Hungary Fires National Museum Director Over World Press Photo Exhibit That Includes Five LGBTQ Images

This is what the M4L and other fundamentalist Christian racist bigot groups want here in the US.  This is what they are trying to do.  Wipe the existence of LGBTQIA people from public sight / society.  They want us gone, outlawed, a progressive society of equality for all so all can live freely as themselves without oppression from government or other people.  Instead, they want to replace it with the regressive oppressive society of the 1950s and worse only allow the public display of church approved doctrine.   Remember when on TV married couples could only be shown going to bed in separate beds, because god forbid people get the idea that married people slept together back then.  The idea that non-married actors would lay down on the same surface was pornographic even if they had their clothing on and were playing a married couple.   Remember when the only way a gay or lesbian character could be shown is as a depraved villain who got destroyed somehow by the end of the film, showing that good church doctrines triumph over such evil beings every time.  See that is the society they think everyone should be forced to live today, by church doctrines, never letting on people have sexual desires or that anything other than straight cis people exist or are good people.  This is the person Orbán, that the right wing pushes as the perfect way to run the US, he is a complete authoritarian driven to change the country and government to his view of morality and under his personal control.  Former rights and liberties have been restricted and outlawed.  When people show you who they are, believe them.  This who the fundamentalist right wing Christian majority are.     Hugs.  Scottie


The Associated Press reports:

Hungary’s cultural minister on Monday fired the director of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, accusing him of failing to comply with a contentious law that bans the display of LGBTQ+ content to minors.

The dismissal of Laszlo L. Simon, who became director of the museum for a five-year term in 2021, came after Hungary’s government determined in late October that five photos on display at the prestigious World Press Photo exhibition violated the law restricting children’s access to content that depicts homosexuality or gender change.

The museum subsequently put a notice on its website and at the entrance to the World Press Photo exhibition — which showcases outstanding photojournalism — that the collection was restricted to visitors over 18.

Read the full article. Writing this morning on his Facebook page, Simon notes that the age restriction went into place immediately upon the government’s order, adding, “As a father and grandparent of four children, I strongly refuse that our children should be protected from me or the institution I manage.”

As I noted last week, the five offending photos merely portray elderly queer Filipinos caring for each other in a group home they’ve shared for decades. Speaking this weekend to Florida Republicans, Trump again lavished praise on Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban and again falsely claimed that Hungary and Russia share a border.

 

 

For years we were lectured about how easily triggered we were…. Again projection.

I assume they wouldn’t even know the subjects of the photos were gay except the descriptions of the photos informed them of it? Image how delicate and unstable they must be to be trigger just by knowing that someone is gay.

One of the five photographs. I’m using it in my week of lectures on Southeast Asia in ten days.

Thumbnail

Hannah Reyes Morales for The New York Times (2022) “Members of the Golden Gays community unwind at home after a show, in Manila, the Philippines.”

Clay, you know Joe’s rules about lewd, graphic, and salacious imagery here. 😉

I have no idea what’s LGBTQ about that pic.

The people are queer. That’s enough for the fascists to censor. Other images in the show are more distinctly queer, but none of them are sexual.

 

‘Look queer’ hmmm that’s a conundrum.

Idiotic, but that’s the way fascists roll. I saw the exhibition in Montréal in August. If you’re a normal person, the elderly queer Filipinos caring for one another were among the most hopeful and least disturbing in the show. Other images feature bloody war, famine, terrorism, environmental catastrophe etc. But it’s the caring queens that’s supposedly too much for youths. It should be noted that Budapest is NOT Orban-friendly like other parts of Hungary.

Yeah, I can’t imagine there is much sexual content in a series of photos taken at a Philippine care home. I could be wrong.

You’re not wrong. A link to the photos and the young photographer. She did beautiful work for a project that was obviously personal for her.

https://www.worldpressphoto…

Edited to correct link.

Thanks for sharing that. Gender fluidity in precolonial Philippines tracks the tradition of other Pacific Island and First Nations cultures. Trans persons were referred to as Babaylan, Hawaiian and Tahitians were Mahu and held similar roles in pre-contact society. Generally perceived as shaman or spiritual beings.

It’s time to give dogs a shot at running the world

Thumbnail
 
Thumbnail
 

How exactly would those photos damage children? Were there nudity? Sexual content? Or is it too much for the fragile Hungarians to see men taking care of other men?

Anti abortion is never about pro-life, anti drag queen is never about children grooming and so on and so forth. This is the standard fascist talking point.

The latter, not surprisingly. The images weren’t sexual. The caring and fluid gender roles were what disturbed the powers that be.

Harmless images of gay seniors somehow are more offensive than the scantilly clad beach goers? These fascists love to make a mountain out of a molehill to spin their lies.

Hungary has become a fascist state where there is neither freedom of expression nor freedom of sexual identity.

Freedom of any kind, pretty much.

 
Thumbnail
 
 

Born Created naked and the rest is drag…

If the Republicans win next year they will pass all kinds of laws against lgbtq and have setup the best supreme court to make them stick. When Lawrence v Texas is overturned we’ll all go back to being outlaws.

