night calling out the group for the same reason it cites in the above supposed clarification.  For another thing, a quick investigation by myself failed to find any other blog or news source who called out FRC.

The organization's attempt to clarify its post is simply pathetic. Notice how  FRC alters its description of the incident.

FRC yesterday:

Headlines about school bathrooms have become pretty commonplace over the last year, but there was nothing common about what happened in Rockville, Maryland. In a horrifying story that's rocking the nation, a young 14-year-old girl was walking down the hallway when two older students in her class allegedly grabbed her, dragged her into the boys' bathroom, and took turns raping her.

FRC today:

In a follow-up to yesterday's Update story on the Rockville High School tragedy, a handful of critics have accused FRC on social media of somehow exploiting the rape to advance our privacy agenda. In their opinion, if anyone saw the 14-year-old girl go into the boys' bathroom, they would have reported it.


What happened to the "grabbing" and "dragging?"

But the central point I was making is that FRC was extremely sleazy in not only exploiting the incident, but how it exploited the incident. And I stand by my point because of FRC's  ridiculous statement today:

We may never know what role the district's transgender bathroom policy played in this horrible incident. But we do know one thing: it's just one more obstacle to ensuring the safety of students like this one.

That's not true because we do know.  The district's trans-inclusive policy played NO PART in the incident.  Furthermore, there was no reason to introduce the policy into debates about the incident until the Family Research Council attempted to slip it in.

But exploitation, fear, and scapegoating never needs a reason, right FRC?

'Trump picks anti-lgbt activist to lead civil rights office' & other Fri. midday news briefs

Severino
Trump taps anti-LGBTQ activist Roger Severino to lead HHS Civil Rights Office - And the award in the category of 'ARE YOU #!@^ KIDDING ME!' goes to . . .

Adoption bill stalls in Georgia after anti-LGBT amendment added - Poison pill poisons a bill (yeah, I know. It's a corny rhyme.)

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal opposes anti-LGBT provisions to adoption bill - And IF that bill gets un-stalled, it continues to face problems. 

Social Conservatives’ ‘Free Speech Bus’ Vandalized in NYC - THIS is depressing. Not defending any type of vandalism here, but that's really the reason WHY this project was formed - to get a reaction and to get those reacting to act foolish, publicize the foolishness to generate press and funds by playing the victims. The organization behind this, the National Organization for Marriage, have used this tactic on so many occasions and unfortunately it always works.

Rick Perry Is Challenging Texas A&M’s Election Of Its First Gay Student Body President - Go ahead, Rick. Make people remember THE COMMERCIAL.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Family Research Council exploits rape incident to smear transgender children

FRC's latest attack on transgender youth is especially vile.

Just when one thinks the anti-lgbt hate group Family Research Council reached the zenith of bad taste in its desire to attack the lgbt community, the organization reveals that it can go to another level:

Headlines about school bathrooms have become pretty commonplace over the last year, but there was nothing common about what happened in Rockville, Maryland. In a horrifying story that's rocking the nation, a young 14-year-old girl was walking down the hallway when two older students in her class allegedly grabbed her, dragged her into the boys' bathroom, and took turns raping her. Later, after the arrests, police explained that the young men, who were enrolled as ninth graders despite being 17- and 18-years old, never should have been in the country in the first place.  
 According to reports, both boys crossed the Mexican border illegally last year. And although they were taken into custody by border control, they were allowed to move to relatives' homes until their deportation hearings. Last night, at a packed PTA meeting, parents were furious that more hadn't been done to protect students. "There are a lot of people here that maybe don't belong here," one said. "They haven't been checked out and I really need to know that my kids are safe." Others complained that the school admitted the students in the first place. Administrators were in damage control mode, explaining that the Supreme Court forbid schools from denying education based on a person's immigration status. Still, one attorney said, "There were long speeches from the principal, from the superintendent, from others who were associated with them explaining why this could never have happened when it did. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound to cure it."  
 Outside, members of the community held signs that read, "Safety for students" -- a rallying cry that's been on parents' minds since President Obama made school bathrooms and locker rooms a sexual free-for-all last spring. Suddenly, areas that should be safe and private aren't. And while school officials promise that they're more vigilant in monitoring the school, transgender policies like these only make that job more difficult. Some liberals argue that letting boys into the girls' bathroom isn't a big deal. But who knows if, in Montgomery County Schools where Obama's policy is in effect, someone saw this girl go into the boys' bathroom and didn't say something because of it?  
Administrators told Rockville parents to remind their kids that if they "see something inappropriate, they should immediately tell a staff member." That becomes infinitely more difficult when what's inappropriate has already been normalized! In the county's own guidelines, students are told to "foster understanding" -- code for students to look the other way when something seems amiss. Maybe a bystander would have been told, as the Pennsylvania junior was when he saw a girl in the boys' locker room, to "tolerate" it.
 As I told members of the Texas Senate, who, like 12 other states, are doing everything they can to restore some semblance of safety to bathrooms, policies like Montgomery County's are dangerous. They ignore the deterrent value of the ordinary citizen empowered to sound the alarm when something appears out of place -- like a biological male in a girls' bathroom. Students may be less willing and less likely to "say something if they see something" out of fear they would be accused of "gender identity discrimination." Regardless of the circumstances, schools should be rushing to remove any obstacle that stands in the way of students and safety. It's what parents expect, and what children deserve.

