Since the announcement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement, LGBTQ activists and advocates have expressed their deep concern about the community’s rights and protections being threatened by what will be a much more conservative successor.
What he didn’t say in his answer is he doesn’t have to ask. Trump has a pre-selected list of 25 candidates that have already been vetted by the ultra-conservative Federalist Society. It’s a foregone conclusion that all of them have been screened for far-right positions on the law.
While its unlikely that marriage equality would ever be overturned in a wholesale manner, what many legal experts say consider possible is the Supreme Court handing down ‘carve outs’ in rulings regarding ‘religious liberty’ that would allow for legalized discrimination of LGBTQ people.
This morning, hate group leader Tony Perkins, of the virulently anti-LGBTQ organization Family Research Council, made clear on Fox News exactly what his faction of conservatives are looking at in a new Supreme Court justice.
“Given the fact that the left wants to make this all about abortion – I think it’s much bigger, I think we have religious liberty, we’ve got freedom of speech, the First Amendment in the crosshairs of the left.
“But they want to make it about life and if I were the president, I’d say, ‘Game on. I’m going to pick someone that’s beyond reproach.’ I think this supercharges the president’s base to get behind him in his pick and I think that spills over into the midterm election.”
Even though Trump falsely campaigned on the premise he would be an “LGBT ally,” his actions since taking office have demonstrated exactly the opposite.
Buzzfeed’s Dominic Holden has compiled a list of the many ways the Trump administration has worked against the LGBTQ community including:
• Reversed a federal policy that said transgender workers were protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Argued that its legal to fire LGBTQ employees for being
• Supported Colorado baker Jack Phillips at the Supreme Court for turning away gay customers
• Withdrawn guidance that said Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 bans anti-transgender discrimination in federally funded schools
• Proposed banning transgender service members in the U.S. military
• Declined to appoint an LGBTQ liaison for the White House that would help communication between the administration and LGBTQ organizations and advocates
This is clearly a time that we, as a community, have to stay woke. We have to stay vigilant. We have to be involved.
• Participating in the AIDS/Life Cycle, InstaHunk Kevin Carnell (above) has raised over $15K! Just another of many obvious reasons to follow him on Instagram. #Woof
• Family Research Council president Tony Perkins is furious that a Crossfit exec was fired for being anti-LGBT.
• There's going to be a calendar for America's hottest gingers - you know you want to take a look :)
• Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller brought new obstruction charges on Friday against President Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and added allegations against a close associate, who prosecutors suspect has ties to Russian intelligence. Manafort could have his current bail revoked as Mueller's team caught Manafort contacting possible witnesses in his case which is seen as attempting to influence their testimony.
• Remember convicted gay basher Kathryn Knott who went to jail for leading an attack on a gay couple in Philly's Center City neighborhood? Bucks County Commissioners approved a settlement agreement of more than $52K with a Norristown woman who claimed the county District Attorney’s Office retaliated against her because of disparaging comments she made about Knott on social media.
• Check out new music from Zach Adam Feat. Adam Joseph "Gravity," from new LGBTQ music label, Magic Town Media.
The track is a gorgeous pop track about yearning to overcome addiction and depression. I like the track muchly.
If you are considering suicide please call and reach out - The Trevor Lifeline is a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available at 1-866-488-7386.
In an interview with Politico's "Off Message" podcast, anti-LGBT right-winger Tony Perkins said that conservative Evangelicals have basically given Donald Trump a "mulligan" for his personal failings regarding alleged affairs and the infamous "grab'em by the pussy" comment on video.
Perkins made it clear that as long as Trump's policies stay in line with far-right conservatives, they're willing to turn a blind eye to his personal issues and racist comments.
Similarly, in a recent CNN interview, evangelical leader Franklin Graham also swept Trump's personal shortcomings aside saying, “These alleged affairs, they’re alleged with Trump, didn’t happen while he was in office.”
“This happened 11, 12, 13, 14 years ago,” he said. “And so, I think there is a big difference and not that we give anybody a pass, but we have to look at the timeline and that was before he was in office.”
