https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/man-ties-noose-around-teen-neck
OK this is what the right wing regressive movement is all about. A teen happy with who he was and his friend who may or may not be gay as well, both being harassed and threatened for simply being open about themselves. They were harming no one, but some asshole right wing adult took offense and wanted to teach them fear for being different from straight cis folk. This is the right wing / Christian nationalism desire for a 1950s fake culture of only the things they demand be accepted being seen in society. I remember a person I knew who was elderly asking me why we gays just couldn’t stay in the closet and not let anyone know, it was better then. I asked for whom? The answer was those straight cis happy people.
One of the co-founders of the Florida don’t say gay bill that started all this was a hyper fundamentalist Christian who publically said he wrote the bill because he was upset and disgusted that kids were coming out to their peers and being accepted instead of ostracized, humiliated, and beaten up. He hated that students, young kids were not targeted for abuse by other kids and teachers. That stuck with me and burned deeply. The reason is below.
One day I in science class led by a large what today we would call a maga person teacher, after class ended and I gathered my stuff and started to exit the room I was attacked by a very large kid and his friends. I was small, about 60 pounds, not even five foot. I got smashed in the face and body, hit till I fell to the floor. I knew this feeling, I got it at home, so I did what I did then, covered my face already full of blood, curled up tight and took the kicks and blows. Before the bell rang again they moved off and I started to uncurl when the teacher grabbed by my shoulder and wrenched me around to face him. Through tearing blurry eyes I watched as he told me, “This is what you get for being a fagot and I hope they do it again and again” I went to the bathroom and tried to wash up and stop the blood. I sat a few classes in the bathroom. I got marked absent for those classes but no one asked why. This the world this person who wrote the “Don’t say gay” bill wants to bring back, that they are proud of. Hugs. Scottie
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WA man accused of tying noose around teen’s neck because he said he was gay
A 38-year-old man was arrested this week in Kitsap County after deputies say he tied a noose around a 14-year-old boy’s neck because the teen said he was gay.
On Monday, Oct. 21, the man overheard his 13-year-old son and his son’s friend talking, and asked if he was gay.
Video at link aboveAccording to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the teen said, “yes,” and the man wrapped the rope around his throat. The teen managed to escape.
Deputies said the man also lassoed his son with the rope a few minutes later, and he also escaped.
Video at link aboveThe 14-year-old boy went home and told his mother about the incident, and she reported it to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies arrested the man, and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office said he was charged with a hate crime and two counts of second-degree assault.
WA man accused of tying noose around 14-year-old boy who said he was gay
The Kitsap County, Washington man was arrested Oct. 21 and accused of a hate crime. The 38-year-old man is accused of tying a noose around a 14-year-old before lassoing his own 13-year-old son.
The man was arraigned on Tuesday with bail set at $50,000.
Seattle’s ABC affiliate reports:
A 38-year-old Bremerton man was arrested Monday in connection with an alleged assault involving two boys, including his biological son, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. Joseph Sweeney faces multiple charges, including second-degree assault and a hate crime.
The arrest followed allegations that Sweeney assaulted the two boys on October 20. According to the court documents, Sweeney asked his 13-year-old son’s friend if he was gay; when the teen said, “Yes, is it a crime to be gay in this house?” deputies said Sweeney put a noose around his neck and tightened it.
Sweeney allegedly recorded both boys with his cell phone while telling them to kiss each other in an effort to humiliate them, detectives said in the court documents. A search of Sweeney’s residence also led to the discovery of a firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing due to a prior domestic violence protection order issued in Kansas City in 2023.
Read the full article.
Scottie's Playtime 
I’m beginning to think that anyone who is arrested and convicted of assault n an LGBTQ+ should receive punishment that includes whatever the assault was…wanna stick a noose around some poor child’s neck? ya get hanged for it. I have no more patience…this crap has to stop.
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I’m with you there.
Dare to consider themselves Christians….they will be called to account by a judge who sees through all lies and hates.
(They want Christian Fundamentalism?……more than happy to oblige- right in their faces)
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Hi Suze. What that adult male did was terrorize and threaten two teen boys for daring to be different. He wanted them afraid of being different, and one was his son. He wanted them to learn to hide who they really were out of fear. He needs to feel that same fear and lose his stuff because of his actions. He needs to lose custody of his son as who know how he will treat the boy now. Will he let him still be friends with the other boy? What ever made this man think this action was acceptable? Maga right it seems.
