'Bachelorette' Alum: Teaching LGBTQ History To Kids Is 'Waste' Of Tax Dollars

James McCoy Taylor (screen captures via Twitter)

A former reality-TV personality took to Twitter recently to explain why he opposes teaching the accomplishments of LGBTQ people in schools.

James McCoy Taylor, who apparently came in 5th in the 12th season of The Bachelorette (2016), recently told his Twitter followers that he finds the idea to be a "waste" of tax dollars.

This was apparently sparked by a new law in Illinois that will require public schools to include the accomplishments of LGBTQ people in history classes beginning with the 2020-21 school year. The legislation was supported by over 40 education and civil rights groups in the state.

Illinois joins California, New Jersey, and Colorado in adding LGBTQ accomplishments to U.S. history studies in public schools.

Contrast that with the six states – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas – which have laws prohibiting the “promotion of homosexuality.” Often known as “no pro homo” laws, they prohibit schools from teaching LGBTQ topics in a positive light, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Taylor began with a tweet saying instead of history classes being taught about LGBTQ contributions, instructions in stock market investments would be a better use of tax-payer dollars.

And, of course, he prefaced it all by saying his comment wasn’t “from any kind of hate standpoint.”

I'm sure he has black friends, too...

LGBTQ history will now be taught in Illinois schools & just like that the decision has been made to home school my future kids

Not from any kind of hate standpoint but THIS is the best way you can find to waste our tax $ ? Can’t have a class about the stock market or something ?

— James McCoy Taylor (@james_mccoy_t) August 12, 2019

James,replace the words #LGBTQ history in your tweet with Black History. Do you know what Racism is? Oh you do? Ok Well now it’s time for you to learn what Homophobia is. Both are Prejudice. RESPECT all people EQUALLY & realize why you should NEVER Show your face on twitter again https://t.co/pxzQwGTpzB

— Daniel Newmaη (@DanielNewman) August 14, 2019

Taylor clapped back at openly gay Walking Dead actor Daniel Newman trying to laugh off the whole thing saying the ‘love is love’ crowd turns into haters when they have a different viewpoint.

What’s funny here is, after saying teaching students about the contributions of LGBTQ people is a “waste of tax dollars” and getting push back, he posted an ‘aw shucks’ video saying, “Twitter, you cannot take my smile…”

Is this where I should mention Taylor is a big Trump supporter? Quel surprise...

A msg for all the Twitter Trolls today...

Especially @DanielNewman 😊 pic.twitter.com/3ZlAfGSo4I

— James McCoy Taylor (@james_mccoy_t) August 14, 2019

Mr. Taylor - if you're going to put your opinions out in the public square, man up and be open to possibly learning something. Disagreement doesn't make someone a 'troll.'

But, Taylor wasn't done with the stupid just yet. He had to come back a few days later with this:

Approx populations in USA:

Women: 51%

Hispanic: 20%

African American: 14%

Asian American: 7%

LGBTQ: 5%

This is why I don’t support LQBTQ History in Illinois

just numbers

...Other oppressed people have been waiting in line and you don’t get to skip it because you’re louder pic.twitter.com/wqCQpG3Cdh

— James McCoy Taylor (@james_mccoy_t) August 16, 2019

By this flawed logic, with the Jewish population of the U.S. being estimated at between 1.4-1.8%, does that mean we shouldn't teach kids about the Holocaust?

But put that aside.

As TONS of people pointed on on Twitter, the LGBTQ community intersects with all these demographics: women, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans. Race and sex are not sexual orientation. #duh

Also - Taylor says he's 'in Texas.' I don't know if he lives there or visiting...but here's the thing.

I was born and raised in Texas. I graduated from the public school system there in 1981.

In high school, I learned about the fight for women's rights, suffragettes, Seneca Falls, and the 19th Amendment.

I learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil War, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Jim Crow laws.

I learned how Latinos helped Texas win independence, who Sylvia Mendez was, and how Puerto Rico became part of the U.S.

I learned about Japanese internment camps during WWII.