At no point am I attempting to minimize the awful situation regarding that young girl, but it's incredibly tacky for FRC to exploit the incident. FRC is saying that jf transgender youth were allowed to use locker rooms and bathrooms which correspond to their desired gender identity, it would make other students so confused that they wouldn't be able to report seeing a young girl (let's repeat FRC's words describing the incident) grabbed and dragged into a bathroom. FRC is also saying that pro-transgender policies would make it difficult for school officials to keep students safe for this same reason.  This is a ludicrous argument. Its inanity is best emphasized by this line

But who knows if, in Montgomery County Schools where Obama's policy is in effect, someone saw this girl go into the boys' bathroom and didn't say something because of it?  
The child didn't go into the boys' bathroom. She was dragged in. It stands to reason that if anyone saw it, they would have reported it regardless of any policy.

FRC's spin is not only a vile attack on our transgender youth, but also one on common sense. Its not surprising, though. Appeals to fears don't require the usage of common sense.

Editor's note - Regarding the incident in Pennsylvania the Family Research Council alluded to, here is the actual situation.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Religious right salivating over possible havoc SCOTUS nominee Gorsuch could cause lgbt community

Gorsuch
According to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch, religious right groups and figures are practically giddy over Trump's SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch. In fact, it's downright disgusting how they are already celebrating the possible negative effect he may have on lgbt equality:

Family Research Council president, Tony Perkins . . . the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, who had been invited to Trump’s announcement of the Gorsuch nomination, noted (accurately) that “conservative groups like FRC are lining up behind Neil Gorsuch’s nomination” and wrote (inaccurately) that Democrats were “having trouble finding anything wrong with the Supreme Court nominee.” Perkins was among other Religious Right leaders putting stock in Gorsuch’s grounding in “natural law,” which they see providing a basis to reject reproductive choice and LGBTQ equality: 
"For so many Americans, who have watched as a handful of justices redefine thousands of years of tradition and natural law, listening to Gorsuch was like a breath of fresh air. Unlike so many judicial activists today, he understands his role. In a world where issues like same-sex marriage and abortion were suddenly discovered in the invisible ink of the Constitution, Gorsuch offered hope that he would not declare what he would “like the [law] to be” but “what it is.”

NOM -  . . .the National Organization for Marriage called Gorsuch “an intellectual giant and proven pro-family conservative who can help transform the Court” and who “has the potential of leading the Supreme Court in a conservative direction for a generation to come.” NOM specifically touted the potential for overturning the Court’s 2015 marriage equality decision: 
The clearest path to reversing that illegitimate decision is, thus, changing the makeup of the Supreme Court. The confirmation of Judge Gorsuch is the first step on that path. Then we need to make sure that the next vacancy on the Court is filled by an originalist judge in the mold of Justice Scalia, as Judge Gorsuch’s background and track record show him to be. 

 Gordon Klingenschmitt - . . .anti-gay activist and former Colorado state legislator Gordon Klingenschmitt slammed LGBTQ groups for raising concerns about Gorsuch’s ruling in Hobby Lobby: “Clearly the homosexual leftists hate religious freedom as much as they hate Neil Gorsuch.” Klingenschmitt posted a picture of Gorsuch fishing with the late Antonin Scalia, adding that Gorsuch “may actually be more conservative than Scalia on issues like de-regulation.”

And all of this is happening in the backdrop of allegations that Trump's people coordinated with Russia to influence last year's presidential elections. How many folks want to bet that there are certain prayers by certain parties asking that Gorsuch be confirmed before the Russia investigation continues 

'Trump Administration turns its back on elderly lgbts' & other Wed. midday news briefs

 
The Trump Administration just eliminated the voices of elderly lgbts from national survey.


Trump Administration Removes LGBTQ Questions From Elderly Survey - It's official and we need to be PISSED about it for a multitude of reasons. 

Trump administration erases LGBT people from survey of older adults - More information on this issue and why it is significant in a terrible way.  Is it too paranoid for me to smell the religious right tentacles in this decision?

 Don’t Be Fooled: Neil Gorsuch Is Having It Both Ways On Gay Marriage - Most likely the newest SCOTUS justice. A product of obstruction and folks refusing to pay attention.  

