And the religious right gets their way using vague language in laws and wording in the laws that provides the public can sue with no costs and even if they lose the party sued still has to pay all the costs. “The bill DOES NOT ban drag or pride. But it relies on vague language and harsh penalties to instill fear that inevitably leads to self-censorship– that was their goal.” It is the bounty hunter scheme first started by Texas and used in Florida against schools to get the teachers ordered to remove books just in case a maga parent sued. The goal of these laws are not to ban sex shows, not to police nudity or exaggerated genitalia but to remove any sign of men dressed as women from society and the public view. What will the right manage to ban from public view next? Jewish symbols? Non-Christian religious symbols? Women in pants? Men with long hair such as mine? Hugs
As all of you know, the political climate that we are currently in has us all very concerned for our community. After multiple meetings with city officials, it is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event.
The city has decided that with the likelihood that the Governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change.
We are obviously upset and dishearten that it has come to this. We also regret to announce that we will have to cancel our plans to bring back our beloved parade.
We hope that everyone understands that this is definitely not what we wanted at all and are working with the city to assure our safety as well as produce a positive event.
We have held off as long as we could in making this announcement as we were hoping it would not have to be made. We hope that everyone still supports out community and attends this event!
We will be making an announcement in the near future about a family friendly Party in the Park where our youth can celebrate who they are as well in conjunction with the Sanctuary of the Treasure Coast.
Port St. Lucie, population 200,000, is on the east coast about 90 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale.
SB 1438 hasn't even been signed into law, yet city officials are CANCELING pride parades + drag performances.
The bill DOES NOT ban drag or pride. But it relies on vague language and harsh penalties to instill fear that inevitably leads to self-censorship– that was their goal. pic.twitter.com/6V1beIeXlV
“[T]he political climate that we are currently in has us all very concerned for our community … [I]t is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event.” https://t.co/W0KzqVy7wJ
AND they have the right to shoot and kill if they feel “threatened”. Which could mean just seeing anything they don’t like – gays, blacks, women, “non-Christians”, Catholics, …
In this case they should have simply canceled it wholly and completely. The community would suffer but so would the area as a whole as well. It should be made clear that their loss comes from acceptance of deathsantis and his supporters. No matter what, this fucking sucks and is total bullshit. But it will take not just the community suffering but the cities and towns that benefit from these parades and gatherings suffering and feeling it in their bottom lines before people stand up and fight against hate.
I suppose the big test will come with Wilton Manors Pride. The town is entirely gay run: mayor, city council, police, fire, etc. Just last month Wilton Manors had a huge turnout for their pro-drag protest march. Their parade is scheduled for June 17th and draws tens of thousands.
Wilton Manors is about to go thru some things. I believe the gays there aren’t really fully aware of what’s about to happen to them. I’m literally on a cruise with a large number of Wilton Manors residents and they don’t seem to be aware of the depth of depravity that is DeSantis and the evangelicals who are backing him.
I think it was a few days ago, a pride event that had always been given a permit unanimously by the city suddenly became newsworthy on account of “Is drag still legal?”.
All those who normally say they’re fine with it being are cowed by both the threat of legal action against them by the state, as well as the relentless beating of the “groomers” war drum.
Standard-issue hypocrisy. At 18 you’re considered old enough to fight and die for this country, old enough to be held legally and criminally responsible as an adult for just about everything… yet not old enough to handle a beer, and not old enough to handle certain “sexual” stuff…
I don’t have a good “why”, except that the bigots and haters want to make young adults fearful and self-censoring.
Republicans are frantically working to make it harder for young people to vote as Gen Z has turned out for Democrats in record numbers. Idaho Republicans are banning student IDs to vote while Texas Republicans proposed banning voting centers on campuses. https://t.co/SZ9piZkDPV
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) April 15, 2023
community values** are reflected in each school library catalog in the district
**Some exclusions apply
Gay, trans, Black, Muslim, non-Christian community member’s values will not be reflected – or even acknowledged.
Also, Missouri has out-uglied Texas.
In Missouri, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday approved a budget that completely defunds public libraries. The move came in response to an ACLU lawsuit filed by the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association, challenging a recent law that bans certain books. The measure has led to the removal of over 300 books from school libraries — many with LGBTQ characters and social justice topics. Missouri Democrats have denounced GOP censorship
For adults. This is not about protecting children, it is about wiping out a group of people that the religious right doesn’t like. It doesn’t fit their view of the world created by their god. So the right doesn’t just live and let live, these religious right groups force everyone to live by their church doctrines. Hugs
Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced plans to restrict health care for transgender people weeks ago, when protesters rallied at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass a law banning puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for children. But the discussion was focused on minors, not adults.