So, when Taylor talks about “waiting in line,” does he not know this history has been a part of public schools for decades? I wasn’t only taught about what men contributed to society.

And what exactly is this “line” he talks about? Can we not teach about women’s, African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American and LGBTQ American contributions at the same time?

In Illinois, there are 176 days in a given school year. Even if you went by Taylor’s ill-thought ‘5 percent’ math of the LGBTQ population, is it unthinkable to imagine spending less than 9 history classes out of 176 on LGBTQ history?

As a nascent gay growing up in Texas, I’ll tell you what I did NOT learn about in school: how a brave group of LGBTQ people stood up for themselves at the Stonewall riots.

I did not learn that an openly gay man named Harvey Milk was elected to public office in 1977.

Nor did I learn about the persecution of gays by the Nazis during World War II.

There’s a LOT that could have been included in my history curriculum back then.

In any case, I’m not the only one who found Taylor to be out of his depth.

I’ll note that, until these recent LGBTQ-themed tweets, a quick scan of Taylor’s posts on Twitter (when not chiming in on ‘Bachelor/Bachelorette’ episodes) have averaged about 5-10 responses. These tweets received thousands of comments.

I think the hashtag #DeleteYourAccount was created for just this kind of moment.

Just a sample from the Twitterverse:

You lack logic. Just as 51% of Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans are women, LGBTQ also are included among women, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans. It's not about "waiting in line." It's about ending oppression.

— zaphod67 (@zaphod67) August 17, 2019

It's pretty telling that you think you are the one who gets to choose when marginalized groups finally get their rights.

Telling indeed.

— Lefty Conspirator (@NoKnownFuture) August 17, 2019

ugh thank god, i was just thinking "i wish there was a straight white male who could pretend he was speaking out on behalf of oppressed people when in reality he's using oppressed groups as an excuse to word vomit his homophobia" 😍

— bawbby. (@bawbbysworld) August 17, 2019

How ‘bout the percentage on people who think LGBTQ only look like The Village People Meets a Pride Parade? And doesn’t realize we are freakin’ everywhere—your nurses, doctors, police, teachers, corporate types, soccer ‘rents? pic.twitter.com/6FdXNOWKGi

— Yarndogs&caffeine (@bryna_elder) August 17, 2019

White, Straight, Cis man tells everyone who is not that, in what order he approves them to go in to be equal with him.

"LGBTQ history will now be taught in Illinois schools & just like that the decision has been made to home school my future kids" "It's not a hate thing"

— Night Sun (@NightSu99677942) August 17, 2019

So this tweet has a lot of problems. Here are a few of them:
* That 5% figure is likely just the number that are openly LGBTQ
* Even if it’s only 5%, there is on average at least one LGBTQ kid in each classroom
* It’s possible for kids to learn the histories of MULTIPLE groups.

— Lucas Meadows (@lmeadows) August 17, 2019

Like Dr. King said, when white people tell minorities "wait", it means "never".

— Rocko's Modern Wife Guy (@StoicalSophist) August 17, 2019

how about you go be a third runner-up on The Bachelorette and let some other people handle this

— Marcia Gay Hardened (@ZacharyRogerO) August 17, 2019

It's funny when people find thoughtful approaches to bigotry.

— 🌍 Gus Posey (@gus_posey) August 17, 2019

It’s great that a straight white guy took the time out of his busy day to educate us all on what marginalized groups need. pic.twitter.com/jjnMf0JZpk

— NeNe (@boiler4life27) August 17, 2019

pic.twitter.com/Pcr3cjyWvu

— Red™️ (@Redpainter1) August 17, 2019

And then there's my favorite response:

pic.twitter.com/R0bbQrwXB2

— save jupitor 🌙 (@allievon) August 17, 2019

Teen Homophobe Threatens YouTube After Being Booted From Video Site

Soph (screen capture)

A 14-year-old California girl who goes by the name “Soph” had her YouTube account terminated after posting an anti-LGBTQ video on July 31.

