Jonathan Shelley of the Stedfast Baptist Church Hemant Mehta at The Friendly Atheist highlights this hideous ‘sermon’ from Pastor Jonathan Shelley of the Stedfast Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas. In the clip, Shelley celebrates the tragic accident that occurred over the weekend at Wilton Manors Pride when a 77-year-old man driving a pickup truck accidentally drove into attendees killing one gay man and severely injured another. Here’s the transcript via Mehta:
It is going beyond just saying you do all this wicked stuff. It’s saying you enjoy it. You enjoy murder. You enjoy malignity. You enjoy hating God.
Look, there’s only one group that enjoys that: It’s the Pride parades going up and down the street. And, you know, it’s great when trucks accidentally go through those, you know, parades. I think only one person died. So hopefully we can hope for more in the future.
You say, “Well, that’s mean.” Yeah, but the Bible says that they’re worthy of death! You say, “Are you sad when fags die?” No, I think it’s great! I hope they all die! I would love it if every fag would die right now. And you say, “Well, I don’t think that’s what you really mean.” That’s exactly what I mean. I really mean it!
Shelley garnered headlines in 2019 when he told congregants that the answer to rebellious children is to stone them to death.
Yesterday, a Christian hate-preacher from Texas celebrated a gay man’s death at a Pride parade. “It’s great when trucks accidentally go through those… parades… We can hope for more in the future… I think it’s great! I hope they all die!” (Warning: The language gets worse) pic.twitter.com/3VsYC8KmjA
Alexander Jerich (mug shot) Incidents like this really beg the question “What were they thinking???” Alexander Jerich, 20, turned himself in to the police Thursday afternoon after cellphone video went viral showing him purposely defacing the LGBTQ Pride rainbow walk in Delray Beach earlier this week. CBS12 News reports Jerich was charged with criminal mischief over $1,000, reckless driving, and evidence of prejudice (felony enhancement). Under a new law (Section 806.135, Florida Statutes “Destroying or demolishing a memorial or historic property”), this would be considered a 2nd degree felony. Jerich could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Nicholas Coppola is a member of the Palm Beach County LGBTQ Community Center in Lake Worth Beach, and one of the leaders behind this rainbow artwork that was years in the making. “There are many things that indicate this is a hate crime targeted against the community,” Coppola said. “I hate to say I was saddened, but not surprised. There’s a part of me that expected it. Unfortunately, we deal with this every day.” The city had just unveiled the new intersection on Saturday. The artwork was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando five years ago.
(screen capture via C-SPAN) A statement from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office:
House Republicans are using Pride Month to attack LGBTQ-owned small businesses. Republicans lined up on Tuesday to prevent Congressman Richie Torres’ LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act from passing on suspension.
The bill would help ensure that financial institutions are providing LGBTQ-owned small businesses equal access to credit.
177 Republicans voted against the measure – meaning that 85 percent of House Republicans present voted against the bill. Passing this uncontroversial bill to help small businesses stay afloat during a pandemic should be a no-brainer.
Sadly, no attack is too low for this House Republican Conference, not even attacking LGBTQ-owned small businesses during Pride Month.
The Republicans in the House voted down my legislation, HR 1443, which would protect LGBTQ-owned businesses from discrimination. A slap in the face to the LGBTQ community right in the heart of Pride Month. https://t.co/gTCLbex0wp
(image via Twitter/RobertGarcia) Some news items you might have missed: • Edge Media: Lawmakers in Hungary passed legislation Tuesday that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment, something supporters said would help fight pedophilia but which human rights groups denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination. • NPR: The Senate unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, the date commemorating the end of chattel slavery in the United States, a legal public holiday. The holiday is celebrated on June 19, and it began in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned (years after the fact) they had been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation. • Out Music: In a loving tribute to Provincetown, Seth Sikes releases his latest music video, The Trolley Song. Sikes, a longtime interpreter of the songs of the great Judy Garland, performs this signature Garland song from her classic film Meet Me in St Louis. Backed by a full cast Sikes performs the much-loved song on location in Provincetown on the local trolley car. Sikes will perform live in Provincetown in July with his new show Seth Sikes Sings Judy and Liza and Barbra, etc. at the just refurbished Post Office Café and Cabaret.
