Trae Crowder, the Liberal Redneck, has something to say about how Drumpf is going out of his way to make life more difficult for transgender people
The states’ rights argument is particularly shitty in this case, because the crux of that argument is you can choose to live in a state that reflects your personal values, but if you’re a transgender teenager in Montgomery, you can’t just uproot and leave Alabama because the fat dip-shit two lockers down from you is afraid of the future.
That ain’t how it works!
As he suggests, right-wingers always have a new group to hate on, and they keep at it until it starts to hurt their own numbers. All the more reason to hammer home the fact that conservative Christianity is now synonymous with bigotry.
And Christians who are silent or supportive of them are complicit in the problem.
MISSION: UNDO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF WHAT OBAMA DID
Last year, while Barack Obama was president, the Education and Justice Departments issued the guidelines, saying among other things that transgender students should be called by their preferred names and pronouns, and have access to the restrooms, locker rooms, and other single-sex facilities that correspond with their gender identity.
The guidelines are nonbinding, but the Obama administration had warned that schools not following them could be found in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination, and face a loss of federal funding.
The legendary out singer initially wrote a song about Orlando to make herself less scared and angry.
But putting it out into the world, “feels like holding someone’s hand.”
Melissa Etheridge had just rolled into New York City on her tour bus Sunday mornin, June 12, when she heard the news about Orlando.
Like most LGBT people, she instantly felt helpless and uneasy.
“I found myself roaming around my apartment,” she tells The Advocate. After spending too much time staring at the nearby Freedom Tower, she picked up her guitar. “I knew that would make me feel better, and I just started writing.”
The result is “Pulse,” a rousing testament to humanity and love overcoming hate. In the song, Etheridge sings,
“I dream in a world that wants my soul / That tells me if I hate I can control / But I don’t believe it / I cannot conceive it / Because everybody has a pulse”
It’s earnest but beautiful; steadfastly positive against all odds.
“Once again I hang my head to cry / I can’t find a reason why they died / We will find the answer / Blowin’ in the wind”
(LOVE WILL ALWAYS WIN)
Everybody’s got a pain inside
Imaginary wounds they fight to hide
How can I hate them
When everybody’s got a pulse
I dream in a world that wants my soul
That tells me if I hate I can control
But I don’t believe it
I cannot conceive it because
Everybody’s got a pulse
CHORUS
I am human I am love
And my heart beats with my blood
Love will always win
Underneath the skin
Everybody’s got a pulse
Once again I hang my head to cry
I can’t find the reason why they died
We will find the answer
Blowing in the wind that
Everybody’s got a pulse
CHORUS
Who ya gonna hate now
When there’s no one left but you
Who ya gonna gun down
When you can’t kill the truth
That its inside of us
It’s inside the blood
It’s inside a pulse
I am human I am love
And my heart beats in my blood
Love will always win
Underneath the skin
Everybody’s got a pulse
Hands up if you’re alive
Hands up if you’re alive
Love will always win
Underneath the skin
Everybody’s got a pulse
Homosexual behavior in animals is sexual behavior among non-human species that is interpreted as homosexual or bisexual. This may include sexual activity, courtship, affection, pair bonding, and parenting among same-sex animal pairs.
Research indicates that various forms of this are found throughout the animal kingdom.
As of 1999, about 500 species, ranging from primates to gut worms, have been documented engaging in same-sex behaviors.
According to the organizers of the 2006 Against Nature? exhibit, it has been observed in 1,500 species.
Pope Francis refused repeated requests to meet with LGBT Catholics but made time for a secret, closed-door meeting with the anti-gay Kentucky clerk who is not Catholic.
I have shared several posts related to Kim Davis and her actions in Kentucky.
She hasn’t been a favorite of mine at all.
I’m a proud member of the LGBT community and married my partner of almost 40 years on January 6, 2015, the day after it became legal in the state of Florida.
Both of us are very grateful that our county clerk did her job and was very nice and pleasant about it.
I know from personal experience how her actions have made the people of her county feel.
Ms. Davis has been seeking the spotlight on the back of her religious beliefs.
She has attained notoriety through the political hacks who have gravitated to her for their own political weak gains.
It seems to me that she’s being used and she’s allowed it because she will also benefit from this in the name of “god’s authority”.
I’ve mentioned before that I was raised in the Catholic Church. My parents were very active in our church.
I was baptized when I was 6 days old.
I went to confession and had my first communion.
I went to Catholic school and college from kindergarten through high school.
I completed my college degree at a Catholic university.
Why do I mention all of this?
Because I know the significance in the Pope’s existence and his authority. I’m well aware of his “infallibility’.
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church that states that, in virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error “When, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church.”
Wikipedia
The fact that I felt this pope to be genuine, tolerant and all encompassing has been “destroyed”, in my humble opinion, because of this meeting and the support that he seems to have given to someone who has behaved in a criminal manner.
She’s refusing to do her job.
I’m not anyone fit to judge anyone but her past marriages and personal actions fall quite short from the behavior of a person of faith and religious beliefs.
