I posted this last year when it first came out. I want to repost it. The message at the end is so vital and important to what is happening today. If you are not willing to listen to Beau and you should, he relates the tale that 30 years ago he was dating a girl who it turned out her father was a die hard racist bigot. The girl was mortified by this. The point that Beau makes at the end of the story is that just as the people who protested and railed against the mixing of the blacks and whites back then are thought of as weird stupid bigots the people doing this to the LGBTQ+ people today will be thought of in the same way. Of course Beau is more generous than I am, if these bigots manage to make the US the Christian nationalist theocracy they want then no one will be free to look back badly on them, look at Iran, the Taliban in Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia among other religious countries that are ruled by church doctrines instead of secular laws acknowledging advancements in understanding of all things since their holy books were written. Hugs
Category: Video / YouTube
Politician punched in face protesting transphobes, says he’d do it again “any day”
The hate is rising. There was a series of kids books I read as a child called The Dark is Rising, with each book having an individual title. The story is basically a good vs bad story built loosely around the King Arthur Merlin myths. I see that same evil hate that the book showed rising doing so today. But the evil devil that the good beings are fighting is the rising hate and threats of violence by the religious conservative right against the LGBTQ+ in the hope of bring back a dictatorship of a strict society based on their church doctrines.
One note on the story. He says he got punched in the back and the face. The story says that the video shows he got hit by his bullhorn where the cut is. But it is possible someone hit or pushed the bullhorn hard enough to cut the skin and feel like being punched. Hugs
Ontario MP Joel HardenPhoto: Screenshot TwitterOn Friday, a protest and counter-demonstration on a leafy street in Ottawa — normally home to students making their way to and from three schools in the area — was instead the site of hateful rhetoric and violence in the Canadian capital.
A local MP became the face of the melee, when he was “rabbit-punched” at the protest — he said he’d do it all over again to keep trans and queer kids safe.
“I’ll take a punch for queer and trans youth any day,” said Joel Harden, a member of Ontario’s provincial Parliament with the New Democratic Party (NDP).
The demonstration was organized by far-right Canadian provocateur Billboard Chris to protest a local school board advising staff to use they/them pronouns for students who had yet to share their personal pronouns.
Muslim parents joined a mostly White crowd denouncing the advisory notice. Some were seen encouraging their kids to violently stomp on progress Pride flags littering the street.
Harden, elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario five years ago, has been a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ issues, and attended the counter-protest in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth and their parents.
The MPP recounted that during the protest, he noticed a woman berating another individual, with her hands in the person’s hair. He says he rushed over to break up the altercation.
“I felt a punch in the back and then a rabbit-punch to the face,” Harden recalled for Yahoo Canada. “It happened in a split-second.”
Photos of Harden reveal a cut below his right eye.
Video on social media shows the megaphone Harden was holding striking his face (where the cut now appears).
The day before the protest, the legislator warned in a speech to members of Parliament of the threat to queer and trans youth as the country celebrates Pride Month.
“As incidents of hate against the 2SLGBTQIA are rising, we have a message for queer and trans youth in #OttawaCentre and everywhere in this province,” Harden posted to Twitter afterward. “We see you, love you, value you, and we will not continue to let you be threatened by hate or bigotry.”
Harden says the far-right is weaponizing social media, calling it a “vitriolic cesspool,” and manipulating parents’ instincts to protect their kids in order to further conservatives’ own anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.
“I am a father. What measures I wouldn’t go to in an effort to protect my own children? But what this movement is doing is convincing individuals that to protect your children, you have to hate trans and queer people,” he says.
Those supporting the rights of LGBTQ+ youth “are not your enemy,” he adds.
“History and present day has taught me that there are some of us who are willing to put the work in to de-program hatred, and I’m down for that,” said Harden. “If people want to come to my office and throw rotten tomatoes at me, come over.”
Fellow lawmakers and constituents alike expressed solidarity with Harden.
“My local MPP @JoelHardenONDP just got punched in the face at a counter rally, during an anti-trans protest,” posted Kathryn LeBlanc. “Queer and trans people are sounding the alarm on rising hate. It’s time to come together, mobilize, and build solidarity on this issue.”