 

Bearing Bubba’s Burdens (2023-11-04)

True Facts: Incredible Crab Stories

Is My Child Too Young To Learn About Being Gay? | Tim Ramsey | TEDxOxford

This is 4 years old and I guess the person speaking is from England.   But this is a great talk.  It covers so much of what I want to say.  It explains why the don’t say gay laws that in so many red states are so dangerous and harmful.  Please take 13 minutes and 41 seconds to learn about this issue, learn why it is so important to gay kids to see themselves in the surrounding society, and that yes there are gay kids, even young kids that know they are different, know they are gay, and are scared / worried about it that need support with love.  I love the question he asks, when was your child too young to learn about being straight?  Because from birth all around them kids see straight couples and symbols of being straight in society.  The same with gender, the haters say they don’t want the children to be taught gender in schools as they claim it sexualizes them.   But society is structured around gender.  We learn it from birth with nursery colors, types of toys, and the clothing we are put in.    Hugs.   Scottie

Can a child be too young to learn about being LGBT? The answer: no child is ever too young. In this humorous and moving talk, Tim Ramsey argues that only when every parent explores about LGBT identities with their child from birth will we address the well being crisis facing LGBT young people.

Tim Ramsey, the founder of award-winning non-profit Just Like Us, grew up believing that being gay was the worst thing he could be. Having come out, Tim launched Just Like Us to change the lives of other LGBT+ school students by empowering young people to challenge prejudice and champion LGBT+ equality at school and work. As the founder of School Diversity Week, the national celebration of LGBT+ equality in education, Tim has involved over 650,000 school students and teachers work to ensure every young person can be themselves and their best at school.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx Can a child be too young to learn about being LGBT? The answer: no child is ever too young. In this humorous and moving talk, Tim Ramsey, Founder of award-winning LGBT non-profit Just Like Us, argues that only when every parent explores about LGBT identities with their child from birth will we address the wellbeing crisis facing LGBT young people. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What Her “Bodycount” Says About Her?

Thank you, my sweet girl.  You will forever be the better part of my heart.

It’s too quiet.  It’s too quiet!!  The walls echo emptiness and absence, and it’s tearing my heart.

In April of 2010 I wanted a friend.  I wanted one who would keep watch over my safety, driving off strangers and those who meant me harm.  I wanted a friend who would stand tall and let none pass that meant me harm.  And so, I went to a friend of a friend who found those who no one wanted with hope she could find me such a friend.  As we spoke this maniacal blur of black and grey came ripping into the yard, eyes wide, teeth sharp and white, claws digging up tufts of grass as she made corners and then straight towards me with an unknown intention.

“Watch that one,” the lady said.  “She came to me as one too wild to be homed.”

Gracie picture 1

And then this wild child launched herself into my lap and laid her head on my chest, looking right through me with soft brown eyes full of mischief and hope.  “Well, looks like you have been claimed,” the lady said.

“What’s her name,” I asked.

“Grace,” the lady said.  “I found her just before she was to be put down at the pound.  I told you she is said to be too wild.”

“Yeah, she looks vicious,” I laughed.  Gracie picture 2Yet, claimed I was, a man no one wanted by a dog no one wanted, and both of us thought by some better off with a bullet.  And so, Grace came home with me, this wild one that would protect my home and safety, just as I wanted.  Just as I thought I needed.

As time went, she proved to me how wrong I was.  Grace was not a guard dog.  She didn’t stand boldly at the gate, the fear of strangers everywhere.  In fact, one of the neighbors referred to her as a slut – taking love from anyone.  I didn’t know if I was offended by that or not, but she was right.

As time passed Grace helped me deal with my anger, my desire for violence, my desires to just get in my car and drive away from it all.  Grace taught me discipline and responsibility.  Gracie picture 3

Most importantly, Grace taught me love and loyalty.  I did not receive the guard dog I wanted that day, but was instead blessed with the best friend I deeply needed.

Last summer Grace began to limp.  She was coming on 14 years old, so arthritis is expected.  But, the arthritis medications didn’t help.  Still, she lived a happy dog, and though she couldn’t do zoomies anymore, she loved to be with me outside or between my feet while I sat in my chair. Gracie picture 4  There was nothing wrong with her tail, that’s for sure, and she was sure to tell anyone who could reach the box that she was ready for a bone no matter how bad her leg hurt.  Two weeks ago I found out that she actually had cancer as her pain was getting worse and worse.

Gracie picture 5

Still, my happy girl was glad to see me, quick to cuddle, quick to make me feel wanted, needed, loved.

On Thursday I overcame my selfishness and said goodbye to my sweet friend of 13.5 years.  She laid her head in my hands one last time, a slight look of confusion on a face wet with my tears as the vet helped her move on.  I held her to the end, my sweet friend, and experienced pain I just didn’t know a man could as I drove home.  Alone.

Thank you, my sweet girl.  You will forever be the better part of my heart.