TWATs25 For Week Ending 6/12/22

 

So I received this comment::

It’s hard to tell, but it sure does sound like you may be making excuses for the mentally-deranged’s active debasement and predation on kids in our Schools. If so, you are despicable. ....and FYI the actual words *”...separation of Church and State” -DO NOT EVEN EXIST IN THE CONSTITUTION, and —we ARE a CHRISTIAN NATION. Maybe there is a Country for you somewhere that worships Lucifer.

For those that think I am “ making excuses for the mentally-deranged’s active debasement and predation on kids in our Schools.” [sic] Congratulations, you have successfully weaponized the word “grooming” to create a new boogeyman to demonize and stigmatize queer and trans identity.

Being LGBTQ+ IS NOT a mental illness; there is no link between sexual predation and LGBTQ+ people.

The comment is correct “separation of Church and State” does not appear in the Constitution. But,,, the idea has a long history beginning in 1635 with Roger Williams. In 1802 it continued with Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association. And finalized (so to speak) in the 1947 case Everson v. Board of Education, the Court cited a direct link between Jefferson’s “wall of separation” concept and the First Amendment’s establishment clause.

Bear in mind, the only reference to religion in the Constitution is in Article VI: “No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” IOWs, political power in the United States may never be limited to people of one faith – a necessary condition for a “Christian nation” – but must be open to people of all faiths or none.

While this is a Reader Digest version, I strong suggest you study American history related to said topic(s) BEFORE you accuse me of being despicable.

First an update concerning Texas. https://www.yahoo.com/news/court-rules-against-texas-gov-200101887.html

A court in Texas granted a temporary restraining order Friday, which blocks the state’s child protective services from investigating PFLAG families that allow their trans children to receive gender-affirming health care.

,,,

The Travis County District Court’s ruling will stop the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from investigating the parents involved in the suit, according to a news release from the organizations. For those families, if they are contacted by the agency, they will only need to provide information on their PFLAG membership.

,,,

“That families will be protected from invasive, unnecessary, and unnerving investigations by DFPS simply for helping their transgender children thrive and be themselves is a very good thing,” Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG National, said in the release. “However, let’s be clear: These investigations into loving and affirming families shouldn’t be happening in the first place. PFLAG National and our chapters throughout Texas remain committed to ensuring every transgender Texan is safe, empowered, and can thrive.”

As noted, “weaponizing the child-welfare system against loving families causes irreparable harm.”

What I find fascinating with assholes such as Awes, the need for the most graphic of executions. “They should be lined up against the wall and shot in the back of the head! That’s what God teaches. That’s what the Bible says.”

Uhm,,, Where exactly does the Bible state such? It sure ain't Romans 1:23-28.

As Hemant notes, https://onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/christian-hate-preacher-calls-for-the-execution-of-every-single-homosexual/

Needless to say, there’s literally no evidence for any of the claims he’s making about gay people. He doesn’t provide them because they don’t exist. And even though none exist, it doesn’t matter, because he’s not interested in facts. Awes just wants to rile up his congregation with unfiltered hate speech because what are his other options? Preaching about the love of Christ? No thank you.

New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist preachers like these always insist they’re not encouraging vigilantism. They insist they’re not asking anyone to pull a trigger themselves. They get mad when people say they’re calling for the murder of gay people. That’s not true, they claim. They’re just saying that, in a righteous world, the government would do their faith-based dirty work for them.

And as a reminder, this is the same church of Jonathan Shelley who appeared at an Arlington City Council meeting to push back at recognizing Pride Month; now 3 weeks ago https://interestinghmm.blogspot.com/2022/06/last-few-stories-for-week-ending-52922.html

 

It started with Paul Gosar and then traversed the depths of the GQP reaching the lips of Michele Fiore. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/06/gop-politician-says-uvalde-shooter-transgendering-theres-no-reason-ban-ar-15s/ As Alex Bollinger states, “A Republican elected official in Nevada is joining the chorus of GOP politicians who are trying to deflect blame for mass shootings from guns to transgender people.”

 

A bit of comic relief but,,, this is why FOXNews can not be taken seriously. https://www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth-speaks-american/

If you remember, Rachel Hamm is the woman that claimed that Jesus appeared in her closet and told her to run for secretary of state in California as a Republican. Thankfully she lost, badly. (As of Thursday, she has 389,583 votes, trailing both fellow Republican Rob Bernosky (660,229) and Democratic incumbent Shirley N. Weber (1.98 million votes).)