• OUT: Country music fans should check out veteran journalist Hunter Kelly’s Proud Radio, a monthly two-hour show on the Apple Music Country channel highlighting queer artists, their evolution, and their influence in country music. • The Advocate: Arby’s management fired an employee in Lafayette, Indiana last week after the employee allegedly wrote the homophobic slur “fag” on a gay couple’s receipt. • Pink News: Long Beach’s iconic rainbow lifeguard tower (above) has been reborn after the original was burned down in March by vandals. Robert Garcia, the city’s first openly gay mayor, said the new tower provides an “immediate sense of pride and inclusion” for the city’s LGBT+ community.
We just dedicated the new Long Beach Pride Lifeguard Tower. Thank you to our community and lifeguards for this symbol of love and inclusion. Happy Pride 🌈❤️ pic.twitter.com/UT7xve7yKf
Oh, the shade of it all. For years now, many in the LGBTQ community have boycotted Chick-fil-A after reports showed the company’s CEO and executives donated over and over again to anti-LGBTQ groups that work to opposed queer rights. Now, Burger King is not only showing SUPPORT for the LGBTQ community, but throwing some subtle shade at Chick-fil-A while doing so. From USA Today:
Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy was identified last week by The Daily Beast as a donor to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which has a history of funding opposition to The Equality Act.
Burger King, which recently launched the Ch’King sandwich, tweeted Thursday it will donate 40 cents for every chicken sandwich sold in June (Pride month) up to $250,000, or 625,000 sandwiches, to The Human Rights Campaign.
“This is a community we love dearly and have proudly supported over the years, so we couldn’t miss an opportunity to take action and help shine a light on the important conversation happening,” a Burger King spokesperson said in an email statement to USA TODAY.
You’ll note in Burger King’s tweet below the company notes that it would continue its donations “even on Sundays.” Chick-fil-A has a long-standing policy of being closed on Sundays.
In a playful back-and-forth, the Whopper’s Twitter account seems to be a bit jealous of the new chicken sandwich LOL…
*6/3-6/30 with every Ch’King sold, BK will contribute 40₵ to the Human Rights Campaign (Max. donation $250k)
Bk throwing some much needed shade. I normally order a whopper but i think ill be trying the chicken sandwich this month. No homophobia chicken here 🏳️🌈
— That Damn 🏳️🌈Queer🏳️🌈 Cat (@ShallotCog) June 4, 2021
Teegan and Clarissa Templeton (photo; Tiffany McCarson)
After saving for over a year and planning down the last detail for the wedding day of their dreams, a same-sex couple in North Carolina were devastated when their videographer ghosted on them as they made their way down the aisle.
For 14 months Clarissa and Teegan Templeton each worked two jobs to save up for their dream wedding at a scenic farm in North Carolina. Having done their research, they booked the venue, the photographer, the flowers, and a videographer through Tolman Media.
Clarissa told the News Observer that in all of their planning, the couple was careful to search for LGBTQ-friendly companies
But on the big day, the videographer decided to abandon the gig moments before the ceremony was to begin without saying a word to anyone.
Clarissa Templeton says she discovered Tolman Media on Instagram and made the booking through the company’s South Carolina branch in June 2020 for their April 3 wedding.
The company has several branches across the U.S. and reportedly contracts with many videographers.
The couple says they were in email contact with the camera man, Seth Curl, via email leading up to the big day.
Capturing the happy moment on video was especially important to the couple since, with the ongoing COVID pandemic, many family members and friends weren’t able to attend. Teegan and Clarissa hoped a video to share with loved ones would be the next-best thing. (photo: Tiffany McCarson)
Teegan, who arrived at the venue first, recalls seeing the videographer early on. But as the ceremony began, Clarissa realized he was no where to be found amid the crowd of attendees.
“I had a mini panic attack,” Clarissa shared with Insider. “I started to panic in my head and told myself maybe he ran to the car or had some technical difficulty.”
She added, “I refused to let myself focus on it anymore and put 110% of my focus on Teegan in that moment we were sharing together. I wanted to be in that moment.”
