TX Log Cabin Sellouts Denied A Booth At TX State GOP Convention

The Texas Log Cabin Sellouts Republicans must feel like Charlie Brown at this point when he tries to kick a football that Lucy is holding.

But like Charlie Brown's failed attempts to kick that football, the Texas Log Cabin Republicans keep trying and failing . 

What they keep failing at is having a booth at the Texas Republican State Convention.   For the last 20 years they have tried to get that booth, while other GOP party affinity groups get theirs with no problem .The Texas Log Cabin Sellouts keep getting kicked in the teeth and smiling after it happens for the whole world to see.

This time the State Republican Executive Committee debated for two hours before they came up with the inevitable no.   While they had some supporters, they were dwarfed by the faux faith based TBLGQ bigots in the room

And at that Texas state convention, the Texas Republicans passed a platform that endorses the scientifically debunked reparative therapy for gay people.

Texas and national Log Cabin Republicans, when are you going to leave a party that has made it clear they don't want you? 

It's sad and pathetic that you continue to shill for people who continue to do everything possible to oppress this community

An Anti-Roy Moore Ad From A Surprising Source

On December 12 the voters of Alabama will head to the polls to choose their next senator.

They have a choice between Democrat Doug Jones, who prosecuted the Klansmen that bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church back in 1963, or moral degenerate Ry Moore, who seems to think that the only suitable girl to date is under age 18 along with other reprehensible back to the 18th century policy positions .

An ad recently started appearing in the state entitled 'Good Christians' which sounds like every other conservabuzzword filled Republican ad you've ever heard, buy comes from a surprising source: 

The Log Cabin Republicans. 

While I've never been a fan of this group and have more than a few archived posts relentlessly mocking them and calling them out on their sellout behavior, have got to give them their props for this ad. 

Seems like they just as horrified as the rest of reality based America about Roy Moore becoming a US senator, and decided to do something about it. 

Check out this broken clock moment ad from the Log Cabin Republicans

   

Ho Hum, Another Transphobic Gay White Male Advocating TBLG Separation

Another day, another not so shocking instance of a transphobic white gay male making the case to throw transpeople under the human rights bus.

On the eve of South Dakota governor Dennis Daugaard trying to make up his mind whether he is going to be a trans human rights hero or a trans human rights oppressor, another one of those 'We Want A Divorce From The T******s' pieces popped up this morning in USA Today.

This op-ed was written by Joseph R. Murray, who was a campaign official for Pat Buchanan and would be surprised if he was a member of either GOProud or the Log Cabin Republicans.

Let me get right to the heart of why I and other trans people are tired of white gay men clamoring for separation now that you have accomplished much of your gay and lesbian legislative and societal wish list by simultaneously using the trans community as legislative bargaining chips.

It was trans people, and specifically trans people of color like Marsha P. Johnson who threw the first bricks and shot glasses at Stonewall while you Fire Island gays were cowering in your closets.  And far too often in my nearly two decades of human rights advocacy,it has been primarily white gay men who have been the biggest obstacles to trans human rights progress.

If you think I'm kidding about that, LGBT history has far too many instances of trans folks being thrown under the legislative bus in the name of 'incremental progress' and LG led groups breaking those promises to come back for us.  

And who came up with the bathroom meme?  Before the right wing started using it to attack us and human rights laws in general, it was Rep. Barney Frank with his 'penis in showers' arguments in the late 90's designed to stymie trans inclusion in ENDA.

Which brings me back to talking about this latest example and the repeated ignorant line that trans rights and gay rights are not the same.   While there are some issues that are unique to the trans community. we also identify as gay, bi or lesbian in Trans World in terms of our sexual orientations.

And if our human rights as trans people aren't secured, your hard won human rights gains in Gay World are also less secure.

Now that we have the Republican Party and right wing evangelicals coming out of the closet in terms of working to openly attack our humanity and human rights, now is not the time for advocating kicking the trans community to the curb from a movement we helped build and far too much of our blood has been shed in order to make real the promises of democracy and human rights for trans Americans.

And we're tired of conservative white gay men showing their inner transphobe and making the fatally flawed assumption that your whiteness, your wallets and your eager willingness to sell out the rest of the LGBT community will protect you from the anti-LGBT discrimination that your party wishes to impose on all of us.

Naw Caitlyn, You Can't Win Republicans Over On LGBT Issues

I had to laugh and shake my head when Caitlyn Jenner was quoted as saying that we can win Republicans over on LGBT rights issues in a recent Advocate article.

As someone who watched the Harris County and Texas Republican parties, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Lt Governor Dan Patrick (R) stick their noses in Houston human rights business and fund the oppressors deceit filled kill the HERO campaign, had she talked to me and other Houston advocates when she stealthily bounced into my hometown, I would have schooled her clueless behind on the folly of that position.

The Republican Party of 2016 in Texas and around the country is one made up of people who are hellbent on gleefully rolling back the human rights of anyone that isn't a white male right-wing 'christian'.   They have a special brand of hatred for human rights for trans, bisexual and SGL people, and are still working to terminate any progress on LGBT rights issues.

If you think I'm kidding about that, look no further than the unjust anti-trans bills popping up in Indiana , Virginia,  Washington and other GOP controlled state legislatures sponsored by proud Republican legislators or what happened here with HERO last year.

And hello, the GOP controlled NY Senate has been the major reason that GENDA's passage has been stalled in New York state despite their Democratic controlled assembly passing it eight straight times by comfortable margins.

The current Republican Party is not the one Eisenhower or Nixon led, much less even the one of Ronald Reagan.  And if Caitlyn's behind had more melanin in her skin, she wouldn't even begin to part her lips to say something that obtuse.