But in true GQP fashion, a la Kandiss Taylor, https://twitter.com/RachelHammSOS/status/1535049441752715264

The blatant hypocrisy is mind-blowing although I should not be surprised. Greene's decision to employ Yiannopoulos is a stunt that fits her strategy to attract media attention and troll her colleagues. She is all about headlines, fuck everything else. Milo best be careful he doesnt outshine his boss or he will find himself unemployed again. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/06/marjorie-taylor-greene-just-hired-ex-gay-rightwing-troll-milo-yiannopoulos/

And finally,,,

There is hitting the bottom of the barrel, when Gaetz said that he would rather give Nancy Pelosi a sponge bath than eat dinner with Adam Schiff.

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1534346935913652224

And then there is becoming the scum dredged out of the septic system. Implying some personal psychological imbalance due to the suicide of Jaime Raskin’s son.

https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1534660228775661569

In the end, AOC sums it up well.

https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1534999896033529856

For Week Ending 5/22/22

 

The first story is actually from last week. Somehow I missed it.

 

An update concerning Greg Abbott's BS in regards to transgender kids. https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2022/05/tx-supreme-court-rules-abbotts-investigations-of-parents-with-trans-children-can-resume-despite-irreparable-harm/

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower state court’s ruling, declaring Governor Greg Abbott’s order to investigate parents of transgender children for possible child abuse can go back into effect. A lower court ruled the investigations had to cease temporarily. Abbott had filed an emergency appeal.

But, the court also ruled that state officials could not continue investigating the family whose lawsuit prompted the initial injunction.

According to BuzzFeed, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/texas-supreme-court-ruling-child-abuse-trans-youth

Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Texas, which are representing Jane Doe, said that while the order only partially upheld the injunction, the court's decision was "a win" for their clients and for "the rule of law."

“The Texas Supreme Court made clear that the attorney general and governor do not have the authority to order DFPS to take any action against families that support their children by providing them with the highest standards of medical care," the organizations said.

The statement added that given the court's order it "would be unconscionable" for the agency to resume pursuing investigations into parents of children receiving gender-affirming care while their lawsuit is still pending.

Keep in mind that the woman who tweeted this,

https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1526333841899769857

is also the moron that stated this 8 months ago.

 

 https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1455295911140155400

Taken together, all Boebert managed to do with her bloviating is demonstrate she really does not give a shit about the welfare of babies once they’re real sentient beings. Her positions expressed are opposed to each other.

If Boebert actually cared about parental leave she’d, vote for more federal money for parental leave. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5376 And I call it parental leave for a reason, fathers should also receive time from work regardless of family dynamics.

But she hasn’t done that. https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021385

In fact, Boebert, along with fellow GQP, has voted against a bill that would send $28 million to the FDA to increase the supply of baby formula. Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act would fund additional FDA still passed by a 231-192 margin almost entirely along party lines.

 https://twitter.com/ericswalwell/status/1527119325982752769

So do not tell me how you hatched a gremlin in your truck in order to save the world. Don't tell me how pro-life you are when are willing to vote against baby formula.

See also:: What’s Behind America’s Shocking Baby-Formula Shortage? https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-shortage-abbott-recall/629828/

In an interview with Church Militant, Jacky Eubanks, a Trump-endorsed candidate vying for a Michigan State Senate seat, said that she is coming for birth control and same sex marriage. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/trump-endorsed-her-now-she-195809007.html

I do not know if Eubanks believes her bullshit. Or if she spouts it to get heard among the insanity that is the GQP. The loonies on the right have a passion for inserting themselves into other people's bedrooms and uterus's. They use Christianity as a club all the while picking their pockets of their loyal sycophants.

 

As much as I don't want to say this, mom sounds like a karen. Doesn't help she has FOX news egging her on with ADF providing immoral support. Simply, Riley insisted her son was a nice young man before being exposed to “critical race theory,” and now he’s sullen and difficult. Perhaps she’s never met a teenager before, but it’s possible that puberty is the true culprit here. https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/white-mom-sues-school-her-teen-wont-listen

 

Without knowing the full story, besides what is presented, I am hazarding a guess that Riley et al have no clue what CRT is. I can tell you, a anti-racism policy is not CRT. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05

Critics charge that the theory leads to negative dynamics, such as a focus on group identity over universal, shared traits; divides people into “oppressed” and “oppressor” groups; and urges intolerance.

