If…and I Don’t Mean the Song by Pink Floyd

Granted, news of this comes from The John.  However, I don’t think he’d need to lie about this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, unlike rationales for excluding trans people from ENDA, The John doesn’t need to make this up.

It comes from the Texas Republican Party (or, at least someone at the Texas state convention.)

From to the Dallas Morning News (not exactly known as a bastion of liberalism), some light shining on that faux inclusiveness that has led to 95% of Republican cable news talking heads being non-whites who don’t care (or perhaps actually are too stupid to know) what the party really thinks of non-whites and the non-rich:

There were other pins that weren’t necessarily conveying the positive, inclusive, united front that has been portrayed during the convention. One said, “Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation” and another, “I will hold my nose when I vote for McCain”

‘Nuff said.

Send Andrew Sullivan a Bottle of Whine

GOP (Gay Obnoxious Putz) Andrew Sullivan on Barack Obama’s refusal to commit political suicide:

Marriage is the one issue where Obama is still politically afraid, intellectually vacuous, and a moral coward.

This is the civil rights movement of our time. Whatever happened to the fierce urgency of now?

Awwwwwwwwwwwww…

It wooks wike wittew Andwew’s not wiking him some incwementawism when he’s the incwement weft behind.

Even better is how Sullivan begins that blog entry:

Jonathan Martin makes a point:

Because Obama is not where the far left wants him to be (marriage) and McCain not where the far right wants him to be (a federal ban), this is not something either will probably make front and center.

I see his point but I still bristle at the notion of marriage rights being a “far left” position.

Not that I actually disagree with Sullivan, but, let’s consider him as being the source.  There’s only one appropriate reaction:   Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Well, guess what, you conservative gay elitist nincompoop - transsexuals out there weren’t too thrilled about having our ability to obtain legitimate employment being ridiculed by people of your ilk as a far left position - and worse.

Sadly, I’m Sure She Won’t Be Unemployed For Long

From Crooks and Liars, word that one of the shrillest of the shills and the shillest of the shrill, Melanie Morgan, has been shown the door of KSFO,

This kind of news makes Mondays feel pretty good. (h/t Scarce)

Melanie Morgan—the conservative radio talk show host who chairs Move America Forward, the group which has led efforts to shame and boycott Berkeley for its anti-U.S. Marine Corps recruiting stand — has lost her job at KSFO 560 AM.

Morgan, 51, delivered her final broadcast there today after 14 years at the microphone, she says in a news release. KSFO owner Citadel Broadcasting decided not to renew her contract as part of the company’s announced across-the-board financial cost cutting…read on

Talk radio took a big step forward after today. I guess it’s just a matter of time before some wingnut operation picks up this MAFer.

I smell guest shots at the (so-called) Concerned (so-called) Women (hack, cough) for America on a very short road to some Shrew-on-Shrew action at Faux News with Laura Ingraham.

Christianist = Liar

As summarized by Autumn over at Pam’s House Blend, that ’shocking’ incident in Maryland in which some man used the women’s facilities was, well, all a fraud:

Would Jesus approve of baring false witness against transgender people? Is that what conservative Christians now support — baring false witness to make “Christian” points?

Well, if you’re Theresa Rickman of the Citizens For A Responsible Government, it’s apparently okay to bare false witness against transgender people.

Teach the Facts highlights a recent audio shitfest from the (so-called) Concerned (so-called) Women (not on your life) for America about the ’shocking’ incident which crypto-Nazis have conveniently been using to fraudulently scare people into repealing Montgomery County, Maryland’s trans rights ordinance.

MARTHA KLEDER: Matt, what is going on in Mongtomery County?

MATT BARBER: Well, Martha, Montgomery County Maryland, the county council out there put a law in place which basically allows men in dresses or women who perceive themselves as men to use showers and public facilities, restrooms and locker-rooms of the opposite sex, so a man in a dress can walk into a women’s locker, shower alongside the women, use the women’s restrooms and so forth. So naturally, rightfully, a group of concerned and outraged citizens there in Montgomery County started a petition drive to get a referendum in place that would rescind this ridiculous law.

Oh…but it gets better.

 A while back, a man in a dress went into a gym at Rio. He signed in, went to the ladies locker-room, and came out again. Channel Seven responded immediately with a breathless acount. We found out later that Theresa Rickman was actually in the lobby of the gym when this happened, but the Citizens for Whatever have consistently denied that the event was staged.