Suze I really worry about people who have that horrible outdated attitude and refusal to accept others who are different from themselves. What happened to live and let live? What happened to mind our own business? What happened to just getting along with others? The tropes had been dispelled and schools were teaching tolerance and respect. Things were getting better with society accepting the LGBTQ+. And in 3 short years a small minority of haters using social media, being very loud and willing to threaten along with using violence villainized and lied about every aspect of the LGBTQ+ making claims that were absurd. They turned the social acceptance back for the first time in decades. They did it in the name of protecting the children and in the name of their god, even as it was pointed out that everything they said was lies. Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok fame admitted she was telling out right lies and said so what, it was not illegal to lie. Yet she claimed to be a super Christian woman! They went on a full court press to demonize the LGBTQ+ and it worked. They right wing politicians picked it up and pushed it hard thinking it would win them elections even though it failed every time. They still kept at it ratcheting up the rhetoric more and more. They even thought it would be a great idea to cut a huge window in an all gender bathroom so people walking by could see the kids in there. I don’t understand how all this happened, how we slid back decades in such a short period of time. How do we again climb back out of it and make those shameless people go away forever? I am tired. Been fighting for gay acceptance all my life only to see it boomerang again. Tired hugs.
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we first get rid of their “leader” and make him impotent politically. We then reinstate the laws that his sycophants overturned. then we round up all the assholes (if i had my way) and send them to hell.
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Thanks. Hugs
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The struggle for Liberty for all hits up against those who want ‘things to stay the same’ because that makes them feel safe (never mind the rest).
The problem we face Suze and the Good Lord knows I have had countless internal discussion about this is:
How much do we pay for ‘Liberty’?
or contrary-wise.
How much do we change ‘for things to remain the same’?
The former means, paradoxically its own imposition of will on others, which on the face of it might be fine if it means a cleaning of society of Hate and Intolerance- in there though lies a question not talked about. How far does that do, and who defines Hate & Intolerance? All systems carry the opportunity for misuse. I have a preference for authoritarian systems, and yet…they don’t work.
As for those who wish for things to remain the same; they appoint leaders and those leaders get to the top by being the loudest and the most narrow minded. Thus you get the same argument . Just what is ‘staying the same’? and suppose that impacts on someone you dearly love but is ‘different’? Will you stand by?
There are myriad problems and contradictions.
We might have been making progress by small steps, but too many folk of easy-going outlook took their eye off of the game and just thought those of the extreme Right were ‘funny’ and didn’t take their rise seriously.
And then someone throws economics and the cost of living into the mix.
The road back is a long hard one.
All we can do is Hope, Never Give Up and try to keep Compassion in the mix.
Sorry, no easy answers.
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😡
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Hi Janet. I fully understand. Please see my reply to Suze and if you have anything to help me understand let me know. We must not have to keep fighting these same battles every time some vocal / violent group gets a foot hold on social media or some red state asshole bigot thinks he can get more votes by pushing ever stricter bills that have no benefit for anyone but drive more hatred against minority groups. The entire republican cult party of trump is about demonizing any minority or the others who are different from them. We must not only stop them but make it clear that that tactic will not bring them the success they clearly think it will. Hugs.
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Honestly, it is already a losing tactic. But they just aren’t getting the message. Hate is a powerful drug. Stopping them will require a groundswell of decent folks showing them it is unacceptable. And that’s beginning to happen I think. One example:
“74% of voters say that transgender people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/icymi-new-survey-finds-anti-trans-ads-ineffective-disliked-by-voters
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Hi Janet. Thanks for shining a bright happy light for a tired gay fighter. I just get tired of this cycle and want them to just accept they live in a multiple culture society. But I know you have had your fights also all your life and still are trying to reach your dream. I really hope that goal is in sight and possible if Harris wins. Hugs
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Thanks Scottie. I expounded on my thoughts BTW.
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Thank you for the link. Hugs
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Hi Janet. I just made two posts from the link you sent. I am glad you sent them to me. They lifted my spirits and maybe will also help people who like me are growing weary of the renewed fight for our rights in society. Hugs
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Happy to have helped! I saw your posts. 😊
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It’s folk like these who have me going right back to my authoritarian style government ideas and re-education camps especially designed for bigots, hate mongers and such like- you don’t want to know.
OK I’m done…..
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Hi Roger. Oh yes I do! I promise you I am tired of having to have this same fight all over again in my senior years. We had it in the 1970s and we fought back and finally had acceptance in society gaining every year, we had programs in schools teaching tolerance / acceptance of people different from you. We had government moving forward with ever increasing rights for those who had been shut out. Then in three short years a combination of Christian nationalist and right wing maga cult bigots who both groups want to revert to the 1950s when they felt in charge and more powerful. They demand the all the rights gained by others be repealed and rolled back to make them happy, to make their god happy. They demand a society just like them. They want all kids raised just like them, with their mind set no matter how those kids parents feel about it. They are a minority who demand the majority live with in the same strictures they wish to live in. Please read what I wrote to Suze. If you can offer any advice or words of wisdom I would love to hear it. I do not want kids fighting this fight for the rest of their lives like I did. Thanks. Tired worn out hugs.
