If abortion is outlawed, LGBTQ rights are the next to go

How much credence should be given to Trump’s well-documented, unambiguous promise to overturn Roe v. Wade?

A Washington Post op-ed published on Wednesday serves up troubling food for thought on the issue.

The piece is penned by Nancy Northup and Rachel B. Tiven, the president and chief executive of the Center for Reproductive Rights and the chief executive of Lambda Legal, respectively.

Related: Another candid video of Donald Trump treating Melania like crap

In their own words, they represent…

…the organizations that won leading Supreme Court cases in recent years on sexual and reproductive rights: Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, which secured legal protections for the marriage of same-sex couples, and Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt in 2016, which struck down Texas’s attempt to use sham health regulations to shut down 75 percent of the state’s abortion clinics.

The piece focuses on Trump’s assertion that Roe v. Wade “would be reversed” and his offhand remark that marriage equality is “law” that was “settled in the Supreme Court — it’s done”:

Was this a tactic to divide and conquer? To throw under the bus the tens of millions of American women who have had an abortion and hope marriage equality supporters would stand by in silence?

Emphasizing that a court couldn’t possibly reverse the decision to make legal abortion available or effectively halt marriage equality, Northup and Tiven reaffirm that these rights are “firmly rooted in the 14th Amendment’s promise that there is ‘a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter.’”

So whether or not Trump fully understands the foundation of these decisions under the Constitution, his assertions threaten to undermine “our right under the Constitution to decide who we are and to make the most intimate and personal decisions in our life without government interference.”

Related: Time’s new cover is going to royally piss off Donald Trump

As far as Trump’s Supreme Court nominee is concerned, Northup and Tiven emphasize that it’s essential the Senate Judiciary Committee knows whether Judge Neil Gorsuch “stands with precedent and with each of us.”

Given the president’s promise to take our rights away, we must ensure that full, detailed questions are asked of this nominee and that we get the answers we deserve. We will not allow ourselves to be divided. The rights of all here in this nation — not just women, not just same-sex couples — depend on our vigilance.

The very reasonable fear here is that if Trump is successful in undermining Constitutionally-backed reproductive rights, an unprecedented Pandora’s box of government interference opens that threatens the private lives of citizens, and in particular LGBTQ people, who remain a highly vulnerable community.

The excellent piece, which we recommend reading in full, can be found here.

www.queerty.com/abortion-outlawed-lgbtq-rights-next-go-20170223?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Sinead O’Connor, Matt Bomer, Pee with LGBT, Zedd, Candice Wiggins, Pete Buttigieg: HOT LINKS

I PEE WITH LGBT. Richard Linklater directed this PSA against the Texas anti-trans bathroom bill.

SORRY. Sinead O’Connor apologizes for accusing Arsenio Hall of supplying Prince with drugs.

300 LETTERS. Love correspondence between World War II soldier and his boyfriend surfaces. “The secret romance between a World War II soldier and his male sweetheart emerged more than 70 years later after Mark Hignett, from Oswestry, Shropshire, began purchasing the letters from eBay. Hignett owns a small wartime museum and collects war memorabilia to place on display. He says that he discovered the romance once he started transcribing the letters.”

WHITE TUX. Matt Bomer looking extra dapper.

CANDICE WIGGINS. 98 percent of the WNBA is gay. “Me being heterosexual and straight, and being vocal in my identity as a straight woman was huge,” Wiggins said. “I would say 98 percent of the women in the WNBA are gay women. It was a conformist type of place. There was a whole different set of rules they (the other players) could apply. There was a lot of jealousy and competition, and we’re all fighting for crumbs.”

ALABAMA. Bill letting adoption agencies turn away gay couples passes Alabama Senate committee. “The Senate Health Committee on Wednesday voted 6-1 for the legislation that would prohibit the state from refusing to license or sign contracts with adoption groups that refuse services to people on religious grounds.

JFK. Passengers not allowed to disembark from domestic flight before showing their “documents”.

These are customs agents forcibly checking the ID of every passenger deplaning from Delta flight 1583 tonight at JFK. A domestic flight. pic.twitter.com/fHMgyzCjo5

— Britton Taylor (@brittontaylor) February 23, 2017

PETE BUTTIGIEG. Gay candidate for DNC Chair slams Trump’s transgender move: “What kind of a bully looks for the most vulnerable person they can find to attack? If you are a transgender teenager, high school is a complicated and intimidating — well, when you are any teenager, high school is a complicated and intimidating place…If your own leaders can’t tell the difference between you and a predator, if that’s what we are telling teenagers who they are, we shouldn’t be surprised that we are pushing them toward having mental health issues.”