The high school freshman had amassed a following of over 800,000 subscribers via anti-Muslim and anti-LGBTQ commentaries before YouTube removed her account.

In the video that finally got her booted from the streaming video site, titled “Pride and Prejudice,” she mocked LGBTQ people for celebrating Pride Month.

“Unfortunately, as you know, last month was Pride, which meant we all had to endure 30-days of AIDS-carrying pedophile victims patting themselves on their backs for their lifestyles,” said Soph in the video. “I had an especially hard time considering that I live in California where there was a puddle of diseased load waiting for me whenever I dared to step out of my house.”

She went on to tell her audience that LGBTQ people criticize her and call her homophobic as a way to “detract attention away from the rates of STDs and pederasty involving homosexuals.”

The teen apparently laughs all of this off as ‘edgy internet humor.’

Soph also calls Pride a “fudge-packing fest” and tells followers to “make sure to blame me in your manifestos.” The word ‘manifesto’ refers to a kind of document left behind on far-right websites by people like the shooter behind the deadly Christchurch attack in March and the shooter accused of the recent El Paso shooting.

a new me pic.twitter.com/viydWqTd5H

— soph (@sewernugget) July 29, 2019

The account was canceled after the teen racked up three Community Guideline violations within 90 days. The Pride-bashing video violated YouTube's hate speech guidelines.

After YouTube removed the channel, Soph tweeted a photo holding what appeared to be an assault rifle captioned, “YouTube headquarters here I come.”

The tweet was quickly removed. Then the teen wrote, “Gun tweet obviously a joke,” and seemed to ask for payments to her Bitcoin accounts.

gun tweet obviosly a joke. BTW i have a BTC and a BCH wallets. GoDoN8

BTC: bc1qrttngtd7rwhw2gg5jg4z2vusnags88cfjpcyc6

BCH: bitcoincash:qrp7esy6qtt5mzv4vv7l3p7khslxx6rryc5ntl507w

— soph (@sewernugget) August 1, 2019

This wasn't Soph's first 'joke' regarding violence and YouTube. In May, she threatened to murder YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki after her account was temporarily suspended and demonetized.

In a video directly addressing the YouTube executive, Soph said, “Susan, I’ve known your address since last summer. I’ve got a Luger and mitochondrial disease. I don’t care if I live. Why should I care if you live or your children? I just called an Uber. You’ve got about seven minutes to draft up a will. ... I’m coming for you, and it ain’t gonna be pretty.”

Folks, this is YouTube in 2019.

(source)

Minister Stiffs Waiter ("If He Wasn't Gay") Then Arrested For Assaulting Female Manager

Mug shot of Frederic Sterry Smith (St. Johns County Sheriff Office)

Frederic Sterry Smith, 62, of St. Augustine, Florida, was arrested and charged with simple battery after ripping up his restaurant bill and shoving it down the female manager's blouse.

According to the Naples Daily News, Smith and his female companion had finished eating at the restaurant when he wrote on the receipt “if he wasn’t gay,” with a zero-dollar tip.

Upon seeing the homophobic message the male server took it to the manager on duty, who went outside to confront Smith.

When asked if he had written the message on his check, Smith said yes. He then grabbed the bill, and ripped it up. He grabbed the manager's shirt collar, pulled it open and shoved “the torn check down her shirt, touching her breast with his hand,” according to the police report.

Police quickly tracked the man down, and when questioned about the incident Smith reportedly became “verbally abusive and angry,” denying the stunt.

“I can say whatever I want, to whoever I want!” he told the officers. 

His female companion told the police, “We didn’t touch her."

Apparently, the couple's denials were not convincing.

Smith was booked into the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office jail on a charge of simple battery, and released on $500 bail.

Fox News reports that Smith "works as a minister and president at Servant’s Heart Disaster Relief, a St. Augustine-based nonprofit and evangelical ministry 'devoted to helping hurricane victims in North America and the Caribbean.'"

This is a "man of God?"