Thus, there is a good deal of confusion over what CRT means, as well as its relationship to other terms, like “anti-racism” and “social justice,” with which it is often conflated.

To an extent, the term “critical race theory” is now cited as the basis of all diversity and inclusion efforts regardless of how much it’s actually informed those programs. 

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1528443821293461505

As I have mentioned before, the charge of treason is very specific; It is the only crime defined in the U.S. Constitution. (Article III, Section 3)

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Simply, treason is defined as intentionally betraying one's allegiance by levying war against the government or giving aid or comfort to its enemies. And yes, it is punishable BUT death by firing squad is not stipulated in the Constitution. However, the Crimes Act, passed by Congress in 1790, said treason is punishable by death. Treason prosecutions are rare in U.S. history.

So even if this yahoo were elected Governor, she would not be able to levy the charge of treason against a sheriff. We are not at war. What is more amazing is Taylor is seriously out stumping on executing sheriffs and saying out loud that if she wins, her governorship will be an outright theocracy.

This dude has some fucked-up thinking. I mean seriously, does he listen to the shit he spouts. He employs some incredible mental gymnastics to defend his incel identity. https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2022/05/having-sex-with-women-is-gay-white-nationalist-praises-involuntary-celibacy/

What I would like to know, if MTG had the wealth of Bill Gates what would she do with it? https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/majorie-taylor-greene-bill-gates/ Would she help people in the manner Gates has over the years? Or, would she sit back and caress her gold doing nothing but bitch? 

Without Greene and the conspiracies she peddles, she would have nothing to say.

And last but not least, 100% what Swalwell says!! https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1526405991302156289  If you remember, 3 yrs ago Carlson was one of the first to lambaste SNLs Pete Davidson for his ridicule of Crenshaw's eye patch. Hypocrisy is an understatement.

With that I bring the episode to a close with Nick Barksdale's YT offering of the, Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheStudyofAntiquityandtheMiddleAges/featured “The focus of this channel is history plain and simple and all of the facts and theories that come with it. From documentaries, academic lectures and video commentaries.” ,,, highly recommend. SAMA is one of my late night listens when I am having trouble sleeping.

Transcript - TWATs for Week Ending 3/13/22

 

Hi and welcome to TWATs episode 5.  This week is pretty busy so we are going to jump right in. But before we go that route, quick answer to a question I received. No, I have no plans for live content ATM. Regretfully my speech is not so great (IMO). Pre-recording allows me to edit my sound to where I think it is tolerable. Maybe with time that will change.

 

So to begin this week, I thought it would be good to get your blood roiling right from the start. Patrick Howley, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsKlSewXoOg to borrow from Zachary Petrizzo at the Daily Dot, https://www.dailydot.com/debug/patrick-howley-joe-biden-far-right/

“Patrick Howley seems to be a mouthpiece for every false smear the right wants to float into the online ether.”

From what I can gather and Petrizzo (and others) confirm

“Howley has a history of blogging for right-wing outlets and a history of leaving those outlets on bad terms, even once going as far at Breitbart to express “skepticism” following a colleague’s assault. He also had to leave a role at the Daily Caller over racist, sexist tweets.”

From what I gather, this dude is a piece of work.

 

For years I got asked why I harped on about David Barton and his pseudo-history. When you teach people the garbage he spews, this is what we end up with. Two examples!!

 

 Apparently he's never heard of amendments,,, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1898373093684260

 

Speaking at a campaign rally for Oklahoma MAGA pastor and Republican Senate candidate Jackson Lahmeyer https://www.alternet.org/2022/03/michael-flynn-us-constitution-creator/ Flynn incorrectly claimed that “the word ‘Creator’ is in the Constitution four times.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0MXbnAv5gs

Whether Flynn meant to say the DOI or Constitution is of no matter as the DOI only mentions “the Creator” once. Also, the DOI is NOT a legal document.

While Barton's influence https://www.npr.org/2012/08/08/157754542/the-most-influential-evangelist-youve-never-heard-of has waned since his 2012 book debacle concerning The Jefferson Lies. It seems his false teachings are still prevalent.

