Chick-fil-A doesn't need saving
Bigots hate being held accountable for their actions.
Today marks my 15th outaversary! That’s 15 years to the day since I came out to myself (and my parents, and a few friends) as gay. Yes, it all happened in one day. I was 18, had finished my first year of college, and it hit me like a giant epiphany. All the thoughts, feelings, experiences, doubts, and anxieties I’d felt up to that point suddenly made sense and I could shake it all off and be happy as I truly am. And it’s been a pretty good 15 years! (That pic is from April 2004 — about three months prior — and is the best contemporaneous photo I could quickly find considering that was a time before Facebook!)
It’s a really important day for me, and that’s why I’m opening today’s newsletter lifting up another fierce and fabulous voice whose visibility continues to inspire me:
It’s Charlotte’s web and we’re just living in it
If you don’t know my friend Charlotte Clymer, you probably should. She’s brilliant and outspoken of her own accord in addition to doing important work at the Human Rights Campaign. This week, she stood up to 4chan and the other parts of the dark web that have been trolling her extensively for being trans. Here’s the beginning of her thread:
Click through to read the full thread, but don’t miss this one:
As someone who also been subjected to extensive trolling courtesy of the intellectual dark web myself, I know how taxing it can be to be inundated with so many hateful messages, and I know both from Charlotte and many other friends that it’s far, far worse for trans women.
Standing up and being proud is still a courageous act in 2019. Never underestimate it.
Republicans fighting Amazon over conversion therapy
Conservatives have been very upset that Amazon pulled books by “father of ex-gay therapy” Joseph Nicolosi, and now some Republican members of Congress want to fight back. The Republican Study Committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) and its Values Action Task Force, chaired by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), is distributing a handout asking other members to contact Amazon with concerns that it’s “choosing to censor speech.”
The Save Chick-fil-A law is dumb
Yesterday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A” bill, which prohibits government entities from in any way penalizing a business or organization for its religious beliefs and affiliations (read: anti-LGBTQ bigotry). Abbott, himself an enemy of the LGBTQ community, audaciously signed it into law surrounded by Chick-fil-A food and proclaimed that "discrimination is no longer tolerated in Texas." (Translation: It’s “discrimination” against Christians to hold them accountable for their actual anti-LGBTQ discrimination, which is lawful and not similarly problematic.)
Even if it’s a setback, I’m proud to see the impact of reporting my colleague Josh Israel and I have done at ThinkProgress for years now. Chick-fil-A still gives a lot of money every year to very anti-LGBTQ organizations, and this year’s reporting on that fact prompted several cities (like San Antonio) to reconsider whether to contract with Chick-fil-A in their airports. Unfortunately, it also prompted a backlash in the form of legislation literally encouraging and assuring the right to discriminate.
For the record, Chick-fil-A owned its anti-LGBTQ giving this year, calling it part of its “higher calling.” If you’re still insisting the chicken is too tasty to pass up, then congratulations, you’re still funding bigotry.
Cis men into trans women
Stories about the sexuality and relationships of transgender people and the people they partner with are usually not at the forefront of LGBTQ discourse. Over at VICE, Diana Tourjée takes a look at cis, straight men who are attracted to transgender women and the secrecy around that attraction:
This secrecy means that many men who are attracted to trans women end up living a lie. And in the worst cases, that lie boils over into anger and violence towards trans women for putting their masculinity on the line. But there are cis, straight men who are working to break this silence. I spoke to four of them—across generations—about how they grapple with the taboo around loving trans women.
Utah psychologists tackle conversion therapy
Following the dismal defeat of a bill banning conversion therapy for minors in Utah earlier this year, the Utah Psychologist Licensing Board has approved a draft rule prohibiting the abusive treatment in the state. Under the proposed rule, trying to change a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity would be engaging in “unprofessional conduct,” and psychologists could face sanctions or lose their license.
Internalized homophobia and sexual assault
A Presbyterian minister in New Jersey allegedly sexually assaulted several of his male parishioners by convincing them he could “suck” out the demons through their semen. There was going to be a “church trial” in January, but Rev. Dr. William Weaver renounced the Presbytery, so that never happened. Charges in real court are still pending.
Disney is indoctrinating your kids!
The Christian/anti-LGBTQ petition site CitizenGo is calling on Disney to stop celebrating gay pride parades in its parks. “Stop promoting homosexuality or lose your good name,” the petition warns. Pride events have “the potential to become an X-rated peep show!” Stand against “Disney’s attempt to influence our children!” There will be boycotts “if this indoctrination continues!”
I doubt it’ll influence Disney all that much. We queer folks have both money and families too. But, it does have over 200,000 signatures, which is a bit sad — but not as sad as that graphic!
Last-minute lesbian asylum
Many countries are highly skeptical of LGBTQ asylum claims, with refugees often having to go to great lengths to “prove” their identity and the persecution they face for it in their home country. The UK is no exception, where a lesbian woman named Desiree Lieuwo was almost deported back to Cameroon, which has strict sodomy laws. Her case had previously been dismissed because officials didn’t believe she had a partner. Fortunately, she received a reprieve today, just one day before her planned deportation.
Victory for South Korean LGBTQ allies
When a group of students wore rainbow shirts to chapel at Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in South Korea to show support for LGBTI people, they were punished, including by suspension. This week, a court ruled that there was a “procedural defect” in the university’s reasoning and it had to nullify the punishments.
Another coming out
Singer Sam Smith has previously come out as both gay and non-binary, but in his new music video, he’s come out as a dancer!
Have a great weekend everyone, and please stay cool if you’re getting hit by this intense heat wave! I plan to spend a lot of time hiding away and binge-watching the new season of Queer Eye. Also, like most weeks, you can listen to me on this week’s episode of the David Feldman Show! We talk about Cats, among other things.
Until next time, stay platinum! 🏳️🌈