Video: Pride Flag Vandalized In DC Neighborhood

A man in Washington D.C. was caught on video walking into a resident’s front yard and ripping down a rainbow Pride flag, all while yelling homophobic slurs.

The 30-second security camera video shows the man walking down the sidewalk, seemingly talking to himself. In the clip's audio, he can be heard shouting, “F*gg*t motherf**ker, you f*gg*t flag-flying motherf**ker.”

Clear as day, the man enters the yard, striding right up to the flag and snatching it from its mount.

Continuing to rant, the man attempts to destroy the flag slamming it on the ground before exiting the scene.

Twitter user @mjasonrhoades posted the clip to his account as well as the local D.C. community blog, Popville.

“This happened in broad daylight at our house on Independence at 17th St SE this morning while my wife was walking our dog,” wrote the Twitter user. “People like this should not be on our streets.”

. ⁦@PoPville⁩ ⁦@CMCharlesAllen⁩ ⁦@MayorBowser⁩ ⁦@DCPoliceDept⁩ This happened in broad daylight at our house on Independence at 17th St SE this morning while my wife was walking our dog. People like this should not be on our streets. pic.twitter.com/L6DEIrrbEp

— No One (@mjasonrhoades) July 2, 2019

The Washington Blade reports that D.C. police have seen the video but haven’t been able to contact the resident.

“We saw the Popville post as well and have attempted to make contact with and have the property owner make a report,” said D.C. Police Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees the department’s LGBT Liaison Unit. “They were encouraged to contact the LGBT Liaison Unit Duty Phone or call 911.”

“We stand ready to respond, investigate, and provide support,” added Parson.

Watch the report from the Washington NBC News affiliate below.

Extremist-Right Christian Group Launches New Crowd-Funding Campaign For Homophobic Rugby Player

Homophobic rugby player Israel Folau

Yesterday, I reported on homophobic Australian rugby player Israel Folau, whose hateful, anti-LGBTQ social media posts resulted in his being stripped of his multi-million dollar contract with Rugby Australia.

Looking to sue the sports organization, Folau launched a crowd-funding campaign via GoFundMe hoping to raise AUS$3 million.

But GoFundMe shut down the campaign citing terms of service violations and writing in a statement that, "We do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion."

Enter the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), a Christian extremist political lobbying group, who have now set up a new fundraiser on its website with the same goal of $3 million on Folau’s behalf, kicking in the first $100,000 themselves.

View this post on Instagram

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these , adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV _______________

A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT

As of this writing, ACL has banked over $1.5 million in just a day.

“There is an outpouring of support for Israel Folau from the Australian community, who see Israel’s case as their case,” said ACL managing director, Martyn Iles. “They feel the pinch of political correctness, and the erosion of their basic freedoms.”

“Folau’s supporters will only be emboldened in their commitment by what has happened," adds Iles. "They were concerned about their freedoms, and GoFundMe has yet again reminded them that their concerns are real.”

“Israel’s case is our case if we want to live free and embrace our beliefs without fear of being marginalized or discriminated against.”

According to ACL, the new funds will be deposited in a trust for Folau to use only for legal expenses.

As I previously reported, TheAustralian.com says the 30-year-old rugby player is nowhere near the poor house as he owns seven homes located in and around Sydney reported to be worth over $5 million, and drives a $500,000 Lamborghini.

Why does he need his fans to pay his legal fees?

#suckers

"No Dough For You" - Crowdfunding Campaign For Homophobic Rugby Player Shut Down

Israel Folau (cropped image via Flickr/DavidMalloy - CC License)

Crowdfunding company GoFundMe has said, “No dough for you!” to sacked homophobic rugby star Israel Folau.

Over the weekend, GoFundMe shut down the crowdfunding campaign launched by Folau to pay for his legal defense citing violations in their terms of service.

“As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity,” said GoFundMe spokesperson Nicola Britton in a statement. “While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.”

Britton noted that GoFundMe would be refunding all donations made to Folau’s campaign.

The campaign had raised AUS$700,000 before being terminated.