NOM & Global Culture Warriors Launch Anti-Trans Bus Tour - Doesn't this make you feel nauseous?

 This Gorgeous Photo Series Crushes Stereotypes About Black Masculinity - Destroying stereotypes about black masculinity is something which interests me A LOT.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Anti-lgbt hate group playing defense for Trump's false wiretapping claim

By now, I don't think I have to rehash the situation involving Trump's false claim that Obama had him wiretapped last year. Yesterday, FBI Director James Comey became the latest government official to refute it.

However, don't tell that to the anti-lgbt hate group American Family Association or its fake news site, One News Now. You would ruin the organization's attempt to provide credibility to Trump's continuously refuted claim via an article on its site, A quest to stump Trump, not dig for truth

The article says that disputing Trump's claim is a part of a conspiracy to harm his presidency (as if he needs the help). The pièce de résistance of this hot mess is the One News Now poll below:


One would think that a group which prides itself on morality wouldn't be so quick to defend the lies of a man who doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word "honesty." Perhaps the American Family Association has decided that until Trump gives up that "religious liberty" executive order, the group will kiss his butt and then brag about how it tastes like what was served during The Last Supper.
  

'How Trump transformed the religious right into lapdogs of the alt-right' & other Tue. midday news briefs

The religious right have deserted the guy on the right for the guy on the right.

Amazing Disgrace: How did Donald Trump—a thrice-married, biblically illiterate sexual predator—hijack the religious right? - Probably the best article you will ever read which explains Trump's appeal to the religious right. However, there is one error as far as I'm concerned. Trump didn't hijack the religious right. The way this article breaks this down, it is very appropriate that someone like Trump would become a religious right leader.  Under their  facade of piety was always an appeal to basic prejudice.

Religious Right Rallies ‘Round Trump’s Anti-LGBTQ UN Delegation - Trump appealed to the religious right's need for power.

  The Dangers Facing Trans Women Of Color In 2017 - Siiiigh! 

 Why Neil Gorsuch’s Idea of ‘Religious Liberty’ Is A Direct Threat to LGBTQ Rights - Pay attention. Signorile breaks it down again. 

 Georgia governor slams ‘religious liberty’ change to adoption bill - Trying to slip some evil "religious liberty" junk in GA bill.

Monday, March 20, 2017

Hate group: Pro-lgbtq ordinances means automatic anti-religious discrimination



It would seem that the anti-lgbt hate group Alliance Defending Freedom is taking the fight against pro- lgbt laws a step further. In the past, an incident would happen, such as the case of Melissa and Aaron Klein or Barronelle Stutzman, which would cause strife between pro-lgbt ordinances versus the so-called personally held beliefs of business owners to discriminate against lgbts. But now, ADF is trying to eliminate the "middle man," so to speak.

Via a case in Phoenix, the group is making the claim that pro-lgbt laws and ordinances automatically will lead to religious discrimination, therefore such laws and ordinances shouldn't exist in the first place.

According to the American Family Association's phony news site, One News Now:

Alliance Defending Freedom works to preserve and defend religious freedom, calling it "our most cherished birthright." Toward that end, ADF is representing Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio in Phoenix who specialize in hand-painting, hand-lettering, and calligraphy for weddings and other events. ADF filed suit on the artists' behalf against a local ordinance that forces the business owners to use their artistic talents to promote same-gender "wedding" ceremonies. 
 The ordinance also forbids them – under threat of fines and jail time – from publicly stating religious beliefs that might "imply" anyone would be "unwelcome" in their business because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. ADF attorney Jeremy Tedesco tells OneNewsNow the lawsuit is designed to temporarily block enforcement until a full hearing can be held on the ordinance, which could force Duka and Koski to violate their faith.

Duka and Koski filed their case in May of last year with the help of the ADF as sort of a first salvo. According to ThinkProgress, it didn't go well for them:

With support from the anti-LGBT Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, co-owners of the Brush & Nib calligraphy studio, filed suit in May challenging Phoenix’s ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public accommodations. Though they have not yet been asked to provide invitations or other designs for a same-sex wedding, they want to overturn the law so that their eventual refusal to do so won’t be illegal. 
 . . .Judge Karen Mullins rejected the artists’ claim that being required to serve same-sex couples violated their freedoms of speech and religion. She denied them a preliminary injunction as the case proceeds, sending a not-so-subtle hint that their pro-discrimination claims aren’t going to get very far. ADF had argued that if Brush & Nib is forced to create products that are used in a same-sex wedding, it would constitute compelled speech. Mullins countered that “the only thing compelled by the ordinance is the sale of goods and services to persons regardless of their sexual orientation.” Duka and Koski are perfectly free to publicly state their religious views concerning same-sex marriage and same-sex sexual activity — so long as they don’t publicize an intention to discriminate in their business.