Until now.

MARTHA KLEDER: Well Theresa, I also heard that someone tried to test this. Was there some event where a transgender or a shemale or someone tried to use the opposite sex bathroom?

THERESA RICKMAN: Yes, at Rio Sport and Health up in Germantown. A guy dressed as a girl went into the ladies bathroom. And, ah you know, essentially what uh, that was meant to get some media attention, you know, and the guy left immediately apparently, I mean but there was, this is the Rio Sport and Health Club, you know and Sport and Health has steam rooms, and there are ladies changing in those locker rooms, people in various stages of undress [laughing] all the time, so there’s lots a guy can see.

The reporter from the sole television station to be privy (pun intended) to this, is claiming to be “offended by suggestions that this incident was fabricated by this group and that Channel 7 got sucked into reporting it as part of an ‘agenda.’”

Also, worth noting is that, on the Teach the Facts posting, it appears as though Rickman is challenging the transcription of the interview - particularly the incriminating word “meant.”

 I was not in the lobby when it happened. we got a call back from the robo calls in the evening, from another lady who was in the lockerroom, and called the news and went over the NEXT day. (with about 4 other people when we realized the cameras were going to be there). .. you are a liar Jim because I have told you this before. Since you were not there you don’t know. Call the manager of the gym, she can also tell you that we were there the next day, not the day it happened. And, by the way, it happened again, and two ladies have quit the gym over it since..and one lady (renee) went up and asked Rio who said that their new policy is to let transgenders in because with the new law, they will be fined up to 500,000 if they don’t. Theresa

The next commenter notes:

Deny it all you want Theresa, but clear as day you said the stunt at Rio “was meant to get some media attention.” We can all hear you say it at 12:50 on the CWFA audio file.

Who needs American Idol when we have American Crypto-Nazi, eh?

Tha WINNAH is………………………Theresa Rickman!!!!!!!

How About Genital Transformation Tracking While We’re At It?

Would it be gauche to utter the phrase ‘big brother’ right about now?  Somehow, methinks not.

From CNN:

FBI wants palm prints, eye scans, tattoo mapping

The FBI is gearing up to create a massive computer database of people’s physical characteristics, all part of an effort the bureau says to better identify criminals and terrorists.

The bureau is expected to announce in coming days the awarding of a $1 billion, 10-year contract to help create the database that will compile an array of biometric information — from palm prints to eye scans.

Kimberly Del Greco, the FBI’s Biometric Services section chief, said adding to the database is “important to protect the borders to keep the terrorists out, protect our citizens, our neighbors, our children so they can have good jobs, and have a safe country to live in.”

But it’s unnerving to privacy experts.

Do ya really need to be an expert to be unnerved by this?

The FBI has also started collecting mug shots and pictures of scars and tattoos. These images are being stored for now as the technology is fine-tuned. All of the FBI’s biometric data is stored on computers 30-feet underground in the Clarksburg facility.

In addition, the FBI could soon start comparing people’s eyes — specifically the iris, or the colored part of an eye — as part of its new biometrics program called Next Generation Identification.

Nearby, at West Virginia University’s Center for Identification Technology Research, researchers are already testing some of these technologies that will ultimately be used by the FBI.

“The best increase in accuracy will come from fusing different biometrics together,” said Bojan Cukic, the co-director of the center.

But while law enforcement officials are excited about the possibilities of these new technologies, privacy advocates are upset the FBI will be collecting so much personal information.

“People who don’t think mistakes are going to be made I don’t think fly enough,” said Steinhardt.

Yah - and they’ve never worried about their legal gender status.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Even if the legit Dem (Obama) gets the nomination and does not have the election stolen from him by the Elect Republicans at All Costs Department (you might remember it as the Department of Justice back when the Constitution was still in force), the current ruling junta will have two months between election day and inauguration day to fuck things up for America in ways that will make the previous 7 years and 10 months look like most banal of Walt Disney cartoons.

Be vigilant.

The orifice you save may be your own. 

Yet Another Reason Not to Vote for Hillary

Ann Coulter is for her, which, according to Crooks and Liars:

is another way of saying she really, really hates John McCain, suddenly the Über Liberal in the race to be President.

Seriously.

She sez.

Of course, this gave Nicole Belle over at C&L the opportunity to take a veiled swipe at Coulter’s alleged chromosomal non-purity.