The former full-back had set a goal of AUS$3 million as he prepares to sue Rugby Australia for stripping him of his four-year contract reported to be worth AUS$5 million.

The action was a result of homophobic social media posts. Folau is a fundamentalist Christian, and on April 10 he posted a graphic on his Instagram telling homosexuals (among other people) “Hell Awaits You.”

View this post on Instagram

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these , adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV _______________

A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT

After his contract was terminated, he challenged the decision and asked for a ‘code of conduct’ panel to decide.

“Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union have made repeated attempts to contact Israel both directly and via his representatives since 6.30pm on Wednesday, and at this point he has failed to communicate directly with either organisation,” said Rugby Australia at the time.

“Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport,” the statement continued. “We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the former rugby star has filed a complaint with Australia’s Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia and Waratahs Rugby Pty Ltd. saying “his employment was unlawfully terminated because of his religion.”

He is reportedly looking for AUS$10 million in damages.

Rugby Australia responded saying, “He was bound by a code of conduct for all professional player in Australia that spells out clear guidelines and obligations regarding player behavior, including respectful use of social media.”

After the crowdfunding campaign was shut down, Folau’s former teammate Drew Mitchell tweeted, “YOU are in fight that YOU chose to be in after YOU broke the terms of YOUR contract, the kids below are in a fight they NEVER wanted to be in & yet YOU think YOU deserve donations more than they do???!!”

Mitchell added, “It’s not longer about religion, it’s about YOU and YOUR greed.”

According to TheAustralian.com, Folau owns 8 homes worth over $5 million.

He also apparently owns a $500k Lamborghini. So, why can't he pay his own legal bills.

Mitchell may be right on that point - "greed."

YOU are in a fight that YOU chose to be in after YOU broke the terms of YOUR contract, the kids below are in a fight they NEVER wanted to be in & yet YOU think YOU deserve donations more than they do??!!

It’s no longer about religion, it’s about YOU and YOUR greed.@IzzyFolau 🤦🏼‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/mdywzaw1ha

— Drew Mitchell (@drew_mitchell) June 21, 2019

Tennessee: Detective Calls On Police To Arrest & Kill "LGBT Freaks"

A Sheriff’s Office detective who is also a pastor at the All Scripture Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, has drawn heavy criticism for a sermon he gave on June 2 where he called on police to “enforce a bible passage” that calls for killing LGBTQ people.

During a sermon titled, “Sodomite Reprobates,” Grayson Fritts said "The purpose of this sermon is, our government, like the police, should enforce Leviticus 20:13," reports local CBS News affiliate WVLT.

In the King James Bible, Leviticus 20:13 reads, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Fritts said that “God has instilled the power of civil government to send the police in 2019 out to the LGBT FREAKS and arrest them.”

The detective said “riot teams” should round up gays at Pride events, take them to jail and put them on trial.

“We got a bunch of them we're gonna get convicted because they've got their pride junk on and they're professing what they are, they're a filthy animal,” said Fritts.

If convicted, Fritts’ prescription is to put the LGBTQs to death.

On Wednesday evening, WVLT reporter Robert Grant attended a service where Fritts delivered another sermon at his church. According to Grant, Fritts concluded his sermon with the message, “Put homos to death.”

WVLT news anchor Amanda Hara posted on her Facebook page a photo of a message left after Fritts’s sermon that read, "Dear Pastor Fritts, I don't know what happened to you, but I am so sorry. Love, Thy Neighbor.”

Interestingly, the Sheriff’s office reports the detective put in a request to take part in the Knox County Voluntary Workforce Reduction Buy Out program days being delivering the controversial sermon.

Timing is everything, no?

Sheriff Tom Spangler issued a statement saying Fritts is “currently on paid sick leave until the effective date of the workforce reduction which will be July 19, 2019.”

“I want to be very clear that it is my responsibility to ensure equal protection to ALL citizens of Knox County, Tennessee under the law, my oath and the United States Constitution without discrimination or hesitation,” Spangler added. “Rest assured that I have and will continue to do so.”