Since that time, religious and conservative publications have been pushing Duka and Koski as martyrs for their faith, making sure to emphasize the possibility that the two could go to jail, while pushing a false idea that the religious liberty argument is about "Christians" vs. lgbts.:

Christian Artists Threatened With Fines and Jail Time for Refusing to Make Gay Wedding Invitations

Christian Artists Could Be Fined, Jailed for Refusing to Make Same-Sex Wedding Invitations

The War On Wedding Vendors Is Ultimately A War On Free Thought

Christian Artists Face Prison for Refusing to Make Gay Wedding Invitations

 In reality, this "religious liberty" argument is about a group of people bogarting a religion and exploiting it to excuse their personal biases and false entitlements. Today's article in One News Now is simply more of that same bluster and balderdash. And bear in mind that neither woman is in any danger of going to jail. As far as it is known, to this day, no gay person has come to their business asking for wedding services.

Even so, the case is going in front of an Arizona appeals court, so we will be hearing about it again. It's cases like this which have religious right groups and personalities practically salivating when thinking of what type of judges Trump could appoint to the bench.




'Anti-transgender law being blamed for Duke's upset loss in NCAA tournament' & other Mon. midday news briefs

NC's anti-transgender law is being blame for Duke's NCCA upset loss.

Here’s Why Some Irate Duke Fans Blamed Team’s Upset Loss on North Carolina’s ‘Bathroom Law’ - Duke University was predicted to win the NCAA championship but got upset last night by the University of South Carolina. And some Duke fans are blaming NC's anti-transgender law, HB2. Well this is interesting. 

Duke Got Burned By North Carolina's HB2 Bathroom Law - Another article on the matter. This sounds like the making of an anti-HB2 argument. EXCELLENT!  

A roaring hit! Beauty And The Beast smashes U.S. weekend box office records with staggering $170m debut - So much for THAT religious right boycott.

 Trump Administration Proposes Eliminating LGBT Elders from Key Federal Survey - A press release on a vital danger to our lgbt elderly citizens. This cannot happen!  

North Texans Head To Austin To Rally For LGBTQ Rights - Wonderful, cause they are acting screwy in Texas. Big time.

  YouTube apologizes for hiding LGBTQ users’ videos in its Restricted Mode - Alright youtube, Don't be foolish.

This just in - 'transgender bathroom predators' is STILL a myth

The following graphic is courtesy of a Media Matters 2014 investigation. Though it is almost three years old, I'm secure in saying that it remains accurate. And a reminder about truth never hurts:



Friday, March 17, 2017

'Supreme Court Justice Alito whines that lgbts are treating conservative Christians like 'bigots'' & other Friday midday news briefs

By not calling attention to propaganda like this pushed by the religious right, lgbts have allowed ourselves to be portrayed as the villains in this supposed 'culture war.'

Supreme Court Justice Alito: Gays treat conservative Christians ‘as bigots’ - Don't get mad at Alito for pushing this idea. The way he has inaccurately phrased the fight over lgbt equality is our fault because we have allowed folks like him to push this idea that lgbts are "intolerant" to conservative Christians without a loud and vigorous challenge. We have allowed the religious right to omit the many lies they have told about our lives, our families, and our marriages. We have allowed them to omit their history of telling lies about lgbts supposedly recruiting children, about how we are supposedly persecuting Christians, or about how we supposedly live a "dangerous lifstyle." We don't call attention to their reliance on junk science or cherry-picking of legitimate science. We don't make an issue out of any of this stuff. By pretending we are above challenging this stuff and playing the mamby-pamby game of "winning hearts and minds" without focusing any attention or showing any righteous indignation about the lies told about us and basically avoiding the issue of anti-lgbt propaganda instead of confronting it head on, we have allowed people like Alito and organizations like the Family Research Council and the American Family Association to control the argument. It's time we stop fighting on their terms. Of course I've said that for a number of years . . . 

Speaking of which:  

How They See Us: Unmasking The Religious Right War on Gay America - The above news brief introduces a perfect opportunity for me to showcase the free online booklet I published in 2013. I made mention of the many ways religious right groups and organizations use propaganda to degrade our community and to make us look like the bad guys. What I am talking about is all in this booklet. I'm going to keep on promoting it until folks get the message that we need to make noise about the lies used against us. 

 In other news:  

Alabama House passes anti-gay adoption bill despite protest by lesbian lawmaker - The Alabama House of Representatives passes a bill allowing faith-based organizations to have access to state grants and contracts even if they discriminate against gay parents. A proponent of this bill says he is trying to show respect to religious organizations. What about the respect which should be given to lgbt taxpayers. No organization who will discriminate against gay parents and lgbts in general have a right to lgbt tax dollars or anything paid for in part by lgbt tax dollars.
 