“,,,[I]t drives the secularists nuts because the Bible's all over it! Now we as Christians don't tend to recognize that. We think it's a secular document; we've bought into their lies. It's not."

(Keep in mind that quote is from 2012, although I highly doubt Barton's views have changed much and he is passing the torch to his son Tim.)

I have always believed that public health policy should be devoid of politics. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-03-08/florida-to-recommend-against-covid-vaccines-for-healthy-kids Obviously Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo doesnt agree

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said Monday that the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children.

,,,

The new guidance would run counter to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all children ages 5 to 7 should be vaccinated. Although children are generally less likely than adults to become severely ill with COVID-19, public health experts have underlined that vaccinations further reduce their risk and help prevent them from infecting others.

I have no nice way of stating it, but this is fucking stupid. This isn’t a position rooted in opposition to “government mandates”; it’s simply an anti-vaccination position, espoused by a state surgeon general, during a pandemic.

With that being said I bring this episode to a close with YTer Sir Sic. UK based social commentary with a satirical bent.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SirSicTheSocialInequalityCrusader

It's me again,,,

 

As I was writing up the script, this bit of news floated by. https://www.advocate.com/law/2022/3/11/texas-judge-blocks-probes-trans-kids-supportive-parents-statewide

A Texas judge Friday ordered a statewide halt to investigations of parents of transgender children under Gov. Greg Abbott's directive that claimed letting kids access gender-affirming care is child abuse.

,,,

She ruled (judge Amy Clark Meacham) that Abbott's order was not adopted properly and violated the Texas constitution, and that is could not be enforced while the lawsuit makes its way through the courts.

Very welcomed news but the fight is not over as a number of “Don't Say Gay” bills are being touted by the Reich. Florida the most prevalent and the closest to becoming law. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/dont-say-gay-bill-florida-senate-passes-controversial-lgbtq-school-mea-rcna19133

The Florida Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would prohibit “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s primary schools. The measure, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its opponents, was passed by the state House last month and now heads to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has previously expressed support for it. 

Transcript for Week Ending 3/6/22

 

Welcome back to TWATs!!

Generally I do not update stories I cover on TWATs, but I am taking a wee bit of a different tack this time around. TBH I am hoping it kick-starts my ass into being more active with my blog – but we shall see.

 

If y'all remember one story mentioned last week was the Greg Abbott/Ken Paxton affair in Texas. Ordering the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate for “child abuse” https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-dfps-to-investigate-gender-transitioning-procedures-as-child-abuse anyone aware of certain medical treatments for transgender youth.

Immediately following Abbott's announcement the ACLU of Texas and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit seeking to block a statewide directive described as an attempt to persecute trans children and their families.

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/01/1083822027/aclu-lawsuit-texas-parents-trans-transgender-minor-abbott According to NPR and BuzzFeed, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paigeskinner/parents-trans-kids-texas-abuse-investigation DFPS is actively involved in at least two cases that fall under the purview of the new directive put forth by Paxton/Abbott.

Within 24 hours, “A Texas judge on Wednesday blocked the state from investigating the parents of a transgender teenager over gender-confirmation treatments, but stopped short of preventing the state from looking into other reports about children receiving similar care.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/judge-temporarily-blocks-texas-investigation-of-trangender-teens-parents

What's important to note, “Clark set a March 11 hearing on whether to issue a broader temporary order blocking enforcement of Abbott’s directive.” So we sit and wait!!

See also:: Paxton legal opinion on transgender youth uses misleading citations, 'shocking' parallels https://nordot.app/871736749497253888?c=644607769890374753

“The Texas attorney general's recent legal opinion that called transgender health care for minors "child abuse" cited sources in a misleading way and drew parallels that researchers say simply do not exist, according to an analysis by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.”

Highly recommended read.

 

So other than my circle of friends, I havent spoken much about Dominionist Theology in a long while. But with Palin and Bachman both becoming more vocal of late, I find myself being drawn back into the foray.

Dont take me wrong, the “new” batch of crazies (eg Kat Kerr) is just as wild as the old but TBH they are not as smart. IOWs the mixing of Q bullshit with the nutfuckery of religion – it just doesnt compute. A good example of the old school crazy is Lance Wallnau https://lancewallnau.com/ who spoke on Flashpoint concerning Dominionist Theology. https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/we-want-nations-lance-wallnau-preaches-seven-mountains-dominionism/ Although I do not know his stance on Q, I believe he considers those involved as false prophets.

