Category: Uncategorized

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The Truth About The Anti-LGBT “Bathroom Predator” Myth

Conservatives are using bogus scare tactics about “bathroom predators” to pass creepy, invasive laws regulating transgender people’s bathroom access.

And uncritical media coverage is helping them do it.

From Media Matters:

That “bathroom predator” talking point is a myth. Law enforcement experts and people who work with victims of sexual assault have called it “beyond specious” and “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” There have been zero proven incidents in the more than 17 states and 200 cities where transgender people are currently protected from discrimination and allowed to use public bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

But the “bathroom predator” myth has dominated news coverage of the fight for transgender equality. Reporters repeat the talking point without debunking it, so viewers are left thinking that LGBT nondiscrimination protections might lead to sexual assault.

Republican politicians are using imaginary horror stories about bathroom predators to pass creepy, invasive laws policing the gender of anyone who goes to the bathroom in a public place. That’s the story media outlets should be telling when covering “bathroom bills” like North Carolina’s.

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News Round-Up: April 11, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• John Oliver on HBO’s Last Week Tonight took a look at how credit reports are ruining Americans lives.

• This porn website is blocking all IP addresses in North Carolina over the state’s new anti-LGBT ‘hate law.’ #NoPornForYouNorthCarolina

• Donald Trump’s kids aren’t even registered to vote.

• Activist and author John Corvino addressing the debunked “bathroom predator” myth as basis for anti-transgender laws:“The idea that this is about safety and security, it’s kind of like when somebody says that they ate all the ice cream in order to make room in the freezer.”

• The NAACP is planning a “sit-in” at the North Carolina legislature to protest the recent HB 2, which legalizes LGBT discrimination in the state.

• Vlogger Joe Santagato shares his 8th installment of “Idiots Of The Internet” rants. Love this guy.

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Planting Peace Plants Billboard On North Carolina Border Protesting HB2

From Planting Peace:

On March 23, in a specially-convened session, the North Carolina legislation passed into law HB2, a law that was initiated to strike down a Charlotte anti-discrimination ordinance that was set to go into effect April 1 and would have extended rights to the LGBT community.

Since HB2 has been signed into law, North Carolina has been met with backlash from the business community, legal challenges from LGBT rights groups and outrage from citizens throughout the United States.

When North Carolina and other legislators pass anti-LGBT laws and speak anti-LGBT rhetoric, they are sending a direct message to our LGBT family that they are somehow less than, broken, and not equal under the law. These messages reflect why suicide rates among the LGBT community are so high. It’s estimated that half of transgender people contemplate suicide.

In response to North Carolina passing of HB2, Planting Peace has constructed a message to North Carolina legislators and the anti-LGBT movement.

Our billboard is a reminder that laws such as HB2 move us backwards in the movement for equality and fundamental human rights for all. It is also meant to show the LGBT community and North Carolina that advocacy groups such as Planting Peace and others are willing to fight.

We have to meet hate with love; intolerance with compassion. To deny any individual basic human rights based on your individual beliefs is outrageous and unethical.

Our message to our LGBT youth is simple:

You are loved, valued, supported, and beautiful. There is nothing wrong with you, and we will stand by you. You are not alone.

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Bryan Fischer: Musicians Cancelling Concerts Is An Act Of “War” On Christians

Virulently anti-LGBT American Family Association spokesman Bryan Fischer has decided that the act of musicians (Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen) cancelling concerts in states with anti-LGBT laws constitutes an act of war against Christianity.

At the same time, the AFA has announced a boycott of PayPal for withdrawing business expansion plans in North Carolina over the recent ‘hate law,’ HB 2.

From the AFA:

It is astounding that Fortune 500 companies are ruining their reputation over a law that ensures men and women use separate restrooms. Many of these same corporations, including PayPal, are doing business in Saudi Arabia—a country in which homosexuals are fined, jailed or killed for their lifestyle. Yet where is the action there? This is the very definition of hypocrisy! It is understandable if companies lobby for a lower corporate tax or for more grants, but to weigh in on a bathroom bill is nonsense. If you have a PayPal account, join American Family Association and cancel it today.