Oh my god.
Missouri AG just essentially banned gender affirming care for most trans adults via emergency rule.
Requires 3 years of dysphoria, 18 months of therapy sessions, doesn't allow people with autism/depression.
Note how effortlessly the goalpost has shifted from saving harming minors to harming adults? Of course, as we here have always known, it was never about “protecting children.”
They’re testing the waters. Trans people are easy targets for the theofascists. I guarantee you that 80-90% of Americans know absolutely nothing about trans people, their lives and their challenges.
The theofascists’ ultimate target is the LGB community.
They see what other nations like Russia and Hungary are doing, and are envious.
This is exactly what happened in Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Creeping restrictions on civil rights and criminalizing the existence of ‘suspect’ groups of people. We have to fight back and beat this before it spreads to other states.
The federal government is going to have to intervene. They did it in the civil rights movement for black people and they are going to have to find their will and courage to do it again. These people mean us harm and will not stop
This has always been the goal – not “protecting children,” but eliminating trans people from society, with an eye toward eliminating gays, lesbians and bisexuals too. Trans people are just the easiest target, and going after them makes for an effective divide and conquer strategy if you can get homocons and TERFs on board.
Anyone with a working brain knew this was going to happen. Like other people have said, this whole “think of the children” BS was just a cover! Now they are coming after trans adults. After that they will come after gay rights! I guarantee it! I’m sure interracial marriage will be on the chopping block too. These fascists will stop at nothing to get the right wing theocracy they crave. We must fight these asshats tooth and nail!
DeathSantis has made the state of Florida racist bigoted white supremacist religious right conservative maga paradise. He has made minority rule of pushing hate and intolerance against anyone not following the maga Christian talking points. It is not enough for these people to publicly live their maga Christian right hateful lives they demand they get to use those Christian maga conservative views against others, they feel entitled to attack those they feel are not following their church doctrines and they attack those that allow or are tolerant of others. They feel that every one around them must act according to their regressive, backwards beliefs. Hugs
Many elected leaders like U.S. Sen. Rick Scott denounced the Nazi salutes, anti-Jewish slurs and Nazi regalia. On Monday, the governor did not condemn the demonstrators. Instead, he criticized Democrats.
Meanwhile, bomb threats forced the temporary closure of historically Black colleges and universities. Also, on the first day of Black History Month, DeSantis asked the Florida Supreme Court whether Black congressman Al Lawson’s district was unconstitutional. Lawson responded that the governor is race-baiting to build political points with his base.
Wow. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) is now requiring state board applicants to write 500 words about what they “admire” about her before they can be considered for a job. The same application only requires 250 words for other questions. https://t.co/uJpJLLRD2U
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) April 12, 2023
Originally I was not sure that if DeathSantis was a true believer, a gang thug, or just a pandering republican. I have come to the opinion that he really is all three. While he seemed smart enough to get through an Ivy League school, he was considered really backward and thuggish in the military, which carried over to him being thought of as stupid in the congress. He really is as ambitious, as religious, as callous, and as entitled thinking a white man who will hurt anyone to advance himself as they come. The only difference between him and trump is his age and his willingness to listen to others who tell him they can get him what he wants. Otherwise, he is a trump clone. Give him authority and power and he will abuse it to enrich himself, create more authority for himself, and to hurt those he can while enjoying doing so. Terrifying because he took the trump base and entrenched himself as the governor that will do what every they want regardless of how it hurts others or is illegal, if they will continue to support him. In the article you will see a free link to the story and I suggest you use it. I have and won’t abuse the privilege to copy it here. Hugs
Backed by GOP supermajorities in both chambers, Mr. DeSantis is waging frontal assaults on press freedom, reproductive freedom, free enterprise and academic freedom. Meanwhile, in the name of protecting gun rights, he has scaled back prudent safety rules. And now he’s poised to target undocumented immigrants, including “dreamers,” with what will be some of the cruelest policies in America.
One of the cruelest steps Mr. DeSantis plans to take in the coming weeks to bolster his presidential bona fides is a crackdown on undocumented immigrants. He wants to require hospitals to collect data on the immigration status of patients, which would deter people from seeking needed medical care. Another measure under consideration would make it a felony to shelter, hire or transport any undocumented immigrant.