While conservative Muslims joined far-right Canadians in protest, Sikh pol and federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had Harden’s back.
“I’m proud of you @JoelHardenONDP,” posted Singh. “Queer and Trans people — and kids — are being targeted by angry and hateful extremists. Governments must step up to protect the queer and trans community.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Jagmeet Singh is Muslim. We regret the error.
Let’s talk about why companies still like rainbows….
Let’s talk about Fox calling Biden a wannabe….
“Ex-Gays” Rebrand After Founder Comes Out As Trans
Why cannot these people understand or accept that people are born with the sexual attractions / orientation and gender identity are formed in the womb. They are inborn, formed with a person as the rest of them is building. While environment can influence the minor subsets and details of those things, the environmental factors cannot take a straight person and force them to be gay. If a straight person cannot be changed in to loving same-sex relations, why do they think that gay or lesbian people can be changed to be straight. It is not an idea backed up by science, it is a myth these people created to justify their hate. It is no different from the other science denying crap put out by fundamentalist religions / religious people. To deny these facts about sexuality that have been backed up with science is the same as denying the earth goes around the sun or that the earth is a globe instead of flat. It is the same as the refusal to accept the medical science on vaccines or the well documented science on transgender peoples treatments with gender-affirming care. I am so tired and sick of these anti-science anti-progress haters who only want to keep the status quo when they felt in charge and comfortable. Hugs
Via email from activist Wayne Besen:
The Freedom March is a right-wing Christian fundamentalist organization that exists to “help” LGBTQ people “pray away the gay.” They also claim to help people transition out of being trans. So, it was a really bad day for the Freedom March when its founder, Jeffrey McCall, announced online that he was hooking up with multiple men. Freedom March told the world that he was “healed”. They sold the lie that Jesus “cured” him. When Jeffrey McCall said he was straight – we didn’t know he meant straight to bed with men.
It gets worse for the Freedom March. McCall recently announced that she was transgender and came out as Scarlett. This group’s “gay cure” worked so well, that their founder tried to “pray away the gay” and somehow became significantly gayer. Those thoughts and prayers are always so effective. When they promised Jeffrey McCall was transformed by Jesus Christ, I don’t think this is what they meant. Instead of transformation, they got transition.
As you’ll see in the video below, the group is now calling themselves “Rainbow Revival.” In 2021, McCall was featured in the Netflix “ex-gay” documentary “Pray Away” and his appearance in the film resulted in adulatory posts on multiple Christian sites.
I wanted to post here before some people found out other ways. I have went back to my life as Scarlett. I never intended to hurt or disappoint anyone. I felt like no matter what I chose someone would get hurt. That’s a horrible spot to be in. felt like I tried to fight for so long. I tried to help many in ministry for so long. Please remember I’m just a human being and didn’t ask for any of things that I have went through. I didn’t ask to feel this way. Please show me compassion as a human being just as I have always tried to show everyone else compassion and understanding.
Vitriol From An Asshat In Spokane
I’m an Anglican Priest in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and I get to serve in the Parish of St Margaret of Scotland, in the beautiful city of Halifax, NS, that sits on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
My pronouns are he/him/his. My theology is primarily Christo-centric – Jesus is at the centre and it is against Him that all values are bounced off. I believe all people are created in the image of God and are children of God and are heirs to the throne of God – no conditions – therefore every single person we meet deserves our love, and respect.
Pinned by Rev Ed Trevors
Rev Ed Trevors2 weeks agoAn article… https://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-sermon-goes-viral-for-violent-anti-trans-message/article_74d97ad8-f907-11ed-8a37-a3dc71ff6f01.html
Homophobic Father Confronts Gay Son
Nazis Wave Swastika, DeSantis Flags Outside Disney
Need I add anything more. DeathSantis supports everything the Nazis do, but his biggest concern is that the Democrats are noticing and talking about it. In other words, he wants his Christian Nationalist bigoted racist views ignored while he makes laws based on them, demanding no one criticize him for them. Hugs
Florida Politics reports:
Gov. Ron DeSantis is in Oklahoma delivering a political speech, but that doesn’t mean disturbing news isn’t happening closer to home. Rep. Anna V. Eskamani tweeted on Saturday video of Nazi demonstrators outside of Disney World. A second image, from Twitter user Shannon Watts, contends that “two dozen white supremacists are outside the main Disney World entrance in Orlando right now, marching with signs featuring Gov. DeSantis’s face, swastikas, the n-word and homophobic slurs.”