I like what my friend Joe Jervis of JoeMyGod says about the hypocrisy of boycotts, according to the conservative right wing-nuts:

When powerful national Christian groups with millions of members call for boycotts, that is a righteous use of the free market in order to preserve morality, marriage, family, and the American way. But when pro-LGBT folks call for a boycott, THAT is homo-fascist intimidation, intolerance, bullying, economic terrorism, a stifling of religious liberty, and an attempt to deny the freedom of speech. And don’t you forget it.

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Campaign Ad: Hillary Clinton “Stronger Together”

A new campaign ad from Hillary Clinton highlights GOP front-runner Donald Trump’s statements from the campaign trail, such as Mexicans are “rapists,” Muslims should be “banned” from America and women who have abortions should be “punished.”

Hillary continues her call to unite America, while Donald Trump makes everything about “us” versus “them.”

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Rocker Bryan Adams Cancels Mississippi Concert Due To Anti-LGBT ‘Hate Law’

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams went “Springsteen” on Mississippi cancelling his upcoming April 14 concert at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi in the aftermath of the signing into law of the “Religious Liberty” bill 1523, which legalizes anti-LGBT discrimination.

The law has been described as the most aggressive anti-LGBT legislation in the U.S.

From Adams’ Instagram:

Mississippi has passed anti-LGBT ‘Religious Liberty’ bill 1523. I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against in the state of Mississippi. I cannot in good conscience perform in a State where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation. Therefore i’m cancelling my 14 April show at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Using my voice I stand in solidarity with all my LGBT friends to repeal this extremely discriminatory bill. Hopefully Mississippi will right itself and I can come back and perform for all of my many fans. I look forward to that day. ‪#‎stop1523‬

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Donald Trump Rants At Boston Globe For Satirical “Front Page’

Click on image to enlarge

This past Sunday, the Boston Globe created an entirely fictional front page for the newspaper imagining the future of America under a “President Trump.”

The “news stories” included stock markets crating, mass deportations beginning at a cost of $00 billion, Fox News’ Megyn Kelly reporting from bars because she’s placed on a “White House black list,” and soldiers refusing to kill the children of members of ISIS.

The editors warned: “This is Donald Trump’s American. What you read on this page is what might happen if the GOP front-runner can put his ideas into practice, his works into action. Many Americans might find this appealing, but the Globe’s editorial board finds it deeply troubling.”

The Globe went on to say, “It is an exercise in taking a man at his word.”

You can read the Globe’s editorial here.

Donald Trump, unsurprisingly, was not pleased.

Speaking in upstate New York last night, he shared this rant with this followers”

“How about that stupid Boston Globe? It’s worthless. Sold for a dollar. Did you see that story? The whole front page — they made up a story that Trump — they pretended Trump as the president. And they made up—the whole front page is a make believe story, which is really, no different from the whole paper for the whole thing. I mean the whole thing is no different.”

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Gov. John Kasich: I Probably Wouldn’t Have Signed North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Law

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, during an appearance on Face The Nation, said he probably wouldn’t have signed North Carolina’s hate law which legalizes discrimination against LGBTs.

He added that “we are not having this issue in our state” in terms of religious freedoms being hampered.

From Mediaite:

Kasich avoided getting into the specifics of the “bathroom” bill, which––in addition to rejecting anti-discrimination law––demands that everyone must use the bathroom of the gender on their birth certificate.

He complained, “Why do we need to write a law every time we turn around in this country?”, and said, “Chill out, get over it if you have a disagreement with somebody.” (It’s not clear if he was specifically referring to the people behind the anti-trans legislation.)

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Fox News Poll: Hillary Clinton Leading Bernie Sanders In New York

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads Sen. Bernie Sanders in New York state according to the latest Fox News Poll – 53%-37%.

The poll results also show in a hypothetical match-up, Clinton would win New York in the general election against Donald Trump by that same margin – 53%-37%.