Responding to those comments on MSNBC's "Hardball," former RNC chairman Michael Steele was not having any of that:
“I have very simple admonition: just shut the hell up and don’t preach to me about anything ever again. I don’t want to hear it, because after telling me who to love, what to believe, what to do and what not to do and now you sit back and the prostitutes don’t matter, the grabbing the you-know-what doesn’t matter, the outright behavior and lies don’t matter, just shut up! They have no voice of authority anymore for me.”
• Anti-LGBT hate group leader Tony Perkins helped to cover up a sexual assault by now-disgraced GOP Ohio State Rep. Wesley Goodman back in 2015. Goodman allegedly invited an 18-year-old male to crash in his hotel room and when the teenager woke up Goodman had unbuttoned his pants and was pulling his zipper down.
• Miss Coco Peru, famous for her illuminating shopping trips, heads out to Walmart in search of a Wonder Woman crock pot. Watch below.
• It's 112 degrees here in Las Vegas - I can't imagine grilling in my backyard. So, I'll just look at fitness model Lony Pizarro tend to his grill ;)
• Virulently anti-LGBT activist Tony Perkins does NOT appreciate the irony that Rep. Steve Scalise, who has attended white nationalist events in the past, was saved at last week's DC shooting by a married, black lesbian.
• Barbie's boyfriend Ken got multiple makeovers including seven skin tones, three body types and even a man-bun. I wonder if Barbie knows all the Kens are attending Pride this year...?
Ken gets a makeover
• Ryan Phillippe reflects on playing the first openly gay teenager on TV: “There had never been a gay teenager represented on television up until that point: It’s before Will & Grace, it’s before Ellen came out, it’s before any of that stuff. I remember the fan mail that we would get, my mother and I would get, from gay teenagers or from parents of gay teenagers who found a way in to relate to or talk to their child through the show. Entertainment media can do those things, it can make people think differently or see a different side of something and I do remember and appreciating that — even back then when I was only a teenager myself. But in terms of like the larger view, I didn’t have a full understanding of how important it could have been, but I’m proud to have done it, I’m proud that that’s something I can say was a part of my career.”
• Asked why White House press briefings are becoming less frequent and off-camera, Trump advisor Steve Bannon replied to The Atlantic, "Sean (Spicer) got fatter."
• The woofy Kilted Coaches show their support for Pride Month via this "rainbow-y" (kilt-less) video:
Bravo Angela Peoples of GetEQUAL for calling out anti-LGBT activist Tony Perkins.
Perkins was one of several "faith leaders" who met with presidential candidate Donald Trump yesterday at a private meeting where, it seems, Trump tried making the case that he IS indeed 'Christian' enough to be the president of the United States.
The advocacy group GetEQUAL took credit for the demonstration in a statement sent on Tuesday afternoon, identifying the protesters as the organization’s co-directors, Heather Cronk and Angela Peoples.
“The incisive hate-mongering of Donald Trump and right-wing religious ‘leaders’ is responsible not only for the massacre in Orlando, but also for the systemic violence that trans and queer people of color face everyday,” Peoples said in the statement. “That violence doesn’t just happen in the streets or at nightclubs — it happens in the legislative chambers where right wing politicians have passed over 250 bills restricting the rights of LGBTQ people and people of color.”
According to virulently anti-LGBT activist Tony Perkins, the haters have department store Target on the ropes due to a boycott launched against the super-stores' policy of allowing transgender customers to use a restroom that aligns with their gender identity.
Via press release:
After more than 1.1 million people pledged to boycott Target, celebrities and corporations alike are having second thoughts about crossing Americans on such a consensus issue. The decision by the retail giant is not only sparking massive backlash, but it’s helping the country get a real picture of the controversy in North Carolina. It’s also shown liberals that without the big media’s cover, twisting the facts of the law, they’re all by themselves.
There’s even more evidence of that this week, as more singers are keeping their concert dates in North Carolina than canceling them. Even more telling, not one business has threatened to leave the state after seeing what happened to the retail giant — which has taken a $2.5 billion hit since letting grown men in women’s restrooms and dressing rooms. After executives announced the change, shares dropped 6 percent in just 10 days.
I'll note that Target stock is currently trading at $80.01 (at this writing). One year ago today, the stock closed at $79.65.
Hardly bringing Target to it's knees, is it?
As a matter of fact, I was at Target yesterday buying food and household items. Not only am I a regular customer, but I make point to go there thanks to the store's inclusive policies.