I found an article in The Advocate which explains quite clearly why this secret meeting may “throw a wrench” in the major advances that have recently taken place in this country.
Again, I say, there’s no place for me in the Catholic church at all.
There’s no place for anyone on the LGBT community in the Catholic Church.
I’ve known it for a long time.
Now, it’s been confirmed, assured, accepted and internalized.
It’s OK.
This will be my last post on Ms. Kim Davis and Pope Francis.
Sorry, Mr. Pope, you did wrong here.
In a short action, you undid all the good that your visit generated …. in my book.
Activists who represent lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Catholics tell The Advocate they are concerned about now-confirmed reports of a meeting between Pope Francis and anti-gay Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, fearing that such a meeting could set back what little support there is for the disenfranchised faithful.
“The news that Pope Francis met with Kim Davis while failing to respond to repeated requests for dialogue with LGBT Catholics and their families will be deeply disappointing to many Catholics, gay, trans, and straight alike,” says Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, in an email to The Advocate. “It put the weight of the Vatican behind the US Catholic bishops’ claims of victimization, and supports those who want to make it more difficult for same-sex couples to exercise their civil right to marriage.”
According to the Liberty Counsel‘s release, Francis met with Davis and her husband, Joe, Thursday at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C. The pope told Davis, “Thank you for your courage” and “stay strong,” and asked her to pray for him, and she in turn asked him to pray for her. He also presented the couple with rosary beads he had personally blessed.
The pope said little about marriage equality during his visit, but as New Ways Ministry‘s DeBernado mentioned, on the papal flight back to Rome Monday he said there is a “human right” to “conscientious objection,” even by government officials, when duties conflict with their religious beliefs.
~~GRAPHICS SOURCE~~
Google Images
“Though LGBT and ally Catholics have welcomed Pope Francis’ affirming remarks, many, including me, have also remarked that he sometimes talks out of both sides of his mouth,” DeBernardo wrote in his email. “Moreover, while he is LGBT-positive in general ways, his remarks on specific moral and political issues are often at odds with his welcoming stance. The time for vagueness, ambiguity, and secret meetings is over. Pope Francis needs to state clearly where he stands in regard to the inclusion of LGBT people in the church and society.”
“I fear that this meeting and claims that the Pope told Ms. Davis to ‘stand strong’ will embolden the many US bishops and others who continue to try to turn back support for LGBT people,” wrote Duddy-Burke of DignityUSA. “It will make even more of us feel like the Pope’s message of mercy and love was not meant for LGBT people and families. It points again to the deep divide between Catholics who affirm and support their LGBT family members and friends, and the hierarchy, which is tragically out of touch.”
During Pope Francis’s U.S. visit, he privately met with Rowan County clerk Kim Davis. During his visit to America, he took a strong stance against issues like arms sales, global warming and the death penalty, but avoided making a direct statement on same-sex marriage. Some see his “secret” meeting with Davis as a sign of his support for her cause.
Jenner was this year’s recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, named for the African American tennis star who died of AIDS in 1993.
‘Trans People Deserve Your Respect’
Caitlyn Jenner accepted her first formal award on Wednesday since announcing her transition, receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS and giving an emotional speech in the process.
“The real truth is that before just a few months ago, I had never met anybody else who was trans,” she said. “Now as you saw, I dealt with my situation on my own, in private. It’s been eye-opening, inspiring, but also frightening.”
She went on to talk about trans youth, mentioning late trans teenagers Mercedes Williamson and Sam Taub.
“They’re getting bullied,” Jenner said of trans youth. “They’re getting beaten up. They’re getting murdered.
I must truthfully say that I didn’t think that I would be looking for information, reviewing and listening to Jenner’s acceptance speech at the ESPY’s.
I remember, back in 1976, when Jenner was the darling of the media because of his incredible feat in the Olympics and winning the Olympic decathlon men’s event champion.
Throughout all of her journey, even before she announced what she intended to, I never followed her as an American television personality. I did watch the Diane Sawyer interview where Jenner described what he had gone through all his life, her “confusion, her living up to someone she wasn’t’.
It all seemed so phony and fake to me. I wasn’t thrilled like some seemed to be. I wondered what she could bring to the table in the current situation of the trans community, the “T” in LGBTQ. I even thought this may be damaging to the advances that have been made in the acceptance of the LGBTQ community and the monumental decision of SCOTUS in making marriage equality the “law of the land”.
Some of you may be confused, since some may know that I am a proud member of the LGBTQ community, recently married and now recognized as married nationwide, that I’m not offering unconditional support to Jenner.
I watched Caitlyn Jenner’s acceptance speech at the ESPYS last night. I must say that I’m still somewhat “leery” of her intentions but I must also say that her acceptance speech was powerful, intense, heartwarming and very touching. She’s setting quite an agenda for herself.