Following the ceremony, the couple began to take their wedding pictures with their photographer (hired separately from Tolman Media). When Clarissa asked the photographer if she knew anything about the videographer’s disappearance, the photographer paused before answering, “He left.”
During this time, the couple’s wedding planner, Ashley Hansen, scrambled to contact Curl via phone. He reportedly told Hansen he left because “of his faith and that he didn’t feel comfortable because it’s a same-sex marriage.”
Ultimately, Hansen tracked down the folks at the South Carolina office of Tolman Media who dispatched another videographer to the event. According to a Facebook post by Clarissa, the company promised to “refund the entirety of our money and give us the footage this new videographer was going to capture for FREE.”
By that time, even though the wedding was winding down, the brides went about recreating some of their big day. But, as Clarissa explained, it felt “fake” to the couple.
Fortunately, the couple’s photographer was able to capture the joyous moments via still photography. (photo: Tiffany McCarson)
The Templetons reached out to Tolman Media following the wedding requesting the previously mentioned refund, but it wasn’t until Clarissa posted her story to Facebook that she heard back from Tolman. At that point, Tolman Media issued a full refund and said the videographer was no longer employed by the company.
Ben Hillyard, president of Tolman Media, also issued a statement saying, “We at Tolman Media hold discrimination and discriminatory behavior as a very serious offense against individuals. We do not tolerate it within our organization.”
“Tolman Media is not this videographer,” added Hillyard. “The opinions and beliefs of this videographer do not represent our beliefs or our track record in any way shape or form.”
Hillyard also told Insider that moving forward he will ensure all branches are “fully aware” of the company’s nondiscrimination policy. And – future contractors will be required to be transparent about being available to work on same-sex weddings. And if they refuse, the company will not work with them.
Two weeks after the wedding, the Templetons received an email from Curl.
“On April 3, I did something that I have never done, nor ever had to do before,” wrote the videographer as reported by the News Observer. “Because of my faith and what I support, I made the decision to leave and not film Clarissa and Teegan’s wedding day.”
He added that he knew abandoning his assignment “would have severe consequences” and that his unannounced departure “ruined a beautiful wedding and left so many heart broken (sic).”
While Curl did apologize to the couple, he added, “This destroys me that I’ve ended up in a position where I am getting so many people saying so many negative things about me, my life, my career, and my beliefs.”
(image via Depositphotos) At the end of the day, the couple who did everything they thought possible to avoid such LGBTQ discrimination on their wedding day say they hope others don’t have to have the same experience. “The last thing we would ever want is for anyone to go through this again,” Clarissa explained to Insider. “It is our wish to do everything we can to ensure that no other couple has to endure the heartache we are left trying to cope with. What happened to us isn’t rare.” (source: Insider, News Observer)
In a somewhat surprising move, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has vetoed legislation that would have curtailed the state’s sex education laws and would have prohibited any mention of LGBTQ issues or history. In a statement, the governor called the bill, SB 1456, “overly broad and vague” adding he was concerned about “unintended consequences.” From Goshen News:
The proposed law, Senate Bill 1456, would have barred all discussions about gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS in sex education classes unless parents are notified in advance and specifically opt in for the instruction.
The proposal applied outside of sex ed classes as well, requiring parents to agree to have their children learn about historical events such as a discussion of the modern gay rights movement that sprang from the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York.
It also banned any sex ed classes before 5th grade, which opponents have said will put young students who now learn about “good touch-bad touch” to avoid molestation at greater risk.
Although he vetoed the bill, Ducey did issue an executive order requiring schools to post sex education course materials in advance online. He also ordered there to be early notice of school board meetings where sex ed might be discussed. Democratic lawmakers in the state opposed the legislation saying it was dangerous for already-marginalized LGBTQ youth. Kathy Hoffman, superintendent of schools for Arizona, publicly opposed the bill as well calling for the veto. And she applauded his move today.
My statement on the legislature’s passage of #SB1456. I urge Governor @dougducey to veto this bill and encourage the legislature to focus on more pressing issues. pic.twitter.com/jOvM5ovoxx
Gov. @dougducey made the right decision by vetoing SB1456 and I want to thank him for standing up to bigotry and intolerance. All students are welcome in Arizona’s public schools and today’s veto reaffirms that.
