Let's Do It Together

 

Targeted in 2023

Image by Prawny from Pixabay

NBC News reports that 75 anti-LGBTQ bills across 23 states became law in 2023.

Republican state lawmakers tripped over themselves to restrict queer rights, introducing over 500 bills. That made 2023 a record-setting year for legislation targeting the LGBTQ community, and I trust the Guinness Book folks have been alerted.

Since only about 15% of these bills became law, some argue we're coming out ahead. I get that, but the preponderance of bills feels like a tsunami of malevolence. A hate spate.

Most of the new laws restrict gender-affirming care for youth. The next most popular bar transgender students from playing on the correct sports teams, followed by limits on classroom instruction on LGBTQ issues. The rest of the laws restrict trans bathroom use in schools and drag performances in front of minors, and generally carry on as though Chicken Little took over the PTA.

The bottom line is most of these efforts are aimed at the most vulnerable in our community:  transgender kids. This allows conservatives to claim they're all about protecting children, when they're doing the opposite. They dismiss the known realities of gender, and penalize the parents who want their kids to live.

This week Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, an actual Republican, vetoed a bill that would've restricted gender-affirming care for minors. As a result, DeWine is now being called a "child mutilator."

I suspect Chicken Little handed out some speed-laced cupcakes.

Last One of the Season

 

This Week's Quote

Image by Myriam - No AI pictures in my gallery. from Pixabay

Gay icons usually have some tragedy in their lives, but I've only had tragic haircuts and outfits.

Kylie Minogue

Source:  Brainy Quote

Holy Family

Image by Sr. M. Jutta from Pixabay

You've probably seen this line on a button or a t-shirt or even a church sign:  "Jesus had two dads and he turned out fine."

This Christmas, at a Catholic church about an hour from Naples, Father Vitaliano Della Sala expressed a similar sentiment with a same-sex nativity scene that's setting Italian hair on fire. In the priest's tableau, Jesus has two moms.

No word on whether they're both virgins.

The Tree Didn't Give It Away?

 

For Goodness' Sake

 

It's Not Christmas Without the 12 Gays

 

This Week's Quote

Image by M. from Pixabay

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas. But if the white runs out, I’ll drink the red.

Unknown

Source:  Parade

Papal Progress

Image:  Facebook

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has hinted, hedged and hiccuped that he favors a kinder approach to queer people. Yesterday he came through, as the Vatican announced that priests can bless same-sex couples.

It's still far from same-sex marriage, and there are caveats, but to a lot of LGBT Catholics, this is a big holy deal.

"To have this huge turnaround was very surprising," Aaron Bianco, a gay Catholic leader, told Gay City News. "I’m very happy. I think for non-Catholics, they probably don’t understand how huge this is. We’ve gone from 'this will never be a conversation' to 'OK priests, you have the ability now to go out and bless same-sex couples if they ask you for it.'"

I'm glad for the many queer Catholics in the world. This change might not be a miracle on a level with the loaves and fishes, but Pope Francis is damn sure feeding a multitude.

A Change at the North Pole

 

Hallmark Holiday

Image:  Facebook

I'm not one for Hallmark Christmas movies, but this evening I stumbled on the last 40 minutes of a lesbian offering, so I felt obliged to watch.

The first thing I realized was there were more ads than movie.

The second thing I realized was how wildly unbelievable the characters and locations were.

The third thing I realized was, presented with women falling in love, I suddenly didn't give a hoot about realizations one and two.

Camp

 

This Week's Quote

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

For a Jewish guy, I've recorded a lot of Christmas albums.

Barry Manilow

Source:  AZ Quotes

Rankin/Bass Updated

 

Supreme Decision

Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

Today the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a Washington state ban on conversion therapy.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh said they would've taken the case.

Whereupon Justice Elena Kagan murmured, "Those three are the best argument against heterosexuality I can think of."

Musing

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

I spent a few moments today wondering what George Santos will do now that Congress has expelled him.

But really, what's left to do if you've already walked on the moon, invented pop art and won the Olympic pole vault?

Hanukkah Tradition

I'm aware that events in the Middle East might make this video seem dated, or even inappropriate. But it's still the best way I know for General Gayety to recognize the start of Hanukkah.

This Week's Quote

Image by jotoya from Pixabay

 I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

• Noel Coward
• Source:  Today
  

Catty Christmas

 

Next-Level Hypocrisy

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

I swear that everything you're about to read came from The Washington Post. I made up none of it. And if I had, you wouldn't have believed me.

The story takes place in—oh God—Florida.

Christian Ziegler, chairman of the state's Republican Party, is under investigation by the Sarasota police for rape. His accuser had agreed to have a threesome with Ziegler and his wife, Bridget. When Bridget couldn't make it, the woman canceled, texting Ziegler, "Sorry I was mostly in for her."

Not a few lesbians can relate. But I digress.

According to the woman, Ziegler showed up at her apartment and raped her. Ziegler claimed they had consensual sex. And that he video-recorded it.

The search warrant affidavit includes this gem:  Bridget Ziegler "confirmed having a sexual encounter with the victim and Christian over a year ago and that it only happened one time." So this was to be round two of a ménage à trois.

The folks getting frisky in Florida, the Zieglers, have three little kids. More to the point, Christian Ziegler leads the party that has recently forced Florida down the conservative Christian purity path.

And Bridget? Fasten your seatbelts.

Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty. Bridget Ziegler advised the legislators who gave Florida the Don't Say Gay Law. Bridget Ziegler has fought to rid schools around the nation of LGBTQ books and books that speak of racial discrimination.

Bridget Ziegler makes Anita Bryant look like Janis Joplin.

The Post notes,"The Zieglers were seen as a rising power couple in the state, second only to Ron and Casey DeSantis in their visibility and influence in state politics."

Now they're seen as cats on a hot tin roof.

Christian Ziegler has told party members that he isn't resigning. He claimed he and Bridget are being "targeted," which is "most likely due to my wife and I being such loud political voices."

Not to mention complete assholes.

University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett commented that the "stunning level of hypocrisy" has generated huge interest and criticism.

"Even if the rape sexual assault charge ends up either not true or unable to be proven, I think for a lot of Republicans, they would just be uncomfortable with the fact that you have people who are pushing a social conservative agenda saying there’s too much sex in society, particularly LGBTQ sex, but yet have engaged in, well, a threesome."

Well. Yes. That.

Swan Song

 

Kristopher Kringle

 

He's Gone

Image:  Facebook

The House of Representatives voted to expel George Santos today. Sadly, the queer community can't do the same.