March is Bisexual Health Awareness Month - Get educated.

Trans Women Shouldn’t Have To Constantly Defend Their Own Womanhood - AMEN!

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Family Research Council wants to turn churches into PACs under false guise of 'free speech'

FRC wants to use churches to gain political power/

From an email I received earlier today from the Family Research Council, it sounds as if the group wants to make churches into potential political action committees.

There is one problem, though:

Most non-profit organizations have a purpose. For example, one of FRC's purposes is to advance issues like religious freedom. It follows that as we communicate with people like you about the issues, we should also be able to speak about and endorse political candidates who share our values and purpose. This is the meaning of free speech. The same is true for other non-profits, including churches. 
Whether a person wants his church to endorse or oppose political candidates is a separate question, but it should not be a question about whether or not a church has the constitutional right to do so. That right has essential been taken away by the so-called Johnson Amendment of 1954. The Johnson Amendment says that tax-exempt organizations cannot participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. It was introduced by Lyndon Johnson in 1954 after a tough reelection to the Senate, where a tax-exempt organization worked to defeat him. 
The measure was passed by being hidden in a larger tax package. In fact, the Johnson Amendment was passed without any debate or hearings about its implications for churches, charities, and their leaders. Last month, FRC worked with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Representative Jody Hice (R-Ga.), and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the Free Speech Fairness Act of 2017 (H.R. 781. S. 264), to roll back the Johnson Amendment. 
 A non-profit organization should not lose its tax-exempt status or be threatened with audits because it exercises its constitutional right to speak in favor of political candidates who share the organization's values and mission. Now that the Free Speech Fairness Act has been introduced, we need you to urge your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the bill. Once the Free Speech Fairness Act is passed, pastors and organizational leaders' constitutional right to free speech will be restored. Urge your senators and representative to co-sponsor this important legislation.

FRC wants churches to be able to endorse or speak against candidates, while keeping their tax-exempt statuses. The effect of this could potentially revamp the political landscape. And that's not necessarily a good thing.

 According to Tom Gjelten, a correspondent with National Public Radio, pastors can already preach about social issues and political issues. Also, churches can have nonpartisan activities and voter drives. He also said the desire to overturn The Johnson Amendment is about money and power:

Conservative groups that favor a greater role for religion in the public space, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, have long sought to repeal the amendment, arguing that it restricts free speech by censoring the content of a pastor's sermon. Overturning the law, however, would also have major implications for campaign finance. If churches or clergy are allowed to participate in political campaigns, tax-free donations to the churches could go to support a political candidate. Religious organizations could become bigger money players in politics.

A more pertinent way to describe the effects of overturning The Johnson Amendment comes from Sofia Tesfaye of Salon:

Allowing churches to express political opinions isn’t the main concern of critics of Trump’s proposal to do away with the longstanding law, however. At issue is whether a tax-exempt institution can engage in electioneering and retain its tax-exempt status, according to Robert P. Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute. “Church members could give tax-deductible donations to a church, which would then be used by the church to campaign for a specific candidate,” Jones told Salon. “It could effectively turn churches into campaign offices and pastors into party operatives.” A religious group could begin to release campaign ads, and church members could contribute to political candidates and write it off on their taxes, for example.

“It’s important to note that the Johnson Amendment applies not only to churches but to all 501(c)3 charitable organizations,” Jones added, extending the potential ramifications of Trump’s push beyond the pulpit to campaign financing writ large. Allowing deductions would mean that the government would be subsidizing — through the tax code — the political activities and speech of churches and other tax-exempt organizations. As with most other deductions in our tax code, wealthier taxpayers in higher brackets would likely receive the biggest subsidies. “Because churches have fewer reporting requirements than PACs, it would mean even less transparency in campaign financing,” Jones argued.   
While traditional political organizations must disclose their donors, 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organizations — who are forbidden from spending more than half of their budgets on politics — do not. Allowing charities and churches to engage in politics would almost certainly lead to a rush of dark money campaign spending by groups that don’t disclose their donors.

More dark money. More corruption. More chances for organizations like the Family Research Council to exploit churches for more political power to shape this country into the image they think it should have, as well as further erasing the line of separation between church and state.

And definitely more hell for the lgbtq community.

''Conservative' small cities standing up for lgbtq rights' & other Thur midday news briefs


In Conservative America, Small Cities Stand Up for LGBTQ Rights - The fight for lgbtq equality is happening everywhere, not just the big "progressive" cities.  

Bathroom bill advancing in Texas terrifies this transgender 7 year old - Just a mess. The folks claiming to protect children are actually harming children.  

US Sends Group Rejecting Rights to UN Women’s Commission - C-FAM is one of the nauseating groups gaining new status thanks to Trump's election. 