But if Jenner wants to take on that quixotic mission of trying to convince a party that is foaming at the mouth anti-LGBT for decades to change their BTLG hating ways, have fun wasting your time and breath trying to do so.

Meanwhile, I'll be chilling in Houston trying to resist the urge to say 'I told you so' as I and others do the work necessary to get the conversations going to solidify support behind the no-brainer idea of trans, bi and SGL rights being an international human rights issue.    

You Lie, Log Cabin Republicans!

TransGriot Note:  Received this press release from Jerame Davis of the Stonewall Democrats calling out the Log Cabin Republicans attempt to misrepresent the rainbow community concerning their 2012 platform.

Gay Republicans Mislead LGBT Americans on GOP Platform

Gay Republicans are touting new language in the GOP platform as being a step forward for LGBT equality and as evidence the Republican Party is moderating on LGBT issues. The specific text reads, "We embrace the principle that all Americans have the right to be treated with dignity and respect." National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director, Jerame Davis, responds:

"The idea that this generic bit of meaningless rhetoric is movement by the GOP toward a more inclusive and pro-equality footing is preposterous. For decades, the Republican platform has included anti-LGBT language that, at various times, has opposed adoption rights, marriage equality, and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

"What's even more ridiculous is the idea that this language is something new. The Republican Party platform has included similar language since at least 1996. This is just a rewording of a generic principle that few Republicans would construe to include LGBT equality. While the GOP gives lip service to the principle of dignity and respect for all, the reality of that ideal clearly escapes them.

"The real message to read in this is that the GOP's cognitive dissonance continues unabated and the apologists at Log Cabin Republicans are still selling snake oil and calling it progress."

Below are examples of similar passages from past GOP platforms, by year, and the anti-LGBT language contained in those same documents:

1996: 

"Because we are all one America, we oppose discrimination. We believe in the equality of all people before the law and that individuals should be judged by their ability rather than their race, creed, or disability."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"We oppose Bill Clinton's assault on the culture and traditions of the Armed Forces, especially his attempt to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military. We affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

"We reject the distortion of those laws to cover sexual preference, and we endorse the Defense of Marriage Act to prevent states from being forced to recognize same-sex unions."

"They passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines 'marriage' for purposes of federal law as the legal union of one man and one woman and prevents federal judges and bureaucrats from forcing states to recognize other living arrangements as "marriages.""

2000:

"Since the election of 1860, the Republican Party has had a special calling — to advance the founding principles of freedom and limited government and the dignity and worth of every individual."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"We affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

"We support the traditional definition of 'marriage' as the legal union of one man and one woman, and we believe that federal judges and bureaucrats should not force states to recognize other living arrangements as marriages. We rely on the home, as did the founders of the American Republic, to instill the virtues that sustain democracy itself. That belief led Congress to enact the Defense of Marriage Act, which a Republican Department of Justice will energetically defend in the courts. For the same reason, we do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law."

2004:

"Every day, we strive to fulfill Lincoln's vision: a country united and free, in which all people are guaranteed equal rights and the opportunity to pursue their dreams."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"We affirm traditional military culture, and we affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

"We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life."

"The sound principle of judicial review has turned into an intolerable presumption of judicial supremacy. A Republican Congress, working with a Republican president, will restore the separation of powers and re-establish a government of law. There are different ways to achieve that goal, such as using Article III of the Constitution to limit federal court jurisdiction; for example, in instances where judges are abusing their power by banning the use of 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance or prohibiting depictions of the Ten Commandments, and potential actions invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)."

"Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a Constitutional amendment, passed by the Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges. On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. The Constitutional amendment process guarantees that the final decision will rest with the American people and their elected representatives. President Bush will also vigorously defend the Defense of Marriage Act, which was supported by both parties and passed by 85 votes in the Senate. This common sense law reaffirms the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.

"President Bush said, 'We will not stand for judges who undermine democracy by legislating from the bench and try to remake America by court order.' The Republican House of Representatives has responded to this challenge by passing H.R. 3313, a bill to withdraw jurisdiction from the federal courts over the Defense of Marriage Act. We urge Congress to use its Article III power to enact this into law, so that activist federal judges cannot force 49 other states to approve and recognize Massachusetts' attempt to redefine marriage."

2008:

"We offer it to our fellow Americans in the assurance that our Republican ideals are those that unify our country: Courage in the face of foreign foes. An optimistic patriotism, driven by a passion for freedom. Devotion to the inherent dignity and rights of every person."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America's Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service."

"We lament that judges have denied the people their right to set abortion policies in the states and are undermining traditional marriage laws from coast to coast."

"Preserving Traditional Marriage

"Because our children's future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives.

"Republicans recognize the importance of having in the home a father and a mother who are married. The two-parent family still provides the best environment of stability, discipline, responsibility, and character. Children in homes without fathers are more likely to commit a crime, drop out of school, become violent, become teen parents, use illegal drugs, become mired in poverty, or have emotional or behavioral problems. We support the courageous efforts of single-parent families to provide a stable home for their children. Children are our nation's most precious resource. We also salute and support the efforts of foster and adoptive families.

"Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting traditional marriage laws, both in the states and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex 'marriages' licensed in other states. Unbelievably, the Democratic Party has now pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which would subject every state to the redefinition of marriage by a judge without ever allowing the people to vote on the matter. We also urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California. We also encourage states to review their marriage and divorce laws in order to strengthen marriage.

"As the family is our basic unit of society, we oppose initiatives to erode parental rights."

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National Stonewall Democrats is the national voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Democrats, with more than 80 local affiliates across the nation. Stonewall Democrats works to elect more pro-equality Democrats regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - and to improve the Democratic Party on issues important to LGBT Democrats.