Virulently anti-gay hate group leader Tony Perkins has his panties in a wad because Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams didn't want to pretend like it's "business as usual" after the passage of LGBT "hate laws" in North Carolina and Mississippi.
Posted to the Family Research Council website:
He was born to run all right. Bruce Springsteen is blowing off his tour date in North Carolina Friday because the state is daring to let businesses set their own bathroom policies. What a scandalous idea! Like other liberal extremists, The Boss (or is it Bossy?) is furious that the North Carolina government won’t barge into board rooms and tell companies how to operate. Apparently he wants to do away with the free market principles that are making conservative states thrive and orchestrate a hostile takeover of businesses. “Some things are more important than a rock show, and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them.”
“Important things” like letting grown men use a girls’ restroom? Of course, Springsteen hasn’t canceled his two Brooklyn concerts later this month — despite the fact that New York State doesn’t have gender-free bathrooms either. (Nor do 32 other states!) But then, no one ever accused liberals of being consistent. “It’s disappointing he’s not following through on his commitments,” Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) fired back. “Bruce is known to be on the radical left, and he’s got every right to be so, but I consider this a bully tactic.”
And Springsteen isn’t the only singer working in concert with LGBT activists. Bryan Adams is pulling out of his Biloxi, Mississippi stop because he says he can’t “in good conscience” perform there. Ironically, conscience is exactly what this debate is about! Shouldn’t Mississippians have the same right to exercise theirs? Shouldn’t they be able to choose what events they participate in? Because that’s exactly what the new law is about: giving Christians the same rights to live out their beliefs as someone like Bryan Adams. The Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act does what the First Amendment was intended to: guard men and women with natural marriage views from state-sponsored persecution. If you’re against that, then you’re against the Bill of Rights!
Among many things, what Perkins gets wrong here is these "bathroom laws" are not really about heterosexual men wanting to dress up in drag to get a peek at women using the bathroom. There have been no reported incidences of that happening in states which have passed LGBT protections.
What all this mean-spirited legislation is about is retaliation for the legalization of marriage equality across the country.
"We can't keep gays and lesbians from marrying? Fine! We'll attack from another angle."
Let me illustrate how silly these laws are: See this guy in the pic below? This transgender man will now be forced to use the ladies room in these states.
I'd love someone to show this to one of the idiots who voted for these bills and ask how they would feel about their wives and daughters using the ladies room with him?
Virulently anti-gay Tony Perkins sent out an email today claiming Mississippi's new anti-LGBT law has nothing to do with businesses turning people away.
Someone should remind Perkins that lying is regarded as a sin in the Bible he claims to love so much.
The media writes, but does it read? Too few seem to, based on the coverage of Mississippi’s new religious liberty law. After Governor Phil Bryant (R-Miss.) signed a bill that essentially reaffirmed the First Amendment, headlines across the country screamed that Mississippi had just given Americans a “license to discriminate.” “Mississippi governor signs law allowing businesses to deny service to gay people,” some read — regardless of the fact that the measure does no such thing!
Governor Bryant, like the 20 states with religious liberty laws before him, didn’t create a new “religious right” for businesses to turn people away. No believer I know would want that, let alone lobby for it. Despite what the Left would have you think, this debate isn’t about Christians discriminating against anyone — it’s about stopping the government from discriminating against them!
All that Mississippi leaders have done is make sure that the state can’t punish, fine, fire, or block someone from a government work for believing in natural marriage. The Left lies about what the bill does because they know if people knew the truth, they’d probably support it! And a level playing field — the same one they used to demand for their own values — is not what they want for men and women of faith. Forced acceptance is.
Ok, so let me set this straight: government doesn't punish folks for "believing in natural marriage." Government gets involved when these business owners "belief" becomes a misguided justification for denying protected minorities goods and services.
You know, those pesky public accommodation laws that require private businesses to treat everyone fairly.
But then, what do you expect from a guy who bought a mailing list from the KKK when he ran for office because he knew those were the kind of folks he wanted to reach?
Here's hate group leader Tony Perkins lying again on Fox News.
Perkins continues to spin the tale of Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples due to anti-gay animus.