 LGBT Groups Say Trump’s Pick For The Supreme Court "Poses A Significant Threat" - Pay attention. The Family Research Council is practically "drooling" for this guy to get on the Supreme Court.  

GOP health plan’s ‘devastating’ impact on those with HIV - YEP!

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

WOW! That's a lot of homophobic insanity in less than two minutes

From Right-Wing Watch, who else but our old friend, 'Porno' Pete LaBarbera:

Anti-LGBTQ activist Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality joined Dave Daubenmire and other speakers at last weekend’s Wisconsin Christian News Ministry Expo and Conference, where he warned that the push for “equality” is satanic.

Remember that behind almost every highly deceptive, intricately-thought-out, well-paid-for talking point of anti-lgbt dogma is the mindset which spewed this bizarre word salad of homophobia. I'm surprised he left out the '"recruiting of children"


Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Family Research Council hints on plans to overturn marriage equality

FRC president Tony Perkins
In its latest Washington Update, it sounds like the Family Research Council is hinting on the religious right plan to put a stop to marriage equality. To a lot of folks, it is a settled issue. However to FRC and other anti-lgbt groups, there seems to be no such thing as a settled issue as long as they have the funds, the audacity to distort the issue, and the self-righteousness not to admit how wrong they are even after repeatedly being proven so:

Turns out, conservatives aren't the only ones who think the marriage issue isn't settled. According to new reports, a growing number of LGBT activists are worried that the victory they celebrated in 2015 isn't a permanent one. And no wonder! As Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reminded us, liberals may have won in the courts -- but the court of public opinion is another story. That much was clear late last year in polling by Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research. When people were asked if they agreed with the statement, "I believe marriage should be defined only as a union between one man and one woman" -- a solid 53 percent agreed. That's a 16-point difference between those who disagreed at 37 percent (another 10 percent were undecided).

Almost two years into this experiment in judicial activism, most voters' opinions haven't budged. If it weren't for the Supreme Court forcing this decision on America, redefining marriage would have taken years for the Left to accomplish -- if ever. In Nevada, liberals are so concerned that they're campaigning for a state amendment on same-sex marriage. In language approved by the state assembly on Thursday, voters would get a chance to decide the issue on the 2020 ballot at the earliest. That may be too late, some fear. With the election of Donald Trump and the nomination of conservative Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, LGBT groups are doing all they can to protect the Obergefell ruling. Like the abortion movement, they know the justices had to read into the shadows of the Constitution to discover such a "right."

As Pelosi admitted, their make-believe world rests on the foundation of activist courts -- not the Constitution -- and certainly not natural law. Even with the cooperation of the mainstream media, the Left still hasn't won over a majority of Americans with its propaganda. Like its 58 concocted genders, they need either activist benches or presidents who will impose their fictitious world on everyone else by pen or phone. Interestingly enough, some states still have laws on the books outlawing abortion-on-demand with the understanding that if America ever returned to a Supreme Court bound by the Constitution, Roe v. Wade would disappear. The same is true for so-called same-sex marriage. States need to protect their marriage amendments. The day may come -- sooner than we think -- when the issue returns to elected representatives where it belongs.

First of all, let's talk about the research FRC used, i.e. the Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research. It is a Republican research firm which counts such GOP notables as Texas Senator Ted Cruz as a client. It sounds like WPA is a firm which isn't necessarily paid to show simple objective studies. In contrast a more recent poll  by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.found that 63 percent of Americans support marriage equality.

There is a constant hint in FRC's Washington Update that marriage equality will be challenged if Trump's SCOTUS nominee, Gorsuch, is confirmed . And no matter the outcome of the challenge, FRC and its allies are counting on it to eventually be heard by SCOTUS. They are also hoping that with Gorsuch on the bench, the Obergefell ruling - the decision which legalized marriage equality - can be overturned. 

It's a pipe dream for now, but the lgbt community shouldn't be so sure to dismiss it. It's not the idea that groups like FRC can work to overturn Obergefell that's the problem. It's the idea that they think they can.

'Gay GOP leader says community should 'compromise with Trump & anti-lgbtq GOP forces' & other Tue midday news briefs

Guys, we are NOT compromising with Trump and anti-lgbt GOPers.

Gay GOP Group Leader: We Should ‘Compromise’ With Donald Trump And Anti-LGBTQ Republicans - Log Cabin Republicans? Of course. It ain't gonna happen, boys. So don't put the onus on us. We didn't start this mess but the lgbt community, with or without you, shall finish it. No compromises, no "working it out," no "settling down and joining the forces"  with those who exist to deny us our God-given equality. 

‘This is what hate looks like’: D.C. transgender shelter vandalized - One of the MANY reasons why we will not compromise. 