BILL CASSIDY. Republican senator’s town hall goes off the rails: “Cassidy had intended to present a PowerPoint on his proposed legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and respond to written questions selected from index cards. That didn’t happen.”

MUSLIM TRAVEL BAN. 65 authors and artists send open letter to Trump, calling on him to reconsider Muslim travel ban. “In barring people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days, barring all refugees from entering the country for 120 days, and blocking migration from Syria indefinitely, your January Executive Order caused the chaos and hardship of families divided, lives disrupted, and law-abiding faced with handcuffs, detention, and deportation. In so doing, the Executive Order also hindered the free flow of artists and thinkers ­ and did so at a time when vibrant, open intercultural dialogue is indispensable in the fight against terror and oppression. Its restriction is inconsistent with the values of the United States and the freedoms for which it stands.”

NEW TUNE. Zedd and Alessia Cara “Stay”.

CANADA. Gay Egyptian seeks asylum: “Samer Habib, 23, has started the immigration process under the Manitoba provincial nominee program, but his Egyptian passport will expire in June. He’s now preparing to apply for refugee status because he is afraid to go back to Egypt to renew his passport.”

BAM. Artist creates paintings out of gunpowder, burns them when he’s done.

THIRSTY THURSDAY. Brandon Patrick.

The post Sinead O’Connor, Matt Bomer, Pee with LGBT, Zedd, Candice Wiggins, Pete Buttigieg: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Sinead O’Connor, Matt Bomer, Pee with LGBT, Zedd, Candice Wiggins, Pete Buttigieg: HOT LINKS

Don't miss these LGBTQ-inclusive nominees at Sunday's Oscars!

www.glaad.org/blog/dont-miss-these-lgbtq-inclusive-nominees-sundays-oscars

Twitter wasted no time popping off after Trump revokes trans student protections

The Trump Administration last night rescinded protections for transgender students made in the Obama era, and people are pissed.

The Obama protections allowed trans students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that matched their gender identity. So one month into Trump’s presidency, the lives of some of the most vulnerable American citizens — young trans students — are being directly harmed.

It didn’t take long for a tidal wave of disgust to wash over social media. Ellen DeGeneres summed it up succinctly: “This isn’t about politics. It’s about human rights, and it’s not okay.”

Scroll down to see what others had to say:

To the LGBTQ community, I’m sorry for the message that was sent today. They don’t speak for all of us. We love you.

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) February 23, 2017

What an asshole! Trump administration withdraws federal protections on transgender bathrooms in schools @CNNPolitics t.co/HuazYmhe2a

— Lance Bass (@LanceBass) February 23, 2017

Just seeing the news about removing laws protecting trans people. This isn’t about politics. It’s about human rights, and it’s not okay.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 23, 2017

We need to protect trans youth and stand up against this cruelty that hurts our kids. Support @Translifeline

— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) February 22, 2017

Standing with my Trans fam. This is not ok. This is an attack on all of us. I love you. t.co/oT1quwHJlI

— Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) February 23, 2017

Trans friend, if you are struggling tonight, please reach out to @TrevorProject and @Translifeline. Equality for all! #ISTANDWITHGAVIN pic.twitter.com/bgipj0rmqg

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) February 23, 2017

This is disgusting. This is unacceptable. I #StandWithGavin and every Trans person who deserve nothing less than protection and equality. t.co/IK5TO8nWQ8

— Brie Larson (@brielarson) February 23, 2017

Oh yeah! Because #trans students are the REAL threat. Jesus. #LGBT #LGBTQ #wtf @BetsyDeVosED @jeffsessions t.co/pAuKNl17we

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) February 22, 2017

“@POTUS” you sure you’re the best person to legislate the appropriate place for people to pee?

— Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker) February 23, 2017

To my trans community, stay hopeful and stand united! #ProtectTransKids ??? pic.twitter.com/HWRsN5hwbm

— Jazz Jennings (@JazzJennings__) February 22, 2017

I’m sorry for all #trans kids who face ridicule and safety concerns today as a result of the shameful reversal of protections at school.

— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) February 23, 2017

This is what fascism looks like. t.co/XrPPTMiEOc

— Cassandra (@ChrisWarcraft) February 23, 2017

Trans kids: it gets better. I promise it will–because there are lots of allies out here who will be fighting on your behalf.

