In the shadow of two gunmen
We must be vocal and we must be fearless.
I won’t pretend that anything I can say in this newsletter will make you feel better about the latest round of mass gun violence. But whatever you do, don’t by intimidated by the familiar clamoring not to politicize these tragedies. Politicizing them is the only way we prevent them, and change comes easiest when we still feel them viscerally.
I for one am going to be more blunt about my support for completely repealing the Second Amendment. Whether you agree with that or not, I hope it creates space for you to advocate for whatever gun control measures you do support.
Here’s today’s LGBTQ news round-up, which unsurprisingly intersects with the tragedies gripping the nation.
White nationalism is also anti-LGBTQ
The alleged El Paso shooter released a manifesto chock full of white nationalism and anti-immigration sentiment. As John Gallagher points out at LGBTQ Nation, such forms of intolerance intersect with anti-LGBTQ sentiment as well:
At the heart of it all is what the El Paso manifesto made clear: the threat to “our way of life.” That’s the same fear that animates the religious right in its endless quest to diminish LGBTQ rights and that Trump plays to with his rants. It’s the threat posed by everyone who represents all the changes happening in American society — immigrants, people of color, empowered women, and, yes, LGBTQ people.
Check out his full commentary for more perspective about these intersections.
Thoughts from a gay gun owner
In a compelling op-ed at The Advocate, R. Kyle Alagood explains his revelation that simply owning a gun is putting his friends and family in danger.
Ohio lawmaker blames queer people for shooting
Trump’s ideas for how to prevent gun violence were entirely vacuous, but a state lawmaker in Ohio offered up far more extreme ideas. According to Rep. Candice Keller (R), the real blame for gun violence includes “The breakdown of the traditional American family(thank you, transgender, homosexual marriage, and drag queen advocates),” among other things.
The post has since been deleted. Keller confirmed “it sounded like” what she’d written on her private, personal Facebook page. She didn’t take any of it back.
Ohio GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken described the post as “shocking and utterly unjustifiable” and is calling on Keller to resign.
Trump’s first LGBTQ judge
The Senate has jammed through many anti-LGBTQ judicial nominees, but last week it approved Mary Rowland, the first out LGBTQ judicial nominee Trump has appointed. Her nomination languished for a full year before she was confirmed.
Transgender woman pays for facial surgery
There are many different surgeries that transgender people might pursue as part of their treatment to resolve their gender dysphoria. For Christina Ketcham, a transgender woman living in Oregon, her doctors recommended facial feminization surgery, a combination of procedures that would make it less likely strangers would perceive her as a man.
But Ketcham’s employer, Clatsop County, and her insurance providers have refused to cover the surgeries, which her doctors have said are medically necessary. So she has filed a $375,000 lawsuit for discrimination.
Last year, I interviewed two trans women who successfully sued the state of Wisconsin over similar denials of coverage. Their victory was likely the first time that a court found that facial feminization surgery was medically necessary.
Hate groups gonna hate
The Catholic group know as the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM) has long been known as an anti-LGBTQ hate group. In a single email this week, they made clear why, detailing their opposition to any efforts to decriminalize homosexuality abroad.
Another gay Catholic teacher lawsuit in Indiana
Yet another queer teacher has filed a lawsuit against the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis for discrimination. Lynn Starkey lost her job at Roncalli High School this past May after more than 40 years as a guidance counselor because they learned she is married to another woman.
Earlier this summer, one Catholic school in Indiana decided to stand by a gay teacher while another fired a gay teacher. It turned out the two were partners, and the fired teacher is also suing.
Another drag queen story time in the crosshairs
“Activist Mommy” Elizabeth Johnston is once again calling on her followers to target a Florida venue with threatening phone calls over a drag queen story hour event — this time a community cafe in Tampa Bay. The last time her followers made such calls, a library had to cancel its event because the calls were so violent, it couldn’t guarantee participants’ safety.
The cafe is standing by its event, saying, “Kids seeing role models that are different than the norms is PIVOTAL to their emotional health growing up … Drag Queen Story Hour — and all forms of LGBTQ+ acceptance — literally SAVES LIVES.”
This tactic of threatening libraries goes hand-in-hand with the commentary above about how one kind of hate foments another.
Straight Pride family dissent
One of the organizers for the Straight Pride event in Modesto, California has a gay son who has some thoughts about the event his mother is putting together. He’s asking the City Council not to let his mom use the park for the rally because “Modesto is not a place for hate speech.”
Can an airline block a deportation?
A group of Australian activists hoping to protect LGBTQ refugees is calling on Qantas, Australia’s biggest airline, to refuse to cooperate with the government’s requests to transport and deport those seeking asylum.
British bi group bans military sponsors
As activists increasingly pressure Pride and other LGBTQ event organizers to be more thoughtful about what sponsorships they accept, the UK’s Bisexual Convention (BiCon) has taken the lead. This weekend, an 81% majority of the organization voted to ban any funding from arms trade or military recruitment stalls at the convention. “Militarism is rooted in violence, obedience, and conformity and can never produce queer liberation,” said Symon Hill, the policy’s author.
Coca-Cola’s inclusive ad triggers Hungary’s conservatives
This weekend, Coca-Cola released some LGBTQ-inclusive ads in Hungary, showing different-sex and same-sex couples sharing a coke along with the hashtag #LoveIsLove. This has prompted Fidesz MP István Boldog to call for a boycott of the soda until the posters are removed. Coca-Cola released a statement defending the ads.
Men think environmentalism makes them look gay
A new study from Penn State has found that gender roles impact people’s willingness to care for the environment. Specifically, men avoid using reusable shopping bags so they aren’t perceived as gay, and they perceive women who do “masculine” things like caulking windows as less attractive.
Wow masculinity is so fragile! Here’s a song by the great Tim Minchin to help inspire you to get over your weird gender issues.
The Prom ends with a same-sex… wedding!
Conservatives have been very upset by the fact that the Broadway show The Prom ends with a same-sex kiss — particularly given that kiss has been shown on national television on several occasions. Well this weekend, one of the show’s performances ended with a live same-sex wedding!
Armelle Kay Harper, a script coordinator for the show, married her partner Jody Kay Smith in a ceremony officiated by Bob Martin, one of the show’s writers.
See? You got to the bottom of this newsletter and still found that there’s some joy in the world. Hold onto that.
Until next time, stay platinum!