The key point in Mantyla's piece, “The only way to save the nation, Wallnau declared, is for those mountains to be seized by Christians—or, more specifically, Wallnau’s kind of Christians.” That is a point I have made numerous times in the past, are you the “right kind” of Christian? In Wallnau's case, a Christian Nationalist?

Speaking of crazy futnuckers, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=684605182573421 "If Pelosi and all these people are for Ukraine, duh, you go opposite. That's just common sense."

Enough said!!

And here's a recent all-star https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2022/02/watch-marjorie-taylor-greene-scramble-to-explain-why-she-spoke-at-a-white-nationalist-conference/ and this clip just blows my mind. Politics aside for the moment, this woman is not very smart. “I don’t know Nick Fuentes. I’ve never heard him speak. I’ve never seen a video. I don’t know what his views are, so I’m not aligned with anything that may be controversial.”

Something I learned very early on as a blogger and content creator of 6 years, vet your information. IOWs I know my interview and their platform. Regretfully something I learned the hard way; thankfully with no negative consequences.

What I find odd is this statement, “Excuse me, a minute. I’ll tell you exactly why I went. I went to talk to them about America First Policies and I talked to them about what’s important for our country going forward.”

What MTG seems to forget is the history of such a stance. "America First" was a phrase used by the Ku Klux Klan at its peak. Later in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the term became associated with fascism and bigotry against Jews. Fuentes is a known white supremacist.

 

So in closing I present Kipp Davis. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBTO34CZcIYGK6Qm2vQ-SMA/featured Now I have been familiar with Kipp's academic type work via the DSS. I was unaware he had a YT channel – enjoy!!

Transcript - TWATs 2/27/22

 

Greetings and welcome back to TWATs. What a wild week for news both here and abroad. While I have no plans to be adding to the dialogue concerning Ukraine, I will say this – Trump and his cronies within the GOP have shown their true colors.

With that said,,,

Somebody please explain why Bill Donohue makes $1m per year? https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/catholic-league-chief-says-retiring-years-receiving-massive-raise-rcna15662 Doing what? And, for those unaware, Donohue is the president of The Catholic League. The self-proclaimed “largest Catholic civil rights organization.” https://www.catholicleague.org/about-us/ They have no formal affiliation with the Catholic Church.

From Sarah Webber, a professor of accounting at the University of Dayton,

But experts were skeptical that a board would pay out a retirement package,,, “'I will be retiring probably' certainly would not be enough for me to vote as a board member to pay out exit compensation — this sounds like it is more of a possibility than a certainty. Why would the board agree to exit compensation before the exit is planned?" said Webber,,, While the heads of big nonprofits that employ thousands of people make million-plus salaries, Donohue runs an operation that has 12 employees, according to the 990 from 2019. 

As the article also notes,

Boston (Rob Boston, senior adviser to Americans United for Separation of Church and State) said the Catholic League “has no discernable[sic] presence on Capitol Hill” and does not appear to be involved in any grassroots activity besides fundraising.

In fact, the 990 reports from 2017 and 2019 submitted by the Catholic League to the IRS list zero expenditures for lobbying or grassroots activity.

So I ask again, what does this man do for a million bucks a year?

A legal strategy promoted by QAnon https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5qddx/qanon-attack-school-boards-ron-watkins is being used by some parents across the United States to try to force school districts to end face mask mandates and to remove books the parents say are obscene. https://www.yahoo.com/news/paper-terrorism-parents-against-mask-122100781.html

Bonds for the Win’s claims are not legitimate, according to education officials, insurance companies and the FBI. But even though the group has won no legal battles, it has already celebrated some successes in overwhelming districts with paperwork, intimidating local officials and disrupting school board meetings.

As the article notes,

But the scare tactic has become a familiar one. A growing number of school districts across the country are facing similar challenges from parent activists who have adopted strategies and language that are well known to law enforcement and extremism experts who deal with far-right “sovereign citizen” groups in the U.S. The Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League call it “paper terrorism.”

The parents’ strategy is simple: Try to use obscure and often inapplicable legal claims to force a school district to make a policy change. And while the claims have no legal standing, they have been effective at spreading confusion and wasting school districts’ resources, even though the paperwork doesn’t require a formal legal response.