— Jodi Picoult (@jodipicoult) February 23, 2017

??? t.co/T5LamCpeIU

— Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) February 23, 2017

To young trans folk: Remember this is your school too. You deserve equal access, affirmation & education. You belong. Nothing is wrong w you

— Janet Mock (@janetmock) February 23, 2017

I am obviously disappointed in the @POTUS decision to send the #transgender bathroom issue to the states to decide. #sisterlove

— jackie evancho (@jackieevancho) February 22, 2017

. @realDonaldTrump u gave me the honor 2 sing at your inauguration. Pls give me & my sis the honor 2 meet with u 2 talk #transgender rghts ?

— jackie evancho (@jackieevancho) February 23, 2017

www.queerty.com/twitter-wasted-no-time-popping-off-trump-revokes-trans-student-protections-20170223?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Houston Judge Files Federal Lawsuit to Avoid Watching LGBT-Diversity Training Video

You might say he needs a safe space or a trigger warning: Judge Gary Suttles, who works for the Social Security Administration, is suing to prevent his employers from taking disciplinary action against him for repeatedly refusing to watch a 17-minute mandatory training video on diversity and LGBT awareness issues.

The Houston-based judge filed in a Texas federal court on Thursday in an attempt to save his job before a federal panel can hear his objections based on the First Amendment and religious protections under the Civil Rights Act.

“The agency has wholly failed to work in good faith to reasonably accommodate Judge Suttles’ sincerely held religious belief against watching” the video, the complaint says.

The agency violated his rights, the complaint says, “by discriminating against him on the basis of his religion, creating a religiously hostile work environment,” and by “retaliating against him for his protected activity of seeking a religious accommodation.”

The video stems from a 2011 Obama administration directive to its federal agencies to provide for diversity and inclusion in their interactions with the public they serve. The SSA sent out an e-mail last May pointing its employees to a 17-minute video entitled “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community” that offered “a brief session on tips for increasing cultural awareness in a diverse and inclusive environment.”

Suttles balked, telling his superior that he is “already fully aware to treat all persons with respect and dignity and have done so [his entire life,” which he has clearly demonstrated by this extreme course of action to not be enlightened with respect to an entire segment of the general populace. A tug-of-war ensued in which Suttles demanded alternative routes to fulfilling the requirement, but when he was permitted to simply read a transcript of the video, he further declined to do so.

The federal judiciary has not been particularly sympathetic to people who refuse to carry out governmental duties on the basis of “religious freedom,” most prominently in the recent Kim Davis case. (One wonders if a divorce court judge could refuse to serve adulterers or a pacifist judge to serve veterans.) Furthermore, the suit did not elaborate on what these religious objections are in particular.

Although Suttles alleges to a spotless record in his post held since 2005, following an April 2014 hearing he drew censure for ridiculing a Navy veteran for claiming post-traumatic stress disorder: “I mean, hey, you were in the Navy. You weren’t even fighting on the ground. To me it would have been exciting. What do you mean stressful?” (This is another example of the aforementioned respect and dignity.) The SSA was forced to issue an apology to the man on his behalf.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will not finish conducting its review of Suttles’s case until mid-March, after a deadline set by his employer.

The post Houston Judge Files Federal Lawsuit to Avoid Watching LGBT-Diversity Training Video appeared first on Towleroad.

Houston Judge Files Federal Lawsuit to Avoid Watching LGBT-Diversity Training Video

How Trump’s love for Putin is allowing the Russian right to export anti-LGBTQ hatred

We’ve already discussed why Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin is terrible for us. But in light of the expanding firestorm over Russia’s outsized influence in the Trump administration, the question is, just how terrible. As it turns out, it could be worse than we imagined.

Trump’s campaign was bizarrely and distressingly cozy with anti-democratic Russia. The candidate himself openly admired Putin and even egged Russia on its hacking of the Democratic National Committee. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia was trying to put a finger on the scale in the election, an unprecedented intrusion into American democracy.

That much everyone knows. But less known is the extent to which Russia has emerged as a ringleader of the American religious right. In fact, according to one new study, Russia is the leader of the global Christian right. Which in part explains why the Trump administration remains enamored of a nation with a smaller economy than the state of California.

To say that this is a disastrous development is an understatement. Russia’s homophobia runs deep and virulent. Here’s a sampling of the type of harassment and violence that are now commonplace in the country, where three-quarter of its citizens believe homosexuality should not be accepted by society.