 Spicer denounces anti-LGBT violence — sort of - Thanks for the "sour persimmons," Sean.  

New Mexico May Become Seventh State To Ban LGBT Conversion Therapy - Sweet!

Monday, March 13, 2017

Family Research Council smears same-sex parents, deceives about South Dakota adoption discrimination law

Family Research Council giddy over SD's attack on same-sex families like this one.

As to be expected, the hate group Family Research Council is crowing about the decision by South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to sign into law a bill which would allow foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate against gays on the basis of "religious liberty" without any penalties, such as losing possible government funds

And as I expected, FRC's crowing was a deceptive statement which attempts to obscure the central problem of this new law. Although I didn't think the organization's attempt would be so poor

Below is the statement in its entirety via FRC's daily Washington Update:

Here's something both sides should agree on: the importance of adoption. But these days, even finding loving homes for kids is an explosive topic in the bigger clash over religious liberty. At least in South Dakota, children won't be pawns in the Left's push to legitimize same-sex parents. Late Friday, Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) signed a bill into law that protects the beliefs of faith-based adoption agencies and foster care providers. As the South Dakota Family Policy Council explains, "The law would ensure that the State of South Dakota may not coerce them to abandon their sincerely-held religious beliefs or moral convictions in their placement decisions and the ongoing need for placement of children in safe nurturing homes will be served. These faith-based adoption agencies do not currently receive any state funds for child placement services, but without this protection, they are faced with a possible decision of closing their doors or failing their mission. While this has already occurred in other states, it should never happen here in South Dakota."

'South Dakota passes law allowing adoption agencies to discriminate against lgbt taxpayers' & other Mon. midday news briefs

 South Dakota law discriminates against lgbt tax payers  'for the sake of the children.'

South Dakota is First State in 2017 to Legalize Discrimination Against LGBT People - And the religious right went the "won't anyone think of the children" route. Instead of outright accusing lgbts of harming children, they are playing the "children will suffer if you don't let adoption agencies and foster care services use tax dollars while discriminating against lgbts"  card.

The first domino falls: South Dakota adoption discrimination bill becomes law - More from Think Progress. We had better pay attention. 

Related post: Taxpaying lgbts shouldn't sacrifice rights to 'religious liberty' propaganda - I don't see what's wrong with the lgbt community or leadership making the fact that we pay taxes an issue in the 'religious liberty' argument. We need to be stern and take a hard line on this issue.  

Survey Says: We Need To Educate Educators About The Rights Of LGBTQ Students - YES. WE. DO. Point blank.

 I’m Trans, Disabled, And Tired Of Fighting To Get Into Bathrooms - Wonderful post which speaks for itself. 

 GOP lawmakers refuse to protect LGBT students and those with disabilities in school voucher bill - We got LOTS of work to do . . .

Marriage equality opponents need to face the reality of why they lost

Editor's note - With Trump in office, you can easily bet that on the wish list of the religious right is a return to SCOTUS and an elimination of Obergefell ruling which legalized marriage equality. With that in mind, I am reposting a piece from 2015 reminding everyone of how the religious right's unscrupulous tactics backfired and helped ease the passage for Obergefell, just in case we do have to engage in the future and need a pushback to the "unelected activist judge" narrative:


NOM head Brian Brown cried when marriage equality came to NY.  Good times!

Kim Davis. Kim Davis. Kim Davis.

Lord, I am so tired of hearing about that woman; the so-called Joan of Arc standing in the gap for traditional marriage fighting a battle which the only outcome will be her loss and thereby the destruction of America and Western civilization as a whole.

To put it plainly, what a crock.

And to put it even more plainly, no matter how this nonsensical ado ends, I find myself getting highly annoyed at almost everyone with media leverage because they are shortchanging the situation instead of spelling it out to the American people in its entirety. This cause celebre of the moment is not simply about a hypocritical clerk who continues to place her religious beliefs over the duties of her $80,000 a year government job.

I wish it were that simple.

This annoying Kim Davis affair is merely a sideshow to cover up the fact that the overall case against marriage equality was nothing more than a pitiful delusion. A sad pursuit run by folks who had more money and influence than common sense. More gall than love. More ways to get their message out, but absolutely no way to make it more palpable or more flavorable than the bland, watery indigestible stew of discrimination that it was.

In the early days of the fight, marriage equality opponents were on an incredible streak via their ability to get state after state to pass anti-marriage equality laws.  They, led mostly by the National Organization for Marriage, were riding high in their glory. It didn't matter that their talking points about "marriage uniting the two halves of humanity" was basic balderdash repeated by one spokesperson (NOM president Brian Brown) who spoke out of the side of his mouth in a monotone worthy of a character from an Ed Wood movie. It didn't matter that their other spokesperson (Maggie Gallagher) practically oozed false sincerity and brazenly lied about her anti-gay animus even when confronted with evidence of it.