Perkins tries to say Davis is not "forcing her beliefs on anyone," but the fact is she won't do the job she was elected to do and issue marriage licenses to gays.
Perkins alludes to her "deep religious beliefs" but Davis has no problem issuing marriage licenses to divorced folks - which is clearly a sin in the Bible. You have to wonder why is it only the gay sin that offends her?
Of course, Perkins is hawking his new book here, which the host says "points out a lot of (pause) 'interesting' stories."
In light of Rev. Franklin Graham's statement yesterday calling for a boycott of major corporations who show support for the LGBT community, hate group leader Tony Perkins sent this out to his followers:
"Wells Fargo may be the first American bank to feature a lesbian ad -- but it may also be the last.
"The outrage over these in-your-face commercials is finally reaching a boiling point with consumers, who are sick and tired of watching companies pitch agendas over products. American powerhouses like General Mills, Tiffany & Co., Amazon, Starbucks, Tylenol, Target, Nabisco, Alaska Airlines, and even Betty Crocker are tripping over themselves to pander to 2.3% of the buying public with intense LGBT advocacy.
"Like us, Rev. Franklin Graham has had enough. In response to Wells Fargo's new ad, the son of evangelist Billy Graham is making an enormous withdrawal: his ministry's accounts.
"On Facebook, Franklin challenged Christians to take a long, hard look at where their money is going. Are your dollars financing the war on your values? If so, maybe it's time to do something about it."
Tony Perkins, of the virulently anti-gay Family Research Council, tells the audience at this year's "Watchmen On The Wall" conference that within five years pastors will be dragged from their pulpits "kicking and screaming" if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage.
The fear mongering this man whips up knows no limits. Of course, the whole notion he presents here is a load of crap.
Note the very dramatic five second pause at the :30 mark.
During a discussion about marriage equality on Face the Nation, CBS host Bob Schieffer began by noting that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) had determined that Perkins' organization, the Family Research Council, was a "hate group."
"The Southern Poverty Law Center has branded the Family Research Council an anti-gay hate group," Schieffer explained as if it were a warning to his viewers. "We have been inundated by people who say we should not even let you appear because they, in their view -- quote -- you don't speak for Christians."
Following Perkins, Evan Wolfson of Freedom To Marry spoke with Schieffer about the momentum of the marriage equality movement.
It's reported that Perkins refused to appear face to face with Wolfson, and would only appear "back to back."
Matt Baume does an excellent job of breaking down just about every lie and untruth anti-gay Tony Perkins has put out to the public in this short video.
Perkins is about to distribute a DVD to hundreds of church (for the low, low price of just $20) that primes the hate factor against same-sex marriage just in time for the oral arguments at SCOTUS next week.
With just the tiniest bit of snark, Matt breaks down all the homophobia and untruths for you. Hit play and see all the "arguments" disintegrate.
Mike Huckabee appeared on anti-gay Tony Perkins "Washington Watch" radio show yesterday wherein he described a bizarro world things mean "the opposite of what they are."
“It is a classic example of — really a page out of ‘1984,’ when what things mean are the opposite of what they really are. And that’s what I’m seeing here is that in the name of tolerance, there’s intolerance. In the name of diversity, there’s uniformity. In the name of acceptance, there’s true discrimination.”
Kinda like conservatives in Indiana and Arkansas repeating over and over that their "religious freedom" laws had NOTHING to do with the gays.
At the end of the clip Huckabee threatens that the gays "won't stop until there are no more churches."
Seriously? And the LGBT community is the one inciting riot?
Folks like Huckabee and Perkins use the same tactic over and over again. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and hope uninformed people pick up the hateful chant.
The haters are losing their minds over the proposed "fix" for the Indiana state "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" because it deprives them of their true goal - which was to discriminate against LGBT folks.
From Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage (via email):
Stung by a furor of false accusations against the Indiana Religious Liberty Restoration Act, some Republican legislators are proposing to "fix" the law by stripping it of any chance to protect people of faith against being forced by law to participate in same-sex 'marriage' ceremonies that violate their deeply held religious beliefs. Worse, they are rewarding gay activists and celebrities like Miley Cyrus who intentionally and massively mischaracterized the legislation passed last week with expanded "anti-discrimination" provisions that will be used as a club by these same activists to punish people of faith for supporting biblical principles in the way they live their lives.