[A]s a little aside, woman to….er, woman, the Goth make-up does you no favors, Ann. It might have worked in your early 20s (but not with that “Aryan from Darien” Connecticut accent), but now, not so much. Good to see you found something other than the black cocktail dress to wear, though. I’d call that progress, but I know how that word scares you.

For Coulter personally it could be moot.  There are those problems with her voter registration card, after all.

 

Nevertheless, if her mouth continues in ‘engage’ mode, she could cause problems - what sort of problems is anyone’s guess.

Thank You Barney Frank - Part 2

Autumn is doing some dot-connecting over at Pam’s House Blend:

[H]ere’s a story from a Maryland ABC affiliate, titled Controversial Law on Gender Identity Tested:

A man dressed as a woman walked into the women’s locker room at the Rio Sport and Health Club in Gaithersburg Monday, spawning concerns over a new controversial law designed to protect transgendered people.

…

The male left without saying anything, but Ondray says, “I was very upset, I’m still upset. There’s a lot he could’ve seen.”

Club officials say he is a male club member, but it’s still unclear why he was dressed as a woman or why he didn’t use a designated family restroom.

The incident tests Montgomery County’s new and still controversial law that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.

…Theresa Rickman says, “the problem is, the language is so vague that guys can still go in the ladies room.”

Vewy, vewy nefawious, no?

Well………………………

It seems a bit of a coincidence that this kind of locker room behavior had never happened before in Montgomery County, yet now it should happen — right when the Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum are starting their petition drive to repeal a county ordinance that protects people based on gender identity or expression.

One clue that this story might be a tad “sh*tty” smelling is that Theresa Rickman isn’t identified in the article by her affiliation. Rickman isn’t just another gym customer; Rickman is the one who created an online petition for reapeal of the Montgomery County, Maryland ordinance via referendum.

Awwwwwwww….. a fine upstanding member of the corporate media monolith either working with or being too-easily-hoodwinked by anti-constitutionist, christianist, fascist nutcases who are tripped out on Barney Frank-osis? 

That couldn’t happen, could it?

I really do hope this ABC affiliate or some other news organization does the requisite digging into this story. If the casual reader like me thinks this “looks like sh*t and smells like sh*t,” I would hope an investigation of this incident would determine if this incident was really “organic,” or if the incident was staged by supporters of the referendum (as I suspect it was). Frankly, I would hope no news organizaion would vacuously believe this locker room story was pure “chocolate” — the timing and the reported details of the incident smell like “sh*t.”

And we can hope that Barney Frank and HRC will come clean about what they’ve done over the last two decades to actively undermine trans political viability.

Guess Who Didn’t Get All of the Memos From Frankrainvosis?

Morocco!

Seriously.

From Pam’s House Blend:

Apparently now dressing in women’s clothing in Morocco is automatically considered a “homosexual act,” even though it doesn’t involve 1) any actual sex, 2) involves anyone other than the person wearing said clothing.

A Moroccan appeal court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of six men jailed for homosexual acts after video images of a man dressed as a woman dancing at a party sparked street protests and a police investigation, lawyers said.

Seriously.

How could an entire country have missed the multiple pronouncements from the all-seeing, all-knowing St. Barney, The John and Lame Crain that all of that dirty, evil disgusting tranny stuff has nothing to do with robust, pure manly male homosexuality?

I’m just asking.

Focus on the BS

Okay - when reading this post, keep in mind the following: I don’t like hate crime laws.  Of course, its not for the reason that anti-constitutionist, crypto-christianist cabals such as Focus on the Fraud claim to dislike them - namely, so-called ’special rights’.  In fact, is for exactly the opposite reason; they convey no rights.  I defy anyone to find a single instance in which a hate crime law has actually disuaded someone from committing a hate crime against anyone of any variety; anti-discrimination laws, on the other hand, do (though not with 100% success of course) dissuade some employers from shutting members of certain categories out of the economy.

Translation: I think that, in general, hate crime laws are wastes of precious time and energy.

That having been said, however, I looooooooooove it when anti-constitutionist, crypto-christianist cabals such as Focus on the Fraud decide to go on their anti-hate-crime-laws rants.  It shows them to be the morons that more people should already realize that they are.

Daddy Dobby’s Citizen Link on the addition of gender identity to New Jersey’s hate crime law.

 Legislation adds gender identity as a protected status.