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs told reporters he found Fritts’s remarks to be “extremely vile and reprehensible” and condemned the calls for violence.

WVLT reports the Knox County District Attorney’s office is now investigating the matter, as well as past closed cases handled by Fritts where his anti-gay bias may have played a role in his investigations.

Anti-LGBTQ Pastor: Every Rainbow Flag In The Country Should Be Burned

E.W. Jackson

Right Wing Watch reports that anti-LGBTQ pastor and failed 2018 U.S. Senate candidate E.W. Jackson took to his radio program on Monday to rant about Pride Flags being flown and announced “we need to burn every rainbow flag in this nation.”

Incensed that U.S. embassies were displaying the rainbow flags in honor of Pride Month, Jackson compared the Pride flag to the Confederate flag.

“As far as I am concerned, the rainbow flag is no different than the Confederate flag. That’s right, I said it and I mean it. The rainbow flag is no different than the Confederate flag in that sense. It is a flag that represents the interests of a special group and their interests, not the interests of our country.”

Of course, it goes without saying that the Confederate flag was created to represent the South during the Civil War - a bloody conflict over slavery.

The rainbow flag is a symbol of pride raised in peace to represent a marginalized minority.

So, slavery on one hand, peace and pride on the other…

Jackson goes on to say that the only reason Pride flags are flown is because “these homosexual activists and radicals have so intimidated people throughout the culture, throughout the government, throughout the society that everybody thinks you’ve got to kowtow to them.”

Considering the LGBTQ population makes up about 4.5% of the U.S. population, according to a 2017 poll by Gallup, I’m not sure if we’ve really got folks “kowtowing” to us. If they were “kowtowing,” we’d have the Equality Act enacted by now.

Jackson continued with some general bashing of gays saying “it’s a lie” that folks can be attracted to people of the same sex.

He also declared that “We need to burn every rainbow flag in this nation.”

Hit play to hear the man lose his mind over a rainbow flag.



For those who may not know the good pastor, the list of outrageous statements he’s made against the LGBTQ community includes blaming the Charleston mass murders on LGBTQs and President Obama, saying Christians should be willing to die to stop marriage equality, and that Satan made Mayor Pete Buttigieg gay.

Brazil Elects Far-Right Homophobe As President

Jair Bolsonaro (image via Flickr/Agência Brasil Fotografias - CC License)

While LGBTQ people in the United States continue to cope with the ongoing assault by the Trump administration on our community’s rights and protections, Brazil has just elected its own homophobic president, Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro, who has been called ‘the Trump of the Tropics,’ is a 30-year veteran of Brazil’s congress as well as a retired Army captain.

The 63-year-old clinched the presidency with 55% of the vote in a run-off against Fernando Haddad from the left-wing Workers Party.

He won the election with campaign promises to fight crime and corruption, but it’s his homophobic statements that have LGBTQ Brazilians more than a little concerned.

“Yes, I’m homophobic – and very proud of it,” he once proclaimed.

In 2011, he told Playboy that he would be “incapable of loving a homosexual child.”

“I’m not going to act like a hypocrite here,” he added. “I’d rather have my son die in an accident than show up with some mustachioed guy.”

Bolsonaro admits he wouldn’t even live near gay people. In that same interview he said, “If a homosexual couple comes to live next to me it will devalue my home.”

“If they walk around holding hands and kissing, that devalues it,” he added.

In 2010, he offered this advice on how to raise a gay son on the television program Participaçăo Popular: “If your son starts acting a little gay, hit him with some leather, and he’ll change his behavior.”

In 2002, he told Folha de Săo Paulo, “I will not fight nor discriminate, but if I see two men kissing in the street, I’ll hit them.”

In a 2013 interview with Stephen Fry, he told the UK reporter “Brazilians don’t like homosexuals.” Fry called it one of the ‘most chilling confrontations’ he’s ever had with a human being.

Doesn’t he sound lovely?

It’s a deadly time for LGBTQ Brazilians as violence against the community has continued to rise.

