DN-Gay
We may not be "born this way," but we ARE this way.
This is my last issue for a bit while I enjoy some much-needed vacation!
A bunch of you have already taken my little survey about this newsletter, and I’m so thankful. I’m going to leave it open while I’m away, so I hope more of you will consider sharing your thoughts. That way, when I’m back, I’ll know just how best to give you everything you’ve been missing.
There’s already been a lot of helpful feedback. One thing a few people didn’t realize is that every issue of the newsletter exists on the website! In fact, as soon as I send out the newsletter, it’s automatically published to the web as well — as an easily shareable blog post. You can scroll through them one post at a time, or click the little drop-down menu at the top to access the Archive. It looks like this:
You can easily go back and access the three deep-dive bonus issues I’ve put out so far, or reread my controversial post about unfriending someone for their MAGA hat. Also, I always immediately put out links to new issues on Twitter and on my professional Facebook page, and it’s just as easy for you to share too!
Here’s today’s LGBTQ news round-up:
The genetics of homosexuality (or not?)
A new massive study suggests that there are genetic components to sexuality, even if there’s not a “gay gene,” per se. The largest of its kind, the study found a number of genetic variations that can influence sexual behavior, though it doesn’t lay out a perfect recipe for what exactly causes deviations from heterosexuality or not. In fact, the genetic indicators don’t even tell the full story, but they are part of the story.
In fact, the researchers concluded that the findings show that same-sex behavior is “a natural part of our diversity as a species.” Many scientists are already disagreeing, however, about the significance of these particular findings.
I personally worry about putting too much emphasis on these studies. We shouldn’t need to prove we’re “born this way” to deserve respect for our different experiences. We also don’t want a situation where certain experiences of sexuality are negated because they don’t fit the rubric such studies lay out.
It’s helpful at least — one hopes — to rub it in the faces of those who would reject us for religious reasons or try to shame us out of our identities. We might not know how we are who we are, but these studies do at least equip us to counter the notion that our identities are a “choice.”
Your anti-LGBTQ members of Congress are…
If you need a quick sample of the biggest opponents of LGBTQ equality in the House and Senate, look no further than the amicus brief Ken Starr wrote for members of Congress who want the Supreme Court to reject job protections for the queer community. Is your lawmaker one of the 48 who signed onto its pro-discrimination arguments?
Trans activists face bomb threats
As hate crimes in the nation’s capital receive new scrutiny, it’s come to light that one of the organizations on the forefront of fighting for trans rights has been subjected to numerous threats over the past year. The National Center for Transgender Equality has reportedly received numerous bomb threats, including three in the course of just 24 hours last December. That’s on top of the numerous hate crimes in DC increasingly coming to light, many of which have targeted trans women of color.
Trans student sues WV school over principal’s harassment
Earlier this year, a story rocked the headlines about an assistant principal at a West Virginia school who was so intent on policing a trans student’s bathroom usage that he allegedly tried to force him to try to use a urinal to “prove” he was a boy while he watched. That assistant principal, Lee Livengood, was suspended without pay, but has continued serving as an administrator for the district. Now the student, 15-year-old Michael Critchfield, is suing Harrison County schools, claiming abusive treatment by Livengood. The ACLU of West Virginia is representing him.
KY school bans LGBTQ shirts (but not Confederate flags)
Several students at Martin County High School in Kentucky were forced to change out of their pro-LGBTQ clothes. The administration felt that their “Queen Queer” and “Lady Lesbian” shirts, worn to celebrate Pride, violated the dress code. The superintendent claims the ban on their clothes was a “miscommunication,” but the damage is done. Students report that their classmates regularly wear the Confederate flag — a symbol of white supremacy and treason — without issue.
Baylor University brags about its bigotry
Baylor University’s anti-LGBTQ policies received a lot of national attention a few years ago when WNBA star Brittney Griner came out and talked about how she’d been shamed into silence while playing for the Christian university. It seems in the years since nothing has changed.
Baylor president Dr. Linda Livingstone kicked off the school year by putting out a “human sexuality statement” reiterating the university’s anti-LGBTQ policies, which condemn “homosexual behavior” as a deviant deviation from biblical purity. The statement also bans students from participating “in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching.”
To defend the school, Livingstone actually pointed out that “students are not disciplined or expelled from Baylor for same-sex attraction.” In other words, you can be queer at Baylor so long as you’re celibate and closeted. How considerate.
Catholic school fires gay teacher hours after hiring her
Another day, another story of a Catholic school indignantly refusing to employ LGBTQ people. In Lauren White’s case, she had a job at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, IL for all of a couple hours. They were so excited to hire her to teach French and she signed the contract, but then she mentioned that her fiancée was female and later that day, the job was revoked. The diocese defended the school, saying it “made the right decision” — because of course they were flagrantly insensitive about the whole thing.
Fox News joins the anti-Drag Queen Story Hour fight
Todd Starnes is Fox News’ resident evangelical extremist, which is probably why he’s usually not on the main network during the day or prime time, instead camping out on Fox News radio. This week, he joined the fight against Drag Queen Story Hour, calling it “an effort to indoctrinate little children … as young as two years old.” He literally said that the program is designed “to groom the next generation.” (Remember that story above about the genetic components of sexuality??)
Another French soccer game interrupted by homophobia
When a referee had to stop a French soccer game a few weeks ago until homophobic chants ceased, many hoped it would be a one-time occurrence. It wasn’t. At a game in Nice Wednesday, fans unfurled giant banners with homophobic phrases and shouted offensive chants with anti-gay slurs. Refs had to pause the game for 10 minutes until the issue could be addressed.
E-sports for charity!
Because gaming and streaming don’t receive a lot of mainstream attention, it’s often lost how these streamers use their platform for good! Dominique McLean, better known as SonicFox, held a 72-hour marathon stream during which he played Mortal Kombat to raise money for The Trevor Project. Not only did he raise $22,000, but he also talked openly about coming to terms with his own sexuality and featured a variety of guests, including other LGBTQ streamers and even a variety of well known game designers. Because he met his goal, SonicFox then followed through on shaving his trademark mustache.
There’s now an out bi NFL player!
Just a day after speculation about all the queer football players we don’t know about, we now know about one of them. Ryan Russell, who has played on NFL teams for three years but is currently a free agent, has come out as bisexual. In a column for ESPN, he talked about how it felt to hide himself from recruiters and teammates, and he hopes to return to the field living his life openly. Read his full coming out essay!
And with that uplifting news, Fording the River Styx is officially on hiatus. Regular issues will resume on Monday, September 9, when I’ll hopefully be refreshed (and another year older!)
In the meantime, I have two favors to ask:
Please take my survey, and feel free to reach out if you have more thoughts you want to share. (You can also just reply to the newsletter in your email and I’ll receive it!)
Please tell five friends about this newsletter. It’s so great to hear that so many people are finding this little project useful, but the more people it reaches, the better! I need your help to make that happen. Maybe talk it up at a Labor Day BBQ? You can then pull it right up on their phones and make them subscribve on the spot! Maybe post about something you learned from it on social media? Any little bit helps. If you find it valuable, tell other people why they might too. And thanks in advance.
I hope you all have a relaxing Labor Day weekend and I’ll be in touch soon.
Until next time, stay platinum!
(Rainbow DNA photo credit: Flickr/Sam Ramsay.)