"Backed by GOP supermajorities in both chambers, Mr. DeSantis is waging frontal assaults on press freedom, reproductive freedom, free enterprise and academic freedom"https://t.co/nFI2W74yPi
He’s a fascist with a fascist supermajority legislature supporting him. Having said that, I don’t see him winning outside of Florida. If Trump drops dead maybe he can get the R nom but even then I’m not sure.
Watch what he does with the Disney thing. As long as he can bully his opponent he can run over them but when he can’t (see: Disney) he becomes a petty, vindictive bitch who resorts to bluster (tolls! taxes!) and just comes off as throwing a tantrum.
The Disney fiasco is going to cost the taxpayers in Floriduh a lot of money. Tourism may suffer too, with groups advising their members not to travel to Florida due to the real danger they could face there.
Definitely. One would hope that would turn some people in Florida off from supporting DeSantis but they do seem to love their fascist government given his margin of victory in his reelection.
I do wonder if his base won’t care too much because the brunt of the punishment is going to be felt in and around Orange County, which is blue.
I think him ignoring the looming insurance disaster while he’s out running for president/on his book tour might get him in more trouble with his base but we’ll see.
Everything they say is true. And it’s playing well to his base, which is part of the plan (securing the GQP nomination for president, the other part being pretending he’s Viktor Orban).
But there’s another side to this coin. He may have enshrined all this fascist ideology into Florida law and got lots of media coverage doing so. But that will come back to haunt him if he runs in the general because he won’t be able to walk it back, to tack to the centre. That will spell his doom.
Am expecting DeSantis to be 2023-2024’s Scott Walker (remember him?).
I hope that’s the case, but I can’t be too sure. American voters can be astoundingly shallow come Election Day, not to mention the potential for the Green Party to ratfuck the Democrats like in 2016.
Though Trump was nominally against abortion in 2016 (typically it was hard to pin down exactly what his position was), few believed Roe v. Wade would be in danger if he was elected. It just wasn’t a big issue.
But it is now and will be even more so in 2024. And DeSantis’s position is crystal clear. Add in other things like his stance on guns, his white supremacy, his weaponizing of government, his picking on the beloved Disney franchise, his targeting of minorities and his blind ambition, none of which play well with the US public, and it’s clear he has an uphill battle ahead of him, even if the shitgibbon is somehow neutralized.
Not saying your skepticism is misplaced. A sharp downturn in the economy, say, or war with Russia or China could radically change the calculus. But if so, most voters would be voting against Biden, not for DeSantis.
That’s what worries me – enough people voting for DeSantis just because he’s “the other guy” or sitting out or voting third-party would be enough to hand the GOP fascists the White House.
They tried this in Alabama about 15 years ago. Guess how many houses didn’t get build and construction companies that folded. They had no one to pick watermelons, oranges, etc. They rotted in the fields. So you do that Ronnie!
Georgia boned at least one vidalia crop with their anti-migrant labor BS, (which was therefore short-lived) …cause local people can’t *live* harvesting one crop a year for subminimum wages, or even minimum wages, thus did not appear. Seasonal labor essentially *has* to move around to get through every year, and average American job-seekers neither have an unofficial system and infrastructure for that, nor do they generally find that appealing.
Not to mention that if someone that’s a citizen is physically-capable of that kind of labor, chances are they will have a *better* job than that at least available. I mean, when I was homeless I made an attempt to get something out of that but between the disability that largely put me there in the first place and the whole not-being-fed part, all I got was sick from being in the Sun and …no pay at all to use to go eat something and try again the next day.
I think what Republicans and racists expect to happen very quickly proves to not be what happens. But they still will neither pay for better arrangements or stop blaming the migrant labor they presume is ‘illegal’ for all their perceived problems.
Georgia boned at least one vidalia crop with their anti-migrant labor BS, (which was therefore short-lived) …cause local people can’t *live* harvesting one crop a year for subminimum wages, or even minimum wages, thus did not appear. Seasonal labor essentially *has* to move around to get through every year, and average American job-seekers neither have an unofficial system and infrastructure for that, nor do they generally find that appealing.
Not to mention that if someone that’s a citizen is physically-capable of that kind of labor, chances are they will have a *better* job than that at least available. I mean, when I was homeless I made an attempt to get something out of that but between the disability that largely put me there in the first place and the whole not-being-fed part, all I got was sick from being in the Sun and …no pay at all to use to go eat something and try again the next day.