From the FFRF, https://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/40508-breaking-ffrf-with-students-parents-sues-huntington-w-va-schools-over-christian-revival

Nearly a dozen parents and students, with help from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, filed a high-profile federal lawsuit today over a Christian revival in a West Virginia school that prompted a recent student walkout.

More than 100 students, led by Huntington High School senior Max Nibert, staged a dramatic walkout on Feb. 9 to protest some students being forced to attend an evangelical Christian revival at the school on Feb. 2. The walkout, with students chanting “Separate the church and state” and “My faith, my choice,” was covered not only nationally by the Washington Post, NPR and CNN but also internationally.

The legal complaint in the case, Mays v. Cabell County Board of Education, notes, “For years, school system employees have violated the constitutional rights of students by promoting and advancing the Christian religion, as well as by coercing students into participating in Christian religious activity.” The lawsuit charges that two Huntington High School teachers during homeroom on Feb. 2 escorted their entire classes to the revival. Students, including a Jewish student who asked to leave but was not permitted to do so, were instructed to bow their heads in prayer and raise up their hands and were warned they needed to make a decision to follow Jesus or face eternal torment. Adult volunteers from a local church went into the crowd to pray with students. Plaintiff students observed teachers and administrators praying with church volunteers. Huntington High Principal Daniel Gleason was present at the assembly along with assistant principals

 

These last two stories are disgusting at best.

A point to keep in mind concerning the debacle in Texas, from the ACLU. https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2022/02/texas-gov-abbott-faces-nationwide-condemnation-over-new-policy-ordering-transgender-care-to-be-investigated-as-child-abuse

“Attorney general Paxton’s opinion and Governor Abbott’s letter have no legal effect, can’t change Texas law, and can’t override the constitutional rights of Texas families,” the ACLU said. “No court anywhere in the country has ever found that gender-affirming care can be considered child abuse

According to NCRM,

Republican Governor Greg Abbott, just one week before the gubernatorial primary, is facing massive nationwide outrage and condemnation after ordering this week the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate for “child abuse” anyone aware of certain medical treatments for transgender youth, in yet another example of Lone Star State vigilantism.

Parents, medical professionals, teachers, even neighbors could all face “criminal penalties” – not just for allowing or participating in medical care for trans youth, but for not reporting to state authorities any knowledge of medical care, Abbott warned, as NBC News reports.

As numerous reports state, this attack on LGBTQ+ kids is solely as a means to garner points as both are up for re-election. Neither has the credentials to making such statements. Every major U.S. medical association supports affirming healthcare for transgender youth.

See also:: Association of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy With Depression, Thoughts of Suicide, and Attempted Suicide Among Transgender and Nonbinary Youth

https://www.ja5honline.org/article/S1054-139X(21)00568-1/fulltext

Finally from Florida, https://www.npr.org/2022/02/24/1082969036/florida-house-passes-controversial-measure-dubbed-the-dont-say-gay-bill-by-criti

Florida's House of Representatives passed a controversial bill on Thursday limiting when and how teachers and school staff can discuss gender and sexual orientation in the classroom.

Opponents — many of whom have taken to calling the measure the "Don't Say Gay" bill — say it will make life harder for LGBTQ youth, who already face a higher rate of bullying and a higher risk of suicide than their straight, cisgender peers.

But the Republican sponsor behind HB 1557 says it aims to have schools teach gender and sexuality at an appropriate age and to keep parents informed about what's happening in the classroom.

The legislation prohibits any instruction about sexuality or gender between kindergarten and third grade "or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

As Democratic Rep. Mike Grieco states,

This bill in its language empowers school districts throughout this state to eliminate any discussion or recognition of the LGBTQ community until high school graduation. This is not about kindergarten through third,”

 

 

So yet again, or should I say still, we need to fight for our inclusion into humanity.

With that I leave you with this weeks “new to me” YTer – Gutsick Gibbon (aka Erika). https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNcAH2yzV3VAMYIGxCZ8_w Erika is a Masters of Research student in Primate Biology, Behavior and Conservation with a BSA in Pre-Professional Animal Science and minors in Anthropology and in Biology. You can find videos concerning primates, general zoology, paleontology, anthropology, and evolutionary biology. She also spend a hefty amount of time debunking Young Earth Creationism.