Video: Top 20 LGBTQ+ Couples on Animated Shows

 

 This was done 10 months ago, but I saw it only recently and it made me think.

 I'm 53 years-old, so I remember a time before Ellen or Will & Grace or having an openly gay member of the Presidential cabinet. I remember when my local tv station pre-empted a movie called Making Love because of the gay storyline. I remember when someone being openly gay for talk show fodder for days. And I remember "special episodes" of television show which featured a gay friend of the main character, and the plot was generally about him or her coming out and how the main character had to deal with it.  These episodes generally had a happy ending, but it still didn't feel right.

So, this video above is nice. It's a definite reminder of where we came from and how hard we fought to get here.

Arizona Republicans furious about Drag Queen Story Hour event in which no children were in attendance

The lies that Drag Queen Story Hour and drag queens in general are integral in some plot to "sexualize" or "trans" kids is a lie. We all knew this from the beginning. A recent incident at the Arizona State Capitol puts an exclamation point to that declaration.

Check out the tweet courtesy of Arizona Republicans:

⚠️ WARNING: THIS CONTENT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.

Arizona Democrat lawmakers teamed up with Planned Parenthood to host ‘Drag Story Hour’ at the Capitol to encourage parents to transition their kids. This is ahead of LGBTQ+ YOUTH Day at the Capitol tomorrow.

Your… pic.twitter.com/4qpS6lj4Gb

— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) April 30, 2024

 

The hysterical narrative is that stuff like this is a way of supposedly "sexualizing" or "transing" kids. That in itself is ridiculous, but The Arizona Central also adds more details which underscores the inanity of the claim.

Opinion: Arizona Republicans are scandalized over a 'drag story hour' in the House basement. Quick, grab the smelling salts. https://t.co/XIsFChTPTt

— azcentral (@azcentral) May 2, 2024

From The Arizona Central:

 On Tuesday, the Arizona Legislature was, as usual, not working, and so the Arizona LGBTQ+ Caucus met in the House basement for a “drag story hour.” There were no children present, according to Rep. Lorena Austin, D-Mesa, who organized the event in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. There was nothing sexually explicit or even vaguely provocative, based upon videos posted to social media. Just a person dressed in makeup, a sparkly suit and what looked to be a rather cool hat that Zorro would have totally worn, reading a story to adults about issues confronting the LGBTQ+ community. 

 To reiterate, there was nothing scandalous or sexual about this event. And not only that, NO children were in attendance anyway. 

 But in terms of hypocrisy, the situation gets funnier. While Republicans are all "in the vapors" about the Drag Queen Story Hour event, they said nothing when several weeks ago, other Republicans held a prayer circle on the Senate floor. These folks even knelt on the state seal as one of them spoke in tongues:

So this happened today at the #AZLeg. 🫠🫠🫠#Arizona #AZSenate #AZSupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/g2LVL41UWk

— Jeanne Casteen (@JeanneCasteen) April 8, 2024

Hat tip to JoeMyGod, which recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary. Thank you for your service to the community, Joe Jervis!!!

Detransitioner must pay $40,00 for frivolous lawsuit, United Methodists repeals ban on LGBTQ clergy, & other midweek news briefs

Detransitioner Soren Aldaco Must Pay $40,000 for Frivolous Lawsuit​ - Certain people, including certain "journalists," attacking gender-affirming healthcare probably don't want you to know this bit of information: 

 The judge in a prominent detransitioner lawsuit in Texas has dismissed part of the case with prejudice and ordered the plaintiff, Soren Aldaco, to pay the attorney fees for some of her former providers, as first reported on Twitter by Assigned Media contributor Julie Rei Goldstein. 

A visual history of lesbian activism from around the world: 58 images of dyke marches- Handle your business, ladies. 

United Methodists repeal longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy - This is a wonderful bit of news. 

Ben Shapiro tried to use Jason Collins’ coming out in his anti-gay campaign. It hasn’t worked. - A nice flashback reminding us all how useless Ben Shapiro is. 

GOP speaker issues absurd punishment to Arizona Dems for hosting a Drag Story Hour - Oh COME ON, guy!! 

