February 26, 2020

A third of Poland has now been declared an 'LGBT-free zone', making intolerance official

A third of Poland has now been declared an ‘LGBT-free zone’, making intolerance official
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/02/25/third-of-poland-lgbt-free-zone-atlas-of-hate-homophobia/

A third of Poland has declared itself to be an official “LGBT-free” zone as local municipalities sign a pledge adopting resolutions against “LGBT propaganda”.

Nearly 100 Polish municipal or local governments have now proclaimed themselves to be “free from LGBTI ideology”. Local authorities in these areas pledge to refrain from acts that encourage tolerance and must avoid providing financial assistance to NGOs working to promote equal rights.

An “Atlas of Hate” map created by activists reveals the extent of Poland that has signed up to this pledge – and it covers an area greater than the size of Hungary.

The area has continued to grow after the European Parliament passed a resolution that strongly condemned the concept of LGBT-free zones in December.

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It's the Roman Catholic Church driving this of course.

February 25, 2020

Buttigieg's "Gay Problem" With Black Voters Is Probably A Mirage

Buttigieg’s “Gay Problem” With Black Voters Is Probably A Mirage
https://hotair.com/archives/jazz-shaw/2020/02/25/buttigiegs-gay-problem-black-voters-probably-mirage/

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The Associated Press decided to tackle that subject this week, with a focus on the upcoming South Carolina primary. The title of their article is rather blunt, to say the least. “In SC, Buttigieg faces black voters wary of a gay candidate.” To steal a catchphrase from George Takei… Oh, my! But the further you read into their report, the more they seem to undermine their own premise. In fact, they cite a recent poll taken among voters in the Palmetto State and there was almost no difference between Black and white voters when it comes to tolerance for an LGBTQ candidate.

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February 25, 2020

Fox News nonplussed as White House spokesperson suggests illegal purge of government

Fox News nonplussed as White House spokesperson suggests illegal purge of government
https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-nonplussed-white-house-spokesperson-suggests-illegal-purge-government

White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley appeared on Fox’s America’s Newsroom, where he was asked about reporting that President Donald Trump is looking into a purge of anti-Trump government officials.

Gidley admitted that such a purge is under consideration, and he suggested the administration is looking at millions of federal government workers -- not just the political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the president and can be fired for any reason.

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The Fox News anchors immediately changed the subject.

Purging civil servants for being anti-Trump is blatantly illegal:

Under federal laws dating back to the late 1800s, government workers can only be hired or fired based on their merit and work performance. It’s illegal to make those decisions based on political affiliations or patronage. Additional laws passed in the wake of Watergate and President Nixon’s Saturday Night Massacre strengthened those protections, mandating that supervisors show cause for firing any federal worker and setting up the Merit Systems Protection Board for employees to appeal their cases.

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February 24, 2020

Trump has flipped the 9th Circuit -- and some new judges are causing a 'shock wave' (LA Times)

Trump has flipped the 9th Circuit — and some new judges are causing a ‘shock wave’
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-22/trump-conservative-judges-9th-circuit

When President Trump ticks off his accomplishments since taking office, he frequently mentions his aggressive makeover of a key sector of the federal judiciary — the circuit courts of appeal, where he has appointed 51 judges to lifetime jobs in three years.

In few places has the effect been felt more powerfully than in the sprawling 9th Circuit, which covers California and eight other states. Because of Trump’s success in filling vacancies, the San Francisco-based circuit, long dominated by Democratic appointees, has suddenly shifted to the right, with an even more pronounced tilt expected in the years ahead.

Trump has now named 10 judges to the 9th Circuit — more than one-third of its active judges — compared with seven appointed by President Obama over eight years.

“Trump has effectively flipped the circuit,” said 9th Circuit Judge Milan D. Smith Jr., an appointee of President George W. Bush.

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February 23, 2020

We CAN afford "Medicare for all" but ...

... but not unless we give up being World Cop.

I'm all for it.

But we will have to choose. Nobody can afford both.

We already know what Republicans choose.
When Republicans say we can't afford it, this is what really is going on.
They don't even think of themselves as lying, they just take being World Cop as a given.

What about Democrats? Still room for peaceniks in this party?

February 21, 2020

So the wave function collapsed, and he's not in a good mood.

February 20, 2020

U.S. medical schools boost LGBTQ students, doctor training (AP)

U.S. medical schools boost LGBTQ students, doctor training
https://apnews.com/985d50d0a7b1b593acd0dd791e8c3118

Aliya Feroe recalls the flustered OB-GYN who referred her to another physician after learning she identified as queer. For Rhi Ledgerwood, who was designated female at birth, identifies as trans and doesn’t have sex with men, it was a doctor advising about condoms and pregnancy prevention. For Tim Keyes, who came out as gay at age 17, it’s when doctors automatically assumed he sleeps with women.

Ask any LGBTQ patient about awkward doctor visits and chances are they’ll have a story to tell.

When being heterosexual is presumed even in doctors’ offices, those who identify otherwise can feel marginalized and less likely to seek medical care, contributing to health problems that include high rates of depression, suicidal behavior, alcohol and drug use and inadequate health screenings, LGBTQ advocates say.

Now, moves are afoot to remedy that. The American Medical Association vowed in November to push for a federal ban on gay conversion therapy. Medical schools are beefing up education on LBGTQ health issues. And some schools are making a major push to recruit LGBTQ medical students, backed by research showing that patients often get better care when treated by doctors more like them.

Feroe, Keyes and Ledgerwood — all pursuing medical careers — are part of the trend.

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In my own life I've been lucky lately. Mostly this comes from living in a big city with a politically active gay community (Chicago). But I do know about this from previous experience, and it's about time.

February 20, 2020

Bolton: Testimony wouldn't have changed impeachment outcome (AP)

Bolton: Testimony wouldn’t have changed impeachment outcome
https://apnews.com/1c269df302e881e972137be6c128c88a

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former national security adviser John Bolton on Wednesday denounced the House’s impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump as ”grossly partisan” and said his testimony would not have changed Trump’s acquittal in the Senate, as he continued to stay quiet on the details of a yet-to-be-released book.

In his second public discussion this week, Bolton was on stage at Vanderbilt University with former national security adviser under President Barack Obama, Susan Rice, who questioned Bolton’s refusal to discuss more details while his book undergoes screening for possible classified national security details by the Trump administration. Bolton was likewise quiet on specifics from the book during a Monday speaking engagement at Duke University.

Bolton plans to publish the book next month detailing his time in the White House, including criticism of Trump actions such as his decision to withhold military assistance while seeking a political favor from Ukraine. He said he believes the book doesn’t contain classified information.

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FWIW, what he says now.

February 19, 2020

Why the Nazis Weren't Socialists

It was in the name of their party, but they lied a lot.

Real historical explanation, not just "because they were bad".

February 19, 2020

Bloomberg caught on video calling transgender people 'it,' suggesting LGBTQ rights ...

Bloomberg caught on video calling transgender people ‘it,' suggesting LGBTQ rights isn’t ‘a winning formula’ for 2020 election
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-bloomberg-transgender-lgbtq-election-20200219-v2zpsngld5dq5m6uda4ufcci6y-story.html

Michael Bloomberg’s past keeps haunting him — even his very recent past.

The wealthy White House wannabe referred to transgender people as “he, she or it” last spring and suggested Democratic presidential candidates shouldn’t spend time on the campaign trail talking about the rights of “some guy in a dress,” claiming it’s “not a winning formula,” a newly unearthed video reveals.

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