Russell Moore, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, recently tweeted: "This Indiana 'compromise' is a train wreck. It should be voted down." This "fix" legislation must be defeated! It is like paying ransom to a kidnapper — a complete abandonment of principle in the face of political pressure from those bent on redefining marriage and imposing a radical agenda on the country. Please sign this petition immediately so that Governor Mike Pence and top Republican legislators realize that we will not stand for this abandonment of people of faith in order to reward the radical left who have grossly mischaracterized the Religious Liberty Restoration Act.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council (via press release):
"On the eve of Good Friday, Big Business is encouraging elected leaders to take the silver over religious freedom.
"This new proposal guts the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and empowers the government to impose punishing fines on people for following their beliefs about marriage. Religious freedom should not be held hostage by Big Business. Big Business is now putting religious freedom in a worse place than before RFRA was signed into law.
"Gutting RFRA in this manner would put people of faith in the crosshairs of government discrimination as never before. Far from being a 'clarification,' this would gut religious freedom in Indiana. Religious freedom doesn't need a 'fix.'
"This proposal would force religious businesses and even nonprofits deemed 'not religious enough' to participate in wedding ceremonies contrary to their owners' beliefs.
"If the government punishes people for living their faith, there are no limits to what government can control. We urge the governor to veto this measure that will be used by the government to bring financial ruin on people like florist Barronelle Stutzman, bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein, and wedding photographer Elaine Huguenin."
Lots of panels discussing the Indiana debacle going on yesterday.
I have recently been impressed with Megyn Kelly for being fair-minded in a few interviews lately. But here she digresses to clearly biased in her position on the SB101 issue. Over and over she tells Mark Hannah to let anti-gay Tony Perkins finish, but when Perkins continually interrupts Hannah, she says nothing.
And then when she chimes in to reiterate that Indiana's law is "the same" as other state's RFRA laws... Not sure why I'm surprised.
Of course, Tony has to bring up the ever famous "ham sandwich" scenario in a jewish deli... Tired.
Tony Perkins of the anti-gay Family Research Council
Hate group leader Tony Perkins of the anti-gay Family Research Council announces he will testify at a Senate hearing regarding "religious liberty."
"One of the benefits of putting conservatives in charge of Congress is that the agendas in most committees change -- and issues that weren't getting as much attention under liberal leaders are now front and center.
"Tomorrow [today], one of FRC's greatest priorities, religious liberty, will be the subject of a Senate hearing in the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. As FRC takes more of a leading role in the debate, I've been asked to testify before the committee at 2:00 p.m. and hopefully highlight the need for greater engagement on what we see as a fundamental human right.
"With the persecution unfolding before our very eyes in the Middle East and Africa, the United States has an obligation to speak on behalf of religious freedom through every possible diplomatic avenue. After six years of silence, it is up to this Congress to repair the damage done by this administration's indifference to persecuted Christians and other minorities.
"Our moral voice and supporting actions have been increasingly and noticeably absent with regard to international religious freedom. I'll encourage the Senate to once again find that voice."
I think it's rich that Perkins claims that FRC will be taking "more of a leading role" in the religious liberty debate.
In an email blast last night hate group leader Tony Perkins attacked the President for comments made at yesterday's National Prayer Breakfast:
In a speech that I can only describe as surreal, the President went on to liken Christians to the monsters behind ISIS and American racism. "And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ." First of all, the crusades were almost a thousand years ago. ISIS is killing today. What's more, every true follower of Christ condemns the acts of barbarism committed under the mask of religion -- in medieval or American history. The teachings of Christianity do not call for, nor do they condone, brutality or bigotry. Can the same be said of Islam? Are Muslims around the world denouncing the ruthless and inhumane actions of ISIS?
While Perkins may not like the truth, Jim Crow laws and the Crusades DID happen. And the fact is we must learn from the past.
Interesting that in arguing against marriage equality, Perkins LIKES to reference the past, but today when the Crusades are mentioned he dismisses the issue with "that was almost a thousand years ago."
More and more Perkins gets his panties in a wad over occasions when the President doesn't choose to use Perkin's specific language on issues. It really seems to turn him into an impertinent child.
Watch below as Perkins appears on, where else?, Fox News:
