Not so pastoral pastors
Religion doesn't make you more moral.
August has arrived, which is traditionally the slowest month in political news. But it hasn’t slowed down yet!
California protects protection
Decriminalizing sex work is an LGBTQ issue, and California just took an important step forward in protecting some of the community’s most vulnerable members. Under a new law, it will be illegal in California to use the fact that a person was in possession of condoms as evidence that they are engaging in prostitution.
This will be helpful in many ways. First, it will make it easier for sex workers to report violent felonies because they themselves won’t be treated as potential criminals. It’ll also protect trans people in general, who are often profiled and then prosecuted as sex workers simply for carrying condoms.
A Washington milestone
Congrats to the new House Speaker in the Washington state legislature, who for the first time will be a woman and a member of the LGBTQ community. Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D) will join Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek (D) and California Senate president Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D), meaning the entire West Coast will have state legislative bodies run by LGBTQ lawmakers.
Gay promiscuity as a weapon
A former grad student at the University of Michigan brought a lawsuit saying he was sexually assaulted by one of his professors, opera singer David Daniels, on multiple occasions. The university appears to be challenging the validity of his accusations by asking probing questions about his sexuality, seemingly trying to play on gay stereotypes to suggest that if he were in fact gay, the encounters may have been consensual.
Believe victims. Look around, it’s only increasingly apparent how common such abuse is.
Elizabeth Warren on trans criminal justice
When Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) launched her presidential campaign, I noted the one blemish on her LGBTQ record, which was her past opposition to providing transgender prisoners with proper medical treatment. Her campaign confirmed at the time that she has changed her opinion, and this week she seemed to have proved it.
My colleague Casey Quinlan reports how Warren spoke out about Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, a transgender woman who died while she was in solitary confinement at Rikers because her medical needs were not met. Check out more of the background Casey provides about the experiences of trans prisoners, both at Rikers and writ large.
Pastor stole massive sums from HIV charities
A Bronx pastor embezzled upwards of $631,000 from a pair of charities he ran that support HIV-positive drug addicts. He paid off his bills, had a nice Caribbean vacation, and lavished himself with gifts. Rev. Reginald Williams leads the Charity Baptist Church of Christ and is reportedly known for his “spirit of generosity.”
Just a tip: Don’t act like this pastor
A pastor in Florida refused to tip his waiter at a restaurant, instead writing in the tip blank, “If he wasn’t gay.” When the waiter’s manager confronted him, Frederic Sterry Smith reportedly ripped up the bill and shoved it down her shirt, touching her breast. He has since been arrested.
Smith reportedly runs Servant’s Heart Disaster Relief, a nonprofit “evangelical hands-on ministry devoted to helping hurricane victims in North America and the Caribbean.”
Hate site doesn’t understand Apple’s claim it’s “intolerant”
LifeSiteNews is a very conservative Christian news site that focuses on anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ content. Last week, it boasted that it had been incorporated into Apple News, but then quickly complained that Apple News had banned it for “intolerance.” David Cary Hart highlights a few of the headlines that might have given Apple that (accurate) impression.
Anti-trans(actional) bank
A trans woman in the UK was cut off from her HSBC bank account because they didn’t believe that she transitioned and because she “sounds like a man” on the phone. She has filed a complaint, and HSBC has apologized and said it’s investigating.
Bishop under fire
Remember the bishop in Cyprus who claimed homosexuality is caused by mothers enjoying anal sex? Well the police are now investigating him for hate speech.
“Religious freedom” in rugby?
A former Rugby Australia player, Israel Folau, is suing the league for terminating him for making homophobic remarks. He claims he was punished for his Christian beliefs and deserves $6.8 million (U.S. dollars). Folau had posted a meme telling homosexuals they’re going to Hell.
LGBTQ mentions at the Democratic Debate
Night 2 of the July Democratic debates had marginally more references to LGBTQ people — no thanks to CNN, which didn’t see fit to ask a single question about them. I still can’t say I’m overly impressed with how the candidates compensated, given they didn’t actually address any current issues.
In her opening statement, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) mentioned the lessons she learned from her grandmother’s advocacy, including her support for gay rights. Then as she did in the first debate, she mentioned her own efforts to help repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I have the same complaint I did then: Why is she talking about a law that hasn’t been on the books for a decade? It’s totally irrelevant in the current political moment, when she could be discussing her efforts to overturn Trump’s trans military ban.
At another point, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee attempted some humility as he recognized that as a straight, white guy, he doesn’t know a lot about the kinds of intolerance other people have experienced. But when he tried to spit out the letters “LGBTQ,” it sure didn’t sound like a community he’s used to talking about:
The only other mention of LGBTQ people was again from Gillibrand, this time in her closing statement — meaning there was nothing else in the two and a half hours in between. She still didn’t actually take up any specific issue, but dropped the ol’ chestnut, “no matter who you love.” As the brilliant Katelyn Burns pointed out, it’s not even really a reference to trans people at all, unless you give her credit for “no matter who you are,” but that’s quite the stretch.
Hopefully September’s debate will be better, given only seven candidates have qualified for it and they’ll each have more time to speak. Given how Trump has completely undermined trans rights, it’d be great if they could receive a special focus.
Until next time, stay platinum!
(Kirsten Gillibrand photo credit: CNN/screenshot.)