Ohio judge extends temporary restraining order that blocks ban on gender-affirming care for minors - This post began with good news for the transgender community. Let's end it the same way.

Kansas lawmakers fail to override veto of bill banning healthcare for trans kids, two anti-trans bills fail in Mississippi

It was a good Monday and Tuesday for the transgender community. 

Yesterday an hour after I posted about the victory in federal court, news came down that Kansas lawmakers failed to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto on an anti-trans healthcare bill. The bill would have banned gender-affirming are for trans minors. And central to the story is one Republican, who initially supported the bill, changing her vote.

From Michigan Live:

In a dramatic shift, the Kansas legislature failed to override Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors. Two Republican lawmakers unexpectedly broke ranks, leading to a major victory for LGBTQ+ advocates and securing access to essential medical care for trans youth in the state.

 The legislation, Senate Bill 233, would have prohibited medical professionals from providing treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender youth. It also aimed to bar state employees from promoting social transitioning for children questioning their gender identity. 

 Governor Kelly vetoed the bill in March, citing its dangerous intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship and the well-being of transgender Kansans. The veto override seemed poised for success, until Representatives Susan Concannon and Jesse Borjon voted against the measure. 

 Rep. Concannon, previously a supporter of the bill, delivered a powerful speech: “We hear of bullying and ask authorities to make it stop. We hear about mental health, about suicide, and ask why. We’re not listening to the impacted youth. Government involvement is not the answer...These decisions belong between the team of professionals and the parents. The youth need our help, not government overreach. For all those who reached out, I hear you, and vote to sustain the governor’s veto.”

And just now as I was working on the above post, this news came from The Associated Press:

Mississippi's Republican-led Legislature will not take final votes on two bills that attempted to restrict legal recognition of transgender people. The bills died quietly when House and Senate leaders failed to agree on compromise versions before a Monday night deadline. Lawmakers were working on several other complex issues at the time.

 One bill would have restricted transgender people’s use of bathrooms and locker rooms in public buildings, including university dormitories. The other would have specified that sex is defined at birth, and that “there are only two sexes, and every individual is either male or female.” 

 SuperTalk- Mississippi Media added: 

 In an attempt to restrict transgender people’s use of bathrooms and locker rooms in public buildings, Republican Sen.Josh Harkins authored the Securing Areas for Females Effectively and Responsibly (SAFER) Act. The legislation deemed it necessary to provide male and female areas for each sex’s exclusive use. Lawmakers on the GOP side quickly voiced their support for the bill following an incident at a Planet Fitness gym in Alaska in which a transgender individual identifying as a woman was spotted on video shaving in the women’s locker room.

 . . . The SAFER Act became a national movement as it was backed by Paula Scanlan, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who has made waves along with fellow athlete Riley Gaines. Scanlan even made a trip to the Magnolia State to advocate for the bill to create “safe spaces” for women. Nonetheless, the bill, which received pushback from Democratic lawmakers, failed to survive Monday’s deadline and will not make it to the desk of Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.

Federal court rules that state healthcare plans can't deny gender-affirming care to trans individuals

A wonderful bit of news just came from the courts on Monday for the transgender community.

From MetroWeekly:

A federal appeals court ruled that states can’t deny insurance coverage for gender-affirming medical care to transgender individuals. The full panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of transgender plaintiffs in two cases from North Carolina and West Virginia, finding that existing insurance exclusions on gender-affirming care are discriminatory and unconstitutional. 

 Lawyers for the plaintiffs noted that this most recent ruling sets precedent, not only for North Carolina and West Virginia, but all other states within the 4th Circuit, including South Carolina, where state officials are considering a ban on gender-affirming care for minors — one of the few Southern states without a ban currently in place. 

 “The court’s decision sends a clear message that gender-affirming care is critical medical care for transgender people and that denying it is harmful and unlawful,” Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, counsel and health care strategist for Lambda Legal, said in a statement. The plaintiffs celebrated the appeals court’s ruling as a victory for transgender people.