DeSantis has had to address neo-Nazi demonstrations in Orlando before, including back in 2022 when group of neo-Nazis lined a bridge in eastern Orange County, hanging the swastika flag and banners — including a banner with the pro-Donald Trump slogan “Let’s Go Brandon” — and yelling profanities and antisemitic slurs at passing cars. He was more concerned with Democrats talking about the issue in remarks after the fact.
Read the full article.
I notice those brave, brave nazi’s are still covering their faces.
Fucking pusses
They’re pussies for traitortrump, and traitortrump is putin’s pussy.
It’s a daisy chain of pussies.
Hate makes a guy pretty ugly…
And, without fail, all of their cohorts and sympathizers on twitter were calling them feds.
Remember: never tolerate nazis in your presence if you can do something about it.
Charming. I’m sure that’s going to do Florida’s tourism industry a world of good. /s
To me the one of the saddest part to these neo-nazis is some of their Grandfather’s and Father’s died or served fighting against Nazis
Yes, they would be so disappointed.
What is it about the (R) Party that attracts Neo Nazis?
Or the other way around???? What is it about the Nazi party that attracts republicans????
LA School Board President Delivers Epic Pro-LGBTQ Rant: How Dare You Make Kids Afraid Because YOU Are
Sorry everyone. Today has been rather bad for me. I couldn’t sleep last night, but got up early and went to a lab to have my blood drawn. After I can home and ate my breakfast I just got so tired and over whelmed I spend most of the day in bed. I got up and mangaged to get this post done because I think it is so important. But my heart seems to be slaming in the viens of my neck, I am so tired. I had some instant oatmeal for supper and now I am going to bed even though it is only 6 PM. I love everyone and hope to do better getting the news out tomorrow morning. Best wishes, loves, and hugs. Scottie
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Los Angeles school board President Jackie Goldberg pulled out an oversized children’s book titled “The Great Big Book of Families” and turned a public meeting into story time, her own not-so-subtle statement to critics of LGBTQ+ education. “In real life, families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes,” she read, as the text by British author Mary Hoffman explained. Some children live with “mummy and daddy,” or just their mummy or daddy. Goldberg soon got to the line “Some children have two mommies or two daddies.”
“A great book,” she said after reading it from cover to cover. “I recommend it.” Her statement set up the unanimous school board approval of a resolution listing all the ways the nation’s second largest school district intends to raise awareness about the LGBTQ+ community. Goldberg’s reading occurred on the same day that violence erupted outside the Glendale Unified school board meeting — which had its own gay pride resolution on the agenda — and once again, fights broke out among demonstrators.
Attitude reports:
She recounted from the assembly: “At the little discussion at the school after that, as soon as the book was over, one little girl sitting at my knees said ‘I have two mommies.’ A little boy on my other side said: ‘I have five grandmas. You better treat me the same way you treat everybody else. That’s how we live in this country.”
Getting more visibly emotional and angry Goldberg expressed her tiredness, shared by the LGBTQ community, of hearing the screaming on this type of issue. “What do you think that did to them?!” It made them afraid!” she screamed. “How dare you make them afraid because you are!” She continued: “I’m sorry I told you this was personal.”
Her son was once harassed for having two mommies. The fact that Goldberg’s grandchildren aren’t is a sign of progress. “Nobody has to accept me. I’m not looking for your acceptance,” she also said. “But you better treat me the same way you treat everybody else. That’s how we live in this country.
I insist that you watch every second this.
Again if you missed watching this short heartfelt clip please do!!!
The Right’s entire M.O. is premised on the false notion that if children never hear that gay people exist and that being gay is an immutable human characteristic like left-handedness and a natural variation of the human condition, they won’t end up being gay. They are not open to any argument that suggests they are wrong, which is why we’ve been treading water for the last half century, at least. I don’t see how we get past this impasse if the other side isn’t open to reasoned argument.