For the sake of the LGBTQ community and for Caitlyn Jenner’s sake, I do hope that this is all real, not any kind of publicity stunt or attention seeking action. I don’t think that anyone would go through all of the jeering, abuse, anguish, medical and surgical treatment that she has gone through for publicity’s sake.
I truly got a better glimpse of her and I hope and wish only the best for her at this stage of her life.
“In her first major appearance since coming out as transgender, Caitlyn Jenner took the stage at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles to a standing ovation. And in front of some of the world’s biggest athletes and celebrities, she told the world what the transgender community needs.”
FOR THOSE WHO CARE TO WATCH, HERE’S THE FULL ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
~~Caitlyn Jenner Full Speech~~
2015 ESPY Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award …. this is a different kind of courage
~~Published on Jul 15, 2015~~
Caitlyn Jenner accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS on Wednesday night while urging acceptance for others who are transgender.
She received a standing ovation from some of the sporting world’s biggest stars after her 10-minute speech during the annual awards honoring the year’s top athletes and moments.
A kiss is just a kiss
appreciate the humble kiss on
International Kissing Day
6 July 2015
International Kissing Day takes place on 6 July in the UK. However, the day has now been adopted worldwide and is also known as National Kissing Day or Kissing Day.
When I think about it, the concept of a kiss is everywhere in society and has many meanings. A first kiss. A formal kiss. A passionate kiss. A kiss goodbye.
Kissing Day aims to make us appreciate a kiss in its own right. No conventions, no social norms, just a kiss. Across the globe we embrace the kiss by embracing someone else.
3 Cheers for Abby Wambach and the Kiss Heard Round the World
As the media gleefully reports on the US Women’s National Team‘s incredible 5-2 victory over Japan yesterday in the World Cup final, one news story in particular caught my attention. Upon winning, Abby Wambach did what anyone would do in a moment of triumph: she ran up to her spouse Sarah Huffman for a hug and a kiss. Generally a totally normal occurrence to kiss your spouse, except in this case her spouse is another woman. The moment was heartwarming, and I watched the Vine a few times with a big grin on my face.
But it is a big deal.
It’s a big deal because it’s so rare to see a real moment of love between two married women on TV.
It’s a big deal because 20.3 million Americans tuned in to watch the final (more than the number who watched the average NBA Finals or Stanley Cup Finals game, by the way). It’s a big deal because little kids still cry when they discover that they’re gay. It’s a big deal because our nation just got full marriage equality a mere 10 days ago. It’s a big deal because 39% of the country still opposes marriage equality. It’s a big deal because public reaction to it serves as a benchmark for how far we’ve come.
Can you imagine all the hateful rhetoric that would have been spewed about it if Wambach had had this moment of celebration with her wife 8, 12, 16, etc years ago?
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”’
Contributing Editor at BNR. His writing on LGBT and Latino issues has appeared in The Advocate and Huffington Post.
Find him on twitter.
Ever since Uganda, I thought this would be a matter of time.
HortyRex
Christian Lawyer Proposes Bill to Execute Gay People With Bullets to the Head
Following the theology of “What would ISIS do?” a Christian lawyer living in California has proposed that the state start executing all gay people with bullets to the head.
I can barely grasp my mind on this concept. This man calls himself a Christian and is advocating for the death of gays with bullets to the head.
Could someone help me with this?
Matt McLaughlin, 45, submitted the Sodomite Suppression Act to the justice department on the 24th of February 2015. The bill seeks to protect Californians from the destruction that befell Sodom and Gomorrah.
~~IN HIS OWN WORDS~~
“Seeing that it is better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God’s just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating-wickedness in our midst, the People of California wisely command, in the fear of God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method.”
The bill would also ban “sodomistic propaganda” and fine those in violation of the ban up to $1 million and sentence them to either banishment from California or up to 10 years in prison.
In addition, it would ban gay people from holding any kind of public office, from receiving public benefits, and would put the written act prominently in every public school classroom.
God’s love, dear readers. Can’t you feel it?
But wait, it gets worse.
The lawyer said that if the law is not enforced (once the bill is passed), citizens should be able to assassinate gay people outside of the law and not have to face charges from the state.
Lock this guy up! For the love of all that is holy, lock him up! Are you reading what I’m reading here? This guy wants to shoot gay people in the head with bullets. He wants to not be charged with a crime for shooting them like dogs in the street.
If I were a citizen of Huntington Beach where this psycho is from, I, as a gay man, would not feel safe. Are you going to wait around until he “extra-judicially” assassinates a gay man? Because, let me tell you, he sounds like the type to do it.
I get that this bill would never, ever pass in the United States. That’s not the point here. The point is that this Matt McLaughlin guy is sitting around thinking about killing gay people.
Jeanne Cordova & Rev. Troy Perry fight California’s sodomy law
~~Published on Sep 28, 2014~~
Jeanne Cordova and Rev. Troy Perry were two of the organizers responsible for getting California’s anti-sodomy law repealed, thus decriminalizing homosexuals. Promo for the upcoming documentary LA A Queer History.
It Is What It Is 