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Hi Scottie.
I was about to reply, then Suze’s caught my eye and I ended up writing more than expected, using up my replying time.
Anyway today is Sheila and my 51st wedding anniversary so I’ll be ‘elsewhere’ for a while but will get back to you with a proper reply, as we used to say in the UK Civil Service.
‘In due course’
Take care you guys
Roger & Sheila
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Hi Roger and Sheila! What a grand moment to have been together 51st years together I love it and it is so grand!!! How wonderful and you guys take as much time as you wish … you deserve it. Sorry but before I sign off I am stunned. We are 34 years, and working to 35 years, but 51 !!!! That is so awesome I can not conceive it. I dearly hope both Ron and I live that long. How grand it will be. Thank you for sharing that I can only hope Ron and I live that long together. Thank you very much for sharing that and your wisdom with us. Hugs and love.
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Thank you for those kind words Scottie.
We just hunkered down and took each day as it came, good, bad or otherwise. Amongst it all we just did not imagine things without each other, and here we are. Stubborn and in love I guess did the trick!
Congratulations to you both for reaching nigh on 35 amongst all of your trails and challenges. That is a wonderful accomplishment and a true testament to love between two people. Just keep on, keeping on.
Here’s a song for you both:
PS: I haven’t forgotten I owe you a reply from Saturday…. Will try and get that sorted tomorrow.
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Hi Roger. Thanks for the song. No worries when you reply. I just value your thoughts and enjoy them when you share them with me / us. I realize how late I am replying to these comments. I hope you will forgive me. It is not that I find you or the rest unimportant, I have to deal with the crisis issues life has been throwing us lately. Best wishes and hugs always.
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Don’t worry Scottie. You are not late at all.
These days I’m usually at least 15 hrs, if not 24 hrs + behind in my replies. I’m not too sure how that happened, seems that Time sure does speed by me.
And you must always bear in mind you have your own life to attend to and that comes first, so don’t worry about feeling you are late in replying….Not so.
You and Ron,
Take care now.
Roger & Sheila.
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Hi Scottie.
Finally made it to reply.
Starting off with a Big Picture overview:
Sadly wherever and whenever you go through Humanity’s long ragged history there is cruelty, enforcement, suppression, coercion and hypocrisy.
There is however more signs of Hope than in previous generations. There is more condemnation of these traits, there are more groups pushing back, there are more nations building tolerance into their frameworks. It is true the forcers of Intolerance and Hate will react, and these never rest.
This should be born in mind by all. The struggle and resistance to these corrosions should continue and there should always be vigilance.
The torch should be passed from generations unto generation that Compassion, Respect and Tolerance must be the overall goal; these must be above all else; there can be no acceptance of prejudice and hate, there can be no right of freedom to exercise these.
We live in an era where despite all the seeming evidence to the contrary there is Hope – slender and fragile, but it is there.
Snowflake? What a stupid insult. Only someone brainless could have thought that one up. Snowflakes are individual, and when they gather and come in great numbers….well all of our fine inventions of mobility have to pay respect to them.
Snowflake is not an insult. It is a banner to be borne aloft.
Take care you guys.
Roger
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Hi Roger. I am sure you understand the concept of the Overton window. Republicans and fundamentalist Christians have been desperately working to move that window back towards the right after decades of it moving left. And it seemed for a few years they managed that. But as history moves further forward we see that they drank their own kool aid and if tRump loses their entire movement gets set way back again. But for me and others effected by their hate there is always the lingering question … what if they win? Plus how many people did they manage to poison with their hate speech that will act on it now? Hugs
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You’ve got that right Scottie. This is the problem that will not go away. There will always be folk who will believe that a return to other values is the only recourse. Within this ideal is the theme of domination of others and coercion to fit ‘the ideal’.
This can be made acceptable to a larger section of the population by splicing it onto a more tangible concern such as Economical Issues. Thus if a candidate can win a populist economic argument and get voted in one that, this enables the winner, or in this case the winner’s supporter base to then introduce their other agendas into the nation’s laws and administration.
However if their candidate loses they will then, as displayed call ‘fraud’ and turn inwards supporting each other, but they will not go away, unless the majority of them become disillusioned with the cause. To engender that into them, is a long hard road.
I have grave concerns over this which I outlined in a recent post updated from an original from 2022.
Take care now.
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