Our politicians could take a lesson from Jackie Goldberg. That is the kind of pushback we need to stave off the right-wing lunatics. Fuck decorum. Speak the damn truth.
What I take from this is we need to start YELLING THE FUCK BACK AT THESE PEOPLE!!!!
I HATE when the GQP cultists start a sentence with “we the people.” They’re trying to co-opt the Preamble without understanding what it means.
* Offer not valid in Florida
(love the T-shirt, though)
Early Week in Review.
I saw this yesterday
To be fair, the right-wing base is really fucking stupid.
A large fraction believe Noah’s Ark was real and that anthropogenic climate change is not. They believe that Trump won the last election and that Hillary Clinton murders babies for adrenochrome.
They’ll cling onto a false premise like a hungry tick, and no amount of facts, data, or antipsychotic meds will dislodge them.
Exactly. Just try debating with them. I stopped that a long time ago. They are completely resistant to truth and facts.
It’s the same playbook as sex education, ie … if you don’t teach them about sex they won’t have sex. Then they are shocked when they discover that their 16 year old is pregnant.
And then scramble to get her an abortion, but can’t because the politicians they voted for abolished that option.
So, when did the haters “choose” to be heterosexual?
What was this process like for them?
Did they try both gay and straight sex before making up their mind?
I swear the root cause of conservatism is a missing empathy gene. They are incapable of seeing anything from a perspective other than their own.
That is exactly what connected them strongly with Trump.
Keith Olbermann’s ‘Conservatism In Nine Words’ –
“Need help? Screw you!
I’m screwed? HELP ME NOW!”
Of course you know that the ant gay Saticoy Elementary Parents instagram group who protested last week feature make fun of and demonized Goldberg for being who she is. Those Christianism and in this case, Armenians, are lethal. They are the same “Leave Our Children Alone” t- shirt group that caused so much trouble for the Glendale SChool District Board the week following when all the board wanted to do was past a Pride resolution, but if course some how that all about sex and grooming. These people are really sick.
Longer version
Just a reminder:
Vote Democratic, get LGBT advocates.
Vote Republican, get theofascist haters.
Yet how difficult it is chasing the will o’ the wisp of ‘mainstream’ public opinion, when even the more progressive media still shy away from calling out the far right for the malignant genocidal cancer that it is.
The mainstream public gets exercised over the price of eggs (which seem to have come back down recently), and gasoline, and are easily duped and manipulated by a lot of the anti-trans rhetoric.
Even parts of our community are conned by the propaganda into thinking that trans children are a threat to cis children. And the Caitlyn Jenner types who are out there spewing the GQP’s vicious lies do not help. Even the Biden Administration’s proposed order partly throws trans kids under the bus.
Even the better advocates, like Katie Porter, are not equipped with the facts and figures to fight back. Watching her the other week looking brave but only weakly parrying the braying Piers Morgan on cissexist Bill Maher’s Real Time made me wish she had the ammunition to shoot them both down,. convincingly.
Yours — good and thoughtful observations, Joann. Thanks.
Re the “calling out” on commercial TV of (how you put it…) “the far right for the malignant genocidal cancer that it is” — even on, say, MSNBC — you see very little, if any, of that. The commercial sponsors don’t like it. MAGAts buy suppositories, soap, cereal and Medicare supplemental plans, too. Best not to offend them.
Re the general public’s knowledge/understanding of trans people and their issues, it’s almost non-existent.
There’s this thing called “Progressive Blog Myopia.”
We here in the progressive blogosphere know about trans people and their issues. We think, “Well surely everyone understands.”
I guarantee you, Joann, that 90% of the rest of the country knows shit about the subject.
Democrats HELP
Republicans HARM
ot: JMG culture moment
Matt Walsh DEVASTATED over Tennessee Drag Ban being ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL (HUGE VICTORY for LGBTQ+)
I love how when Matt Walsh compares fully dressed drag queens reading to kids as obscene and sexual, lance reminds everyone about a place in public that many people of different sexes go wearing hardly anything, men in speedos and thongs, women in string bikinis all with kids around. Yet no outcry from the maga conservative religious right. Why because it is the beach or a pool and there is no association with the LGBTQ+ who are the real targets of the right. Hugs
Scottie's Playtime 