Well, I hate to be the one to break the news to Daddy Dobby’s minions, but, strictly speaking, that was done about a year ago with the addition of trans folks to the Law Against Discrimination.

New Jersey lawmakers voted Monday to give transgendered individuals special rights. If Gov. Jon Corzine signs the legislation, the state would be the 12th to grant such strong rights. According to gay-activist groups, New Jersey has 153 laws to protect homosexuals and transgendered people.

Again I ask: What are these special rights?

The first section of the bill adds “gender identity or expression” to the existing hate-crimes law, which includes sexual orientation, race and religion. The bill also requires all new police officers to attend a mandatory, two-hour hate-crimes sensitivity training.

So, Daddy Dobby and his minions are upset that people who enforce the law have to know what the law is about.

Oh - that’s right.  Knowledge is evil.

My bad.

 “This particular piece of legislation is very strong because it includes ‘gender expression,’ which is not defined,” said Greg Quinlan of New Jersey Family First, the legislative arm of the New Jersey Family Policy Council. “What does ‘gender expression’ mean?”

First, you tell me how you define ‘religion’ for purposes of ‘freedom of religion.’  Something tells me its a bit different than what the average person thinks it should mean.

In December, a federal hate-crimes measure fell apart over the effort to protect “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

I seem to recall the federal hate crimes measure falling apart over just about every other aspect of dumbass leglislative strategy.  I also seem to recall it actually being approved (sort of) by the the ful House in 2005.

Oh - that’s right.  Truth is evil.

My bad.

Caleb H. Price, research analyst for Focus on the Family, said the New Jersey legislation is not necessary.

“Not only is there no need for adding the category of ‘gender identity or expression’,” he said, “but this category is inherently ambiguous and unlimited — and is subject to an ever-morphing understanding of a person’s ‘perceptions’ about their biological gender.”

So how does any of that explain why a law that is intended to punish those who commit acts of violence is not needed?

Quinlan said the bill puts families, particularly women and children, in danger.

You mean it creates gay marriages?

Oh - that’s right.  Sarcasm is evil.

My bad.

“What is the protection from these people going into a restroom where they identify themselves as a different gender, yet they’re using the facilities at the same time you are?” he said. “It’s exposing children — an unintended consequence of the law.”

Nice choice of word, don’tcha think?  Nice image, too, that it evokes: evil, disgusting perverts exposing themselves to children.

One problem, though (and then another and another…)

(1) If you’re worried about your children getting molested, quit worrying about what goes on in the ladies’ room and start worrying about what goes on in your own churches.

(2) Strictly speaking, the law that would - in theory - undirgird cross-gender restroom usage was the aforementioned Law Against Discrimination.

Which, of course, leads me to…

(3) Taking you at face value, am I to believe that you should have the right to inflict physical violence on anyone in a given restroom who you determine isn’t gender-normative enough to be in said restroom?

The legislation also creates a Commission on Bullying in Schools, which has nine months to investigate and make recommendations to the governor.

Refer back to my comment about knowledge apparently being bad.

“New Jersey already has anti-bullying laws in place,” Quinlan said,

Citations, please?  Specifics, please?

 “but the bullying commission is set up to be totally sexually oriented.”

You mean to deal with the sexually oriented bullying? Yeh - that would make no sense at all, now would it?

‘Tis the Season for Christianist Insanity

Non-ENDA-related, but relevant nevertheless. 

Typically, whenever the Sham(ily) Research Council’s Tony Perkins is mentioned on the Stephanie Miller Show, one gets to hear a snippet of creepy sounds from the first Psycho movie.

I think that clip is playing right now…

FRC ties Colorado shooting to ’secular media.’

In its Action Update today, the Family Research Council (FRC) partially cast blame for the tragic shooting at a megachurch in Colorado yesterday on “the secular media.” In the e-mail, which was sent under the name of FRC Action President Tony Perkins, the group says it’s “hard not to draw a line between” the shooting and “hostility” by “some in the secular media toward Christians”:

It is hard not to draw a line between the hostility that is being fomented in our culture from some in the secular media toward Christians and evangelicals in particular and the acts of violence that took place in Colorado yesterday. But I will say no more for now other than that our friends at New Life Church and YWAM are in our thoughts and prayers.

In the insanity derby, I think Norman Bates ain’t got nuthin’ on the Professional ‘Christian’ Victim - and former Louisiana legislator - Tony Perkins.