A sticker promoting ‘LGBT free’ zones in Poland In 2019, the town council of Krasnik, Poland, voted to declare itself an “LGBT free zone” in a bid to appease conservative voters. Now, Mayor Wojciech Wilk says the decision has become a costly embarrassment and turned “our town into a synonym for homophobia.” From the New York Times:
A French town last year severed a partnership with Krasnik in protest. And Norway, from which the mayor had hoped to get nearly $10 million starting this year to finance development projects, said in September that it would not give grants to any Polish town that declares itself “free of L.G.B.T.”
“We have become Europe’s laughingstock, and it’s the citizens not the local politicians who’ve suffered most,” lamented Mr. Wilk, who is now lobbying councilors to repeal the resolution that put the town’s 32,000 residents in the middle of a raucous debate over traditional and modern values.
The mayor goes on to say that unless he can get the “free of LGBT ideology” resolution revoked, his ability to access foreign funds to help pay for electric buses and youth programs is greatly reduced. The youth programs in particular weigh heavily in the town where young people are leaving. Read the full article. I’ve been reporting on the anti-LGBTQ attitudes in Poland for some time now. Last July, the European Union, of which Poland is a member, announced funding to any Polish town that violates Europe’s commitment to tolerance and equality would be cut.
Ex-gay porn performer Logan McCree (photo – cropped: fotorebelxt via CC license 2.0) Philipp Tanzer, who performed in gay porn as Logan McCree, is planning a run for Scottish parliament in May’s Holyrood election. Tanzer, whose previous porn catalogue includes films like Rear Deliveries and Hotter Than Hell 2, raised eyebrows a bit when he announced his plans to stand for the anti-LGBTQ Scottish Family Party. Saying he now identifies as ‘ex-gay, the 43-year-old says the political party, which opposes any LGBTQ-inclusive education, “best represent my views on life and society.” According to the SFP’s website, LGBTQ-inclusive education “mandates the indoctrination of schoolchildren into a radical ideology of sexuality.” The group also opposes ‘transgender ideology’ saying it confuses young people. Tanzer has declared his candidacy for the Highlands and Islands after moving to Durness, Sutherland, in 2012. Philipp Tanzer today (screen capture via BBC) In an interview with The Times, Tanzer says that since leaving adult entertainment he’s worked as a hairdresser, a massage therapist, and a fireman. He also shares that he’s currently in a relationship with a woman and considering “marriage and starting a family.” The self-described ‘men’s rights activist’ also called out the porn industry saying, “In one year I lost five friends in the industry to suicide and drug overdoses. I have seen the harm porn addiction can do.” He makes a point to say that porn is not just an issue for men. “Both boys and girls consume pornography and both suffer under its impact,” said Tanzer. Seeming to brush aside responsibility for his adult entertainment career, today he shares, “I was pushed into identifying myself as something at the age of 32 that I was not.” Read the full article here.
Tanzer was profiled by the BBC last year in a report titled, “I am a Men’s Rights Activist.”
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (screen capture) In a surprising move, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed a bill Monday that would have banned gender dysphoria treatments for transgender minors in the state. Calling his decision an embrace of restrained “conservative philosophy,” Hutchinson told reporters, “This is an example of where restraint is better than overbroad actions that interfere with important relationships in our society.” From ABC News:
During a news conference with reporters, the Republican governor said the intentions behind the state legislature’s “Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act” were “well-intended but off course.”
The act bars doctors from providing gender-affirming health care to transgender minors, including hormones, puberty blockers and transition-related surgeries.
Hutchinson said that he had an issue with the bill that would affect patients who are currently taking treatments and how it would affect the mental health of the state’s youth.
LGTBQ rights activists, medical professionals and other groups protested the bills because it was discriminatory and would lead to more severe mental health problems for youths.
ArkansasOnline reports Hutchinson’s veto can be overridden by the GOP-controlled legislature by a simple majority vote.
BREAKING: After national pushback on extreme anti-trans bills he supported in Arkansas, Governor Asa Hutchinson VETOES #HB1570, which would ban health care for trans kids.