I think what Republicans and racists expect to happen very quickly proves to not be what happens. But they still will neither pay for better arrangements or stop blaming the migrant labor they presume is ‘illegal’ for all their perceived problems.
Why do you think I call him DeFascist? Fucking WaPo! All of you bastards in the both sides media are complicit in bringing this about. How long have you scoffed at those of us who have literally spent decades warning you that this was happening? That is what happens when you are securely ensconced in your ivory tower. You look out at the world and think that you have sure knowledge of reality when actually you’re just seeing your own biases.
Who the fuck does he think is going to tend to the landscaping all of the low rent gated communities? Who is going to harvest the agricultural bounty? Can’t wait for next year’s strawberry crop to rot in the fields.
They think the only way to compete is also to go far right.
It’s stupid. DeSantis constantly increases the size and authority of the Floridian government and its control over Florida’s people, you’d think that “small government” would be an easy rallying cry without having to tread on going far right.
“…would make it a felony to shelter, hire or transport any undocumented immigrant.” Replace “undocumented immigrant” with “Jew” and it’s a page right out of Hitler’s playbook.
It seems the republican view is that it is OK to break the laws if you are republican. No matter what it seems they give a pass to themselves while wanting everyone else to “take personal responsibility” or “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” Hugs
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (Screenshot/NBC News)
The issue is that Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) represents District 25, which encompasses the community of Crossville, about two hours outside of Nashville. Under the Tennessee Constitution, Sexton can only represent District 25 if he is “a qualified voter of that district.”
A Popular Information investigation uncovered substantial evidence that Sexton and his family lived year-round in Nashville, not Crossville. The piece cited property records, school enrollment, and the observation of his neighbor in Crossville. Sexton’s office, however, did not respond to a request for comment.
After yesterday’s story was published and spread rapidly online, Sexton did communicate with Phil Williams, a high-profile Tennessee reporter. Williams reported that “Sexton argues, as Speaker, he has to be in Nashville so often that it’s easier to have his family here.” So now we know the answer to the question: Sexton, and his family, live in Nashville.
In addition to not living in Crossville, Sexton has also not paid his property taxes on his two-bedroom condo in Crossville for the last two years, according to the Cumberland County website.
Under Tennessee law, “[t]he place where a married person’s spouse and family have their habitation is presumed to be the person’s place of residence.” So, now that Sexton admitted he and his family live in Nashville, there is a presumption that Sexton also resides in Nashville for the purpose of voting registration. That would make his representation of District 25 unconstitutional since he wouldn’t be “a qualified voter of that district.”
The presumption can be rebutted if “a married person who takes up or continues abode with the intention of remaining at a place other than where the person’s family resides is a resident where the person abides.” But Sexton does not “abide” in Crossville while his family lives in Nashville. Sexton, by his own account, lives with his family in Nashville.
According to Williams, Sexton also cited a different section of Tennessee residency law, which states, “a person does not gain or lose residence solely by reason of the person’s presence or absence while employed in this service of… this state.” The issue, however, is not the time Sexton is in Nashville during the four-month legislative session or other official business. The issue is that he lives there year-round, whether or not he is conducting legislative business.
According to the 2022 House Ledger Sheet, for example, Sexton reported working on official business just 42 days outside of the four-month legislative session. But when he is not conducting official business, Sexton still appears to live in Nashville.
John Spragens, an attorney in Tennessee who litigates election law issues — including residency challenges — agreed that there were legitimate issues about whether Sexton was a legal representative of his district. “Residency for voting purposes involves several factors, but someone could easily conclude that Sexton is living in Nashville,” Spragens said. “He’s not the first speaker to do that — just the first to expel members while his own house is not in order.”
Spragens added that, at the moment, “the legislature is the sole arbiter of any member’s qualifications, so it’s up to [Sexton’s] colleagues to decide whether he or any representative should be expelled.” Spragens said that Sexton’s residency could be challenged in court if he runs for reelection.
Gary Blackburn, an attorney who has practiced law in Tennessee since the 1970s, said that what Sexton is doing “violates the obvious spirit of this law” and is “contrary to the intent of the statute.” Blackburn said, however, that enforcement may be difficult because of vague language in the residency statute. Nevertheless, according to Blackburn, the issue of Sexton’s residency is “worthy of public discussion.” He agreed that Sexton could face a court challenge in any subsequent run for office.
As I look into the mirror, shaving a greyed beard from a face lined by time and trouble, I remember a younger face once looking at me from this very glass with similarly sad eyes. A boy of dirty elbows and skinned knees, and behind that perpetually down-cast sight beat a heart filled with impotent rage. I knew my life was wrong, it was unfair, and it was a hot mess of a kid staring back from the mirror that reported horrible things filled with quiet unshed rage and denial of every truth that came anywhere near. At that younger time, I was pure lethality with a gun. I made a game of being able to spin the cap off a bottle without breaking the bottle by just nicking the side with the bullet, but I enjoyed the explosions of the shattering glass when I missed. Like many kids, I relished the wanton destruction, the control of continued existence or the end of that bottle. I felt powerful, skilled, and capable in a world where otherwise I foundered at the whim of forces I felt incapable of withstanding, weak, ineffectual.
If you have never held a gun, you know not the thrill of life, nor of death. For many a gun is the mark of independence, the goal of maturity, the status symbol of greatness. Instead, a momentary pull of a finger decides an accident of foolishness or the demands of a spurned heart and the most intimate of actions lets one be alive still and another not so very much. It is horror and excitement and at no point does the heartbeat slowly for any involved. It is but for targets, some may say, but what is target practice but the refinement of the skills necessary to kill that which you intend great harm? Some say it is an act of freedom to hold the means to life and death in your hands, but whose life, whose death? And why is the ability to take a life a definition for freedom?
From the tenor of this post, many would think I am against gun ownership. To be fair, I couldn’t care less if someone owns a gun. I similarly don’t care if someone owns a pit bull, a monster truck, or wants to live life as a raging karen. It is the unmitigated gall, the pretentious and pompous attitude that one’s ownership of a gun shall not be infringed, even in the misuse and mishandling. Bill upon bill has come before congress, requesting the mere modicum of relief to those of us unwilling to be set upon by others unfettered 2nd amendment rights, only to wither in committee, shot down by the special interests lobby. How sad a people who have decided money is far more important than the life of a school child.
I often wonder if Dylan Thomas knew about the lure of guns when he wrote “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at the close of the day.” When imagined and closeted monsters come and seek to take all that we hold precious, when fear and anger burn so bright as to risk all that is dear, do hold tight to that instrument of power, that wand of courage that burns away the dark and sends the monster back into the closet? But power is fickle, isn’t it? It isn’t only our own fear, our own rage that dispels in the smoke of a smokeless powder concussion. Quiet little sparks in Uvalde, in Sandy Hook, splashed out little stars in last moments of terror. And as those little lives fade, do you wonder if their last thoughts are to be thankful that old men may rage, that young men may rage? Hold on to your fear, gentlemen, do hold on to your fear if that is all you have left.
Don’t be sad, little ones. It’s just the cost of doing business. You understand, don’t you?
At that younger time, I was pure lethality with a gun. I made a game of being able to spin the cap off a bottle without breaking the bottle by just nicking the side with the bullet, but I enjoyed the explosions of the shattering glass when I missed. Like many kids, I relished the wanton destruction, the control of continued existence or the end of that bottle. I felt powerful, skilled, and capable in a world where otherwise I foundered at the whim of forces I felt incapable of withstanding, weak, ineffectual. 
and the most intimate of actions lets one be alive still and another not so very much. It is horror and excitement and at no point does the heartbeat slowly for any involved. It is but for targets, some may say, but what is target practice but the refinement of the skills necessary to kill that which you intend great harm? Some say it is an act of freedom to hold the means to life and death in your hands, but whose life, whose death? And why is the ability to take a life a definition for freedom?
It is the unmitigated gall, the pretentious and pompous attitude that one’s ownership of a gun shall not be infringed, even in the misuse and mishandling. Bill upon bill has come before congress, requesting the mere modicum of relief to those of us unwilling to be set upon by others unfettered 2nd amendment rights, only to wither in committee, shot down by the special interests lobby. How sad a people who have decided money is far more important than the life of a school child.
do hold tight to that instrument of power, that wand of courage that burns away the dark and sends the monster back into the closet? But power is fickle, isn’t it? It isn’t only our own fear, our own rage that dispels in the smoke of a smokeless powder concussion. Quiet little sparks in Uvalde, in Sandy Hook, splashed out little stars in last moments of terror. And as those little lives fade, do you wonder if their last thoughts are to be thankful that old men may rage, that young men may rage? Hold on to your fear, gentlemen, do hold on to your fear if that is all you have left. 
