Last week, the state of Texas voted to allow social workers to deny services to anyone who is LGBT, and anyone who has a disability. The right-wing government saw simple human compassion as a liability. It was Texas Governor Abbott's office that recommended the new law. 
The new law has received A TON of backlash (rightfully so). Social workers from all over the state are making their voices heard. Steven Parks, a social workers that works with child trauma victims, told the Texas Tribune that the rule change is "both a professional and a personal gut punch. There's now a gray area between what's legally allowed and ethically responsible. The law should never allow a social worker to legally do unethical things."

It's no secret that Gov. Abbott has a deep-seated hatred toward the LGBTQIA+ community. He has dragged his heels when it comes to expanding LGBTQIA+ protections.
Abbott is a shameful, bigoted monster. 

#Texas #LGBT #disability #discrimination

With everything happening in the world, especially the USA, we are in desperate need of a "super-gay," feel-good holiday movie. 
Directed by the uber-talented Clea DuVall, 'Happiest Season' is about lesbian couple Abby and Harper's trip to Harper's family's Christmas party. Harper is not 'out' to her conservative family. Harper's suppressed identity threatens the intense relationship between Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis).

Director Clea DuVall also co-wrote the script. She wrote from her "own place of truth and telling the story from her own perspective." 
She also started that she has "spent Christmases with partners whose parents didn't know.… I've been 'the friend' at the family function. On a journey like coming out, you have no idea what's going to happen or how people will react, and it's scary. There's a part of your life that changes once you do." 

The 2020 pandemic did make production extra challenging, but it sort of helped the main stars to bond. Stewart and Davis got together throughout the pandemic and really worked on their bond. When they returned to set, the bond showed with their characters. Stewart said that "it felt like something just exploded. I fell in love." 

'Happiest Season' is a LGBT movie being released as a holiday rom-com, during a pandemic. While many theaters remain closed, DuVall feels that the movie will be successful. "We're all apart and we can't see or hug our friends, [so] watching these people connect is moving. It's such a human story, and it's humanity we're all confronted with right now. Seeing empathy and compassion modeled [on screen], I've been enjoying it. We all need that kind of embrace."

There is no better time for this movie to come out than now. Everyone is on edge and extra during this pandemic. Also, the currently US election has increased everyone's stress on top of the pandemic stress. There are Politicians out there that threaten to take away the rights of those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Having a feel-good movie, written by a highly respected queer woman is exactly what we need right now. That, and an endless supply of eggnog and ugly holiday sweaters. 

'Happiest Season' premieres November 25 in theaters. 

#HappiestSeason #CleaDuVall #KristenStewart #MackenzieDavis #LGBT #Queer

During the week, Amy Coney Barrett referred to sexual orientation as a "preference." She was questioned by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California about her opinion on same-sex marriage. During Barrett's nomination, she stated that she would be adopting late Justice Antonin Scalia's judicial philosophies. 

This past Tuesday, Barrett stayed mum on the subject. She said that no one should "assume" that she would make the same decisions as Scalia (sounds like she drank a big ole cup of red Kool-aid before Tuesday's confirmation hearing.
Feinstein probed Barrett further on the subject, saying: 
"It’s rather a fundamental point for large numbers of people I think in this country. You identify yourself with a justice that ... would be a consistent vote to roll back hard-fought freedoms and protections for the LGBT community. And what I was hoping you would say is that this would be a point of difference, where those freedoms would be respected and you haven’t said that." 

Barrett responded: 
"I do want to be clear that I have never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference and would not ever discriminate on the basis of sexual preference. You know, like racism, I think discrimination is abhorrent."

Really, girl? It has been a continuous and arduous task to educate the ignorant population that sexual orientation is NOT a "preference." When people like Barrett are in power, they warp all of the hard work the LGBTQIA+ community has done for decades. Her ignorance further confuses everyone who is paying attention to the American election.

Sexual orientation is biological. This has been proven by the world's leading scientists and psychologists that sexual orientation is biological. 

In terms of trans men and women, it's all about "between the ears." If a person who was born with female sex organs, identifies as a male between the ears, they are male. Same goes for those who are female between the ears, and have male sex organs. Additionally, if a person is nonbinary and gender fluid, you ask the individual for the proper pronouns. This is a respect thing and a human thing. 

The LGBTQIA+ community is all about educating the population. Humans by nature have a deep-seated aversion toward anything the slightest bit "different." Those in the community WANT you to ask questions. It tells us that you don't want to be ignorant. You want to understand. You want education. 
Case in point: I was ignorant toward the trans community for a long time. 13 years ago, I met a transwoman. She was a childhood friend's partner. I was a little weirded out by my friend's partner. Through the months, we actually became good friends. We met a year later, and she wanted me to ask questions. She encouraged me to speak my mind. I remember asking a lot of stupid questions LOL! I learned a lot from her, and also researching trans men and women. 

I don't know a lot about nonbinary, except that the pronouns vary. Folks, I cannot emphasize how important it is to use the proper pronouns. 

The whole point of my entire post is that sexual orientation is NOT a preference. Sexual orientation is NOT a mental illness. Those of us in the LGBTQIA+ community would PREFER if you ask questions and get educated. It would behoove Amy Coney Barrett to speak to LGBTQIA+ organizations so she can become better educated. 

And yes, you did see me include myself in the previous paragraph. I'm queer. It's not a preference. I am attracted to men, I love soft butch women, and I'm kind of attracted to Michelle Hendley (trans actress. She was in Boy Meets Girl. So hot). I am also seriously attracted to Daniela Sea. They acted in "The L Word" and "Itty Bitty Titty Committee." *clutches pearls*

Social media was lit this weekend, as the LGBTQIA+ community banded together, taking #ProudBoys, and making it GREAT again. 
Star Trek legend George Takei started the movement by posting a pic of himself and his husband of 12 years, along with a invite for everyone to FLOOD the hashtag with some sweet gay lovin!
"I wonder if the BTS and TikTok kids can help LGBTs with this. What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys. I bet it would mess them up real bad. #ReclaimingMyShine."

It wasn't long before the movement became a worldwide phenomenon. Bobby Berk, Florida Democratic state Rep Carlos Guillermo Smith, Frank Luntz, Damian Barr, Rosanna Arquette, and thousands of people who are in and out of the community showed their support for the LOVEly shade. 
People all over the world shared pics of guy on guy love, hashtagging it with Proud Boys. 

The Royal Canadian Navy also joined in on the lovefest, with a pic of two Canadian Navy soldiers in a passionate lip lock. 

​The hatemongering leader of the white supremacist group Proud Boys did tell CNN he thought the movement was "hysterical." He said that the group isn't offended, they don't care who people sleep with, and it doesn't bother them.
Obvi, they care who people sleep with, because they have assaulted people that are LGBTQIA+. 

The white supremacist group is missing the point about the movement. It's about making Proud Boys positive, and not negative. The word Proud is a positive term. A white supremacist group claiming a positive word as their group name makes no sense whatsoever. White supremacists are fueled by hate. Everything they do is in the name of hate and evil. 

I am PROUD of my gay Proud Boys. Love is love, and gay love is oh so fucking sweet! Let's reclaim Proud Boys!