According to Gay Star News, there have been more than 300 murders of LBGTQ people in 2018 already. That’s an increase from 220 at this same time in 2017.

Additionally, there have been 713 hate crimes committed against LGBTQ individuals in 2018.

(h/t Gay Star News)

"Make America Gay Again" Sign Posted Next Door To Mike Pence Vacation Home

Jason Auslander / The Aspen Times

Vice President Mike Pence surely got the message posted on the mailbox next door to the home he's vacationing at in Aspen, Colorado.

And that message was, "Make America Gay Again."

Neighbors of the home near Aspen where Pence and his wife, Karen, are staying posted the message Wednesday or Thursday on a stone pillar that sits at the end of driveways to both homes, Pitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Buglione told the Aspen Times.

Pence, a well-known homophobe who has fought LGBT rights for years, has described himself as a “Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.”

#AndTheCrowdGoesWild!

Whoever you are in Aspen - we salute you! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 https://t.co/0LpmVvf9Ov

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) December 30, 2017

Mike pence's neighbor in Aspen left the @VP a great message at the gate.
"Make America Gay Again"
sir/madam: thank you pic.twitter.com/JHhD6Dgg5b

— ALT- Immigration 🛂 (@ALT_uscis) December 30, 2017

Welcome to Aspen, @mike_pence. Let’s Make America Gay Again. 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸 https://t.co/AHfjPnfWx6

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) December 30, 2017

A) It's #FABULOUS #Protest 🏳️‍🌈
B) LGBTs are in #fact 10% of the pop. You think the Bible is fact so... 😂
C) We ARE born this way 😎
D) Make America Gay Again is a parody. (A 6th grader could grasp that. Sorry you failed elementary school.😢)

— TheOUTFront (@TheOUTFront) December 30, 2017

Pennsylvania: GOP Lawmaker Flips Out Over Being Touched On The Arm By Another Man

Ok. Umm, wow.

Wait until you get a load of Pennsylvania state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

Metcalfe, a Republican, felt the urge to confirm for everyone attending a meeting of the Penn State House Government Committee that he is indeed heterosexual.

During the meeting ranking Democrat Matt Bradford touched his arm to underscore a point he was making.

Metcalfe stopped all traffic to admonish Bradford saying, “I’m a heterosexual. I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men as you might so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.”

Metcalfe has a history of anti-LGBT behavior.

As you can see in the clip below, the touch was very innocent.

(I wonder if Metcalfe feels like he's now been sexually harassed???)

By the way: Bradford is married. Married to a woman.

Paranoia much, Mr. Metcalfe?

(Check the response by the woman to Bradford's left).

News Round-Up: December 2, 2017

Some news items you might have missed:

• Woofy Alex Abramov (above) says, "Everyone should believe in something. I believe I should go to the beach this weekend." You gotta admit, Alex wears the beach very, very well :)

• Analysis by Newsweek shows the current tax bill in the Senate would devastate support systems and services for LGBT Americans.

• Uri Kokia has come out as gay making him the first professional basketball player to come out as gay in Israel. In an interview, Kokia said, “I want to show you can make a long and glorious career as a gay man.”

• A father in Mills, Wyoming, is accused of attacking his 15-year-old gay son with a knife because the father disapproved of homosexuality.

• Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold of Texas, who prides himself as a "family values" politician used taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment case to the tune of $84,000. Farenthold had told his former communications director he had “sexual fantasies” and “wet dreams” about her.

• In related news, Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina reportedly used $150,000 in taxpayer money to settle a veteran-discrimination and retaliation claim with a former aide.

• Anthony Rapp has received a lot of social media attacks after telling his story of sexual misconduct by Kevin Spacey 30 years ago when Rapp was 14. Rather than fight back, Rapp decided to share them all with the world.

• Check out this touching holiday video featuring uber-cute pooch, Chobo.

California: Man Found Guilty In Beating Death Of 8-Year-Old Boy He Thought Was Gay

8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez

Isauro Aguirre, 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez.

Aguirre tortured the young boy for months because he suspected Gabriel was gay.