Here are a few examples from the many available:

• Routinely allows thugs to attack gay activists without fear of prosecution
• Arrest gay activists for standing up for their rights
• Bans any pro-gay materials as “propaganda”
• Forbids same-sex couples from adopting
• Blocked the country’s most popular LGBTQ site
• Banned transgender people from getting drivers

Much of this has been done in concert with the Russian Orthodox Church, which has emerged as an ally of Putin and which now provides a template for the type of Church-State relationship the religious right would like to see in America.

The American religious right’s admiration for Putin and Russia soared during the Obama administration. Such high-profile figures as Franklin Graham, Bryan Fischer, and Brian Brown have proclaimed Russia to be on the right track when it comes to gay issues. But for a long time, the assumption was that the religious right was simply exporting its particular brand of homophobia to a friendly venue.

As it turns out, according to the report from People for the American Way, we may actually be a net importer of Russia hatred. At the heart of this disturbing trend is Brian Brown. Brown headed the rapidly dying National Organization for Marriage but he has managed to fail upwards as head of the International Organization for the Family, formerly known as the World Congress of Families. In this role, Brown has been hitting the road, landing in Russia just last week to promote closer relations between the U.S. and Putin.

But IOF is not a homegrown organization. It is, according to report author Casey Michel, “a product of joint Russian-American homophobic ingenuity.” Two sociology professors in Moscow, concerned that progressive legislation would bring about the collapse of Russia, were instrumental in its formation. Since then WCF and now IOF have tightened its relationship with Putin’s authoritarian regime, even planning to hold a summit inside the Kremlin in 2014. (WCF dropped out of the event after Russia invaded the Ukraine, but some WCF leaders attended anyway.)

What has changed over the years is that, by increasing repression (and violence), Russia has been able to position itself as the promised land for the homophobic right in the U.S. and claim the moral (if that’s thew word) high ground.

Exactly how deep the relationships run is anyone’s guess. Putin has deep pockets and grand ideas, and he’ll be happy to collaborate with anyone who espouses his nationalist viewpoints. But the salient point is that Russia has gone from being the recipient of homophobic outreach to the standard against which the far right judges the U.S. At a minimum, it is setting the tone for our bitterest enemies.

Just one glance at the hell Russia has made for the lives of its LGBTQ citizens is chilling. What’s even more chilling is the growing power of the eager audience that would like to see that hell replicated in the U.S.

www.queerty.com/trumps-love-putin-allowing-russian-right-wing-export-anti-lgbtq-hatred-20170223?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Kellyanne Conway Denies She’s Been Sidelined by Trump: VIDEO

Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway denied that she has been sidelined for making statements that are at odds with the administration’s official stance.

Conway appeared on Fox News last night but had not given an interview on tv since Monday of last week.

In that interview, she said that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had Trump’s “full confidence” just hours before he was given the presidential heave-ho. The following day, Conway said Flynn had offered to resign. However, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Trump had asked Flynn for his resignation.

According to CNN, those statements led Trump and his top advisers to conclude that her appearances were doing more harm than good for the administration.

RELATED: Kellyanne Conway: ‘I Don’t Know Who’ Tweeted ‘Love You Back’ to a White Supremacist from My Account

Prior to the Flynn scandal, Conway was already under fire for urging people to purchase Ivanka Trump’s clothing products, a move House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz called “unacceptable.”

Speaking to CNN, Conway denied that she has been sidelined, claiming instead that she is “trying to focus on other pieces of my portfolio.” She added said that Trump is his own best “communicator and connector” and did not need her to be a constant presence on television. “None of us do it like he does,” she helpfully noted.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders also dismissed the allegations as a “wild goose chase.”

.@KellyannePolls: “This is @realDonaldTrump putting together a really brilliant, very conservative cabinet.” #Hannity #CPAC2017 pic.twitter.com/U33vHe1GbA

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 23, 2017

“Kellyanne has a number of media appearances this week and also has a large portfolio at the WH and is spending significant time focusing on it,” said Sanders.

However, sources said the Trump administration is “enjoying a reprieve from the controversy created by her appearances.”

“Trump was using her as an effective surrogate, then she started becoming ineffective,” said one source, “so they’re letting the heat cool off.”

Watch Matt Lauer take on Conway’s Flynn explanation below.

“That makes no sense.” @MLauer to @KellyannePolls while discussing Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn pic.twitter.com/94SaFlQJxo

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 14, 2017

The post Kellyanne Conway Denies She’s Been Sidelined by Trump: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

Kellyanne Conway Denies She’s Been Sidelined by Trump: VIDEO