 . . .In 2020, Lambda Legal, together with employment attorney firm Nichols Kaster, PLLP, and The Employment Law Center, PLLC, filed a lawsuit against West Virginia officials on behalf of a Medicaid participant, Christopher Fain, who was denied coverage for gender confirmation surgery. That same lawsuit also previously challenged a similar exclusion contained in West Virginia’s state employee health insurance plan on behalf of two state employees who could not obtain coverage for gender-affirming treatments, either for themselves or their dependents.

Lambda Legal subsequently added additional transgender plaintiffs to the case, including Shauntae Anderson. The state employee plaintiffs’ claims were eventually resolved by a 2022 settlement with The Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc., which removed its exclusion on gender-affirming care. The lawsuit subsequently resumed, challenging only the Medicaid exclusion.

'UK right wing actor has to pay $225,000 for calling Drag Race contestant and LGBTQ activists 'pedophiles'' & other Thur/Fri news briefs

UK Right Wing Actor Must Pay $225,000 For Calling Drag Race Contestant And LGBTQ Activist “Pedophiles”​ - It would have been lovely for this to have happened in America. Nevertheless, give it up, turn it loose!

The queer community has long struggled with bisexual inclusivity. It’s even worse for bi elders. - We really need to do better when it comes to our bisexual brothers and sisters.

Four States Tell Schools To Ignore Biden's New Title IX Rules Protecting Trans Students - Ho boy here we go! We are going to be in for a fight. 

Colorado allows anti-LGBTQ+ group to pursue law outing trans students to parents - They are being allowed to collect signatures for a ballot measure which would force schools to out trans students to their parents. It doesn't sound appealing as to voters as it is. 

Meet the transgender minister representing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia - Rev. Andi Woodworth is doing wonderful work.

Spreading lies about 2020 election leads to bankruptcy for anti-LGBTQ site The Gateway Pundit

 

Jim Hoft

Far be it from me to celebrate in someone's misfortune, but when an anti-LGBTQ publication is having serious problems, it's party time.

From Raw Story

In a message posted to the conspiracy theory-laden site that he founded, Jim Hoft announced that The Gateway Pundit has declared bankruptcy. “TGP Communications, the parent company of The Gateway Pundit, recently made the decision to seek protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of Florida as a result of the progressive liberal lawfare attacks against our media outlet," Jim Hoft wrote in the post

. In December of 2021 Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss sued the site alleging that Hoft and his twin brother Joe Hoft used the site to engage in "a campaign of lies” that “instigated a deluge of intimidation, harassment, and threats that has forced them to change their phone numbers, delete their online accounts, and fear for their physical safety.” 

 The site grew to prominence and saw its traffic surge in 2020 by repeating false claims about mass voter fraud in that year's election -- claims that helped spark the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. As Mediaite points out, the site saw around 1.7 million unique readers in January of 2020 alone. A year later, that number dropped by around 50 percent. 

 “This is not an admission of fault or culpability. This is a common tool for reorganization and to consolidate litigation when attacks are coming from all sides. It allows TGP to consolidate this lawfare in one court for ultimate resolution," Hoft wrote in his statement. 

Well before 2020 and Trump's false claims about a rigged election, Hoft had a reputation of spreading conspiracy theories and outright lies. Media watchdog site Media Matters has an extensive file on Hoft while calling him "the dumbest man on the internet."

 Hoft, who came out as gay in 2016, has also targeted LGBTQ people. In 2009, he made several accusations against Dept. of Education official Kevin Jennings. His claims included accusing the openly gay appointee of "promoting fisting to 14-year olds" and personally pushing books which instructed kids to meet gay men at bars for sex

 I wrote extensively about the attempts to smear Jennings, including one of the above incidents (which at the time was referred to by some on the right as "Fistgate." In 2012, I was able to personally question Hoft on these accusations as well other lies he's told.  He wasn't as bold in defending the claims as he was in creating them.

Even now years after he's come out, Hoft's Gateway Pundit contains a plethora of articles whose only purpose is denigrating LGBTQ people.

All things considered, the next time you look up "karma" in the dictionary, don't be surprised if you see a picture of Hoft next to the definition.