And it certainly didn't matter that while they whined about falsely being labeled as bigots, they simultaneously ran ads and commercials implying that gays were attempting to corrupt children, even while entities such as Politifact and one of their own supporters called them out on it.

All that mattered were the wins because, as Gallagher once put it, "winning is fun."

But they were so blinded by their wins, they got just a little too overconfident and weren't prepared when the argument shifted away from public votes and into the courtrooms.

I consistently remain amazed about how they were mortified when the courts stepped in. After all, it was the next step. Isn't that how it's done in this country? Laws are passed and if some feel that  the laws are unjust, they challenge them in our courts.

It was when gays challenged marriage equality laws via the courts that the masks of false superiority came off and we began to see the true faces of marriage equality foes. They made so many crucial errors and missteps  Allow me to address these errors and missteps  (and in doing so, I want to shift tenses so I can speak directly to Brown, Gallagher,  other leaders of the anti-marriage equality camp, and possibly anyone else still upset at our victory):

Misstep 1 - During the Prop 8 case which determined marriage equality in California, some of your "expert witnesses" dropped out because they had no expertise in what they were claiming, leaving you with only two. One of those witnesses, David Blankenhorn, managed to undermine the credibility of your own case.  Even your lead counsel, Chuck Cooper admitted that he couldn't say how marriage equality could harm the institution of marriage as a whole.

Misstep 2 - During the DOMA case, you pushed evidence so bad that one of the sources complained how you were distorting her work. And even a blogger - yours truly - spelled out in detail just how poor the evidence you were presenting.

Misstep 3 - But your most embarrassing misstep was when you helped create a phony study which supposedly shed a negative light on gay parenting without having the style and finesse of doing it in a clandestine manner as those who engage chicanery generally do. You recruited and overpaid a college professor, Mark Regenerus, to finagle figures and used your hype machine and resources to give the study credibility with the goal of using it to influence the Supreme Court.

But you are sloppy. I'm talking very sloppy. You were so bold and brazen that by the time your bogus study came out, the lgbt and scientific community knew where the money came from, how it was being promoted, who was promoting it, and every single lie to pinpoint in it. You basically gave us all a huge barrel of fish, several loaded guns, and said "have at it.

All in all, your entire cause was doomed from the time of the first gavel strike. So now, instead of admitting your own incompetence, you want to compare your now futile fight against the reality of marriage equality to  the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.

You remind me more of actor Slim Pickens in the movie Dr. Strangelove during the scene where he rode that atomic bomb down to the ground. But even his character had the common sense to know that once the bomb hit, that would be the end of it all.

You all, on the other hand, think that even after all of your missteps and transparent lies, that you will actually come out as winners, undo settled policy, and take something away from the lgbt community that we fought tooth and nail to win

You don't want to talk about why you actually lost against marriage equality. You would rather distract everyone with bad anecdotes of pseudo anti- Christian persecution  repeated by people I wouldn't trust to sell lemonade at a child's stand, such as Fox News' Todd Starnes. You come with people like Mike Huckabee exploiting the unfortunate ignorance of so many about how our government works. You come with conservative activists, pundits, and religious right figures spinning wonderful speeches of noble sacrifices and declaring that the fight against marriage equality is "a hill worth dying on." But the last time I checked, some of  those same characters were saying that overturning Obamacare, defunding Planned Parenthood, or eliminating Common Core were also the "hills worth dying on."

And that point leaves me very frustrated. If these folks are talking about "dying on hills," the least they could do is pick one and give all of us the courtesy of following through.
 
What I am trying to say is you lost this fight because when you started it, you didn't think it through. You weren't prepared to go all of the way. Sure you passed a lot of referendums, but you weren't skilled enough to form a proper argument that could sway the courts.

THAT, my friends, is the reason why you failed.  It wasn't because of Satan or "black-robed dictators " or "unelected judges." It wasn't because of a long-term plan between gays and Hollywood. And it certainly had nothing to do with any fraud, chicanery, or trickery of any type.

You had to prove one thing to the courts - that the passage of anti-marriage equality laws did not violate the rights of gay and lesbians couples and their children. When it was all said and done, you couldn't do it.  In spite of all of your tricks, lies, influence, speeches, crowds of support, you failed miserably to prove that one solitary point.

And when you failed, you lost. It's as simple as that.

Those who lose generally  lick their wounds, get over their sadness and carry on the best way  they know how. I would suggest that you do the same because frankly, none of you are special. Your religious beliefs don't make you better than anyone else. And they certainly don't give you an excuse to not obey the same rules and laws that the rest of us have to.

But I do have one question.

Should Kim Davis have to go to jail again, will Mike Huckabee be taking her place? After all, he did volunteer.