From the LA Times:

A 37-year-old man accused of torturing and beating his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son to death in a case that prompted far-reaching reforms of the county’s child welfare system was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder.

Jurors deliberated for about six hours before returning the verdict against Isauro Aguirre, also finding true a special allegation that the murder was committed with the infliction of torture.

The jury must next determine whether Aguirre should be sentenced to death for the May 2013 death of Gabriel Fernandez, who was found unconscious with a cracked skull, three broken ribs and BB pellets embedded in his lung and groin when paramedics reached him at his Palmdale home. He was declared brain-dead and taken off life support two days later.

Prosecutors will begin presenting evidence in the penalty phase of the trial on Nov. 27.

The boy’s mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, is facing a separate trial. She has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The mother apparently took part in the torture by beating the boy with a belt and shooting him with a BB gun.

For months, Aguirre would make young Gabriel to eat cat litter and feces, and would force Gabriel to sleep tied up in a small cabinet.

According to court records, the home was visited several times by L.A. social workers and sheriff's deputies in the months leading up to Gabriel's death.

Yes, I hope he gets the death penalty.

News Round-Up: December 27, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• While Laurie Metcalf is getting rave reviews for her star turn in the Broadway production of "Misery," her co-star Bruce Willis is getting racked over the coals for his "wooden" performance and needing to be fed lines via ear piece.

• The legal defense team for Kathryn Knott, convicted gay-basher, thinks it can keep the young homophobe out of jail by pushing for a mistrial.

• Donald Trump says if he becomes president (oh! my sides...) he will work to make sure the anti-gay "Religious Liberty" bill reaches his desk.

• A new Gallup poll shows the number of Americans who identify as "Christian" has dropped 5 percentage points since 2008; the number of folks who identify with no religious affiliation has risen 5 points.

• Billboard has published it's year-end Hot 100 Songs of 2015. You'll never guess where Adele's "Hello" landed.

• Best LGBT Moments of 2015? Easily one of the top was when this straight high schooler asked his best gay to senior prom.

Video: Proof That Donald Trump IS "Archie Bunker 2.0"

NBA-er Rajon Rondo Issues Non-Apology For Calling Referee "Mother-f**king-faggot"

In the aftermath of an ugly altercation between NBA referee Bill Kennedy and Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo, two moments emerged.

First, the backstory - the on-court altercation happened when referee Bill Kennedy called a technical foul on Rondo. Rondo began stalking the referee on the court, eventually getting in Kennedy's face telling him “You’re a mother———- faggot. … You’re a f——— faggot, Billy.”

Since then, Bill Kennedy came out.

"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man," Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. "I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are."

And yesterday, Rondo issued a non-apology via Twitter:

My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!

— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015

They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone.

— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015

Because nothing says "respect" more than calling someone a "mother-f**king-faggot."

Rondo initially denied using the slur until video taped evidence was examined by two independent experts, and the other officials were interviewed privately and all accounts confirmed the report.

Rondo will make $9.5 million this season, and his one game suspension for tonight's game against the Houston Rockets will cost him $86,300.

You can watch the aggressive behavior that led to Rondo's ejection below.

UPDATE: Rondo has issued a statement via the Sacramento Kings to clarify his tweets and make it clear he is, indeed, apologizing.

“Yesterday, I said that my words toward Bill Kennedy were unacceptable and did not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. Some have interpreted my comments as a non-apology. I want to be clear, from the bottom of my heart that I am truly sorry for what I said to Bill. There is no place on or off the court for language that disrespects anyone’s sexual orientation. That is not who I am or what I believe and I will strive every day to be a better person.”

Parody: "The Homophobe Tango"

Lauren Mayer, aka PsychoSuperMom, brings us her version of "The Cellblock Tango" from CHICAGO - "The Homophobe Tango" wherein she skewers the current crop of big time bigots, including Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis.

According to Mayer, she's "a good Jewish mother who secretly yearns for a gay son, so he'll never leave me for another woman, (cue rimshot)."

(h/t JMG)