Senate Democrats Sold Out LGBTQ+ People
#148
Welcome to Third Cultured, a newsletter about Queer people in diplomacy, politics, and war from the perspective of Kyle Borland (he/they). My goal is to highlight all the ways today is different (and not so) from yesterday.
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This edition:
Opinion Essay
Queer Election Victories
A List of LGBTQ+ Wins
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws/Violence Around the World
Links, Quotes & Gay Shit
Opinion Essay
Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Collins (R-ME), Portman (R-OH), Sinema (D-AZ), and Tillis (R-NC) announced an agreement on changes to the Respect for Marriage Act. If that trash grouping of senators wasn’t a clear enough indication for you – they sold us out.
The updated bill enshrines the idea that “religious liberty” is paramount in American society and, if some Queers deal with discrimination along that way, that’s just God’s plan. Once SCOTUS overturns Obergefell – that’s a “when,” not an “if” – the Red States will be free to stop performing same-sex marriage. The “solution” to this problem is that LGBTQ+ people wanting to get married can travel to a Blue State where the Full Faith & Credit Clause (FFCC) of the U.S. Constitution would require those states to recognize the marriage.
Now, if you’re not a blithering idiot that sips on “America Fuck Yeah!” propaganda for three meals a day, you’ll be able to grasp that Republicans will do everything in their power to avoid fulfilling that obligation. How many cases do you think it would take in front of the Federalist Society-owned Supreme Court before the Christian Fascists secure a ruling getting around that flimsy loophole?
Worse, this travesty of a bill will probably be used in conservative arguments to give Red States cover to do exactly what they wish! Not to mention, with no right to privacy post-Roe, states could recognize same-sex marriages for tax purposes only to outlaw cohabitation or gay sex should Lawrence be overturned (as expected).
In contrast to our 18th-century circle-jerk form of a government, Cuba just passed arguably the most progressive Family Code in the world, enshrining same-sex marriage and adoption into national law. Americans take a lot of pride in being “better” than communist Cuba, but on LGBTQ+ rights, the island nation’s evolution has come swifter and more comprehensively than anything our precious great experiment could ever hope to muster. Not as long as there are ingrates who believe there is any rational compromise to be made between zealots and minority rights.
If for some reason, you feel the need to rationalize this failure with “it’s the best we can do right now” or “the worst-case scenarios won’t occur” – please cope in silence.
This is the same nation where 300+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed across state legislatures and that was before the GOP won the House. This is the same nation that instead of simply codifying a policy that a supermajority of Americans (71%) agree with, we have to play Devil’s Bargain with Christian crazies who care more about what adults do with their genitals and unwanted fetuses than they do about anything of the issues their beloved savior actually told them to do something about.
That’s not a functional form of government. That’s a pathetic excuse for a democracy masquerading through its final years before descending full-fledged into a theocracy. Why? Because of an undemocratic relic – the filibuster – that keeps the majority in Congress from actually legislating for the American people. Instead, we are held captive by a deranged minority hellbent on a white, cis, straight, Christian America remaining the only reality for the United States.
The rest of us want to move on! The vast majority of Americans want to be able to live their lives and wish others the same freedom. Unfortunately, a vocal 25–30% are determined to control every aspect of our lives and are quite good at getting 20–25% of the majority to believe in some aspects of their plan because they’re more worried about an imagined leftist boogeyman than a conservative menace that actually exists.
Propaganda is a hell of a drug.
The Respect for Marriage Act will pass this week because it enshrines discrimination on the basis of “religious liberty” into law. But, it only goes one way: Christians get to keep their boots on our necks. God forbid anyone even attempt to do something back or vocalize mild criticism to them because that would be “too far.”
Christians can legislate about our bodies and our relationships, but you’ll never hear a peep from that oh-so-precious center until we demand more. Because at the end of the day, America is built on scraps for those below while the cis, the straight, the white, and the male get to feast. And, even when the communist nation 90 miles away shows it can do better by a mile – we better be fucking thankful to be fed at all.
Stay safe and healthy, beautiful people.
As always, thanks for reading.
Kyle (@kgborland)
Queer Election Victories
436 LGBTQ Candidates – and counting! – Won in the 2022 General Election, 100 More than in 2020; 60% Win Rate (Victory Fund)
“Bigots underestimated our power and determination, as they’ve done throughout history.”
A ‘rainbow wave’ of candidates made history. What’s next for them? (Wash Post)
Becca Balint becomes the first out LGBTQ person elected to Congress from Vermont (LGBTQ Nation)
James Roesener Is the First Out Trans Man Elected to a U.S. State Legislature (them)
LGBTQ+ votes are crucial on the local level (New is Out)
Maura Healey Has Become the First Out Lesbian Governor in U.S. History (them)
Out Rep. Sharice Davids wins reelection in a major victory for Democrats (LGBTQ Nation)
Robert Garcia becomes the first out LGBTQ immigrant elected to Congress (LGBTQ Nation)
These history-making LGBTQ candidates have been elected to state legislatures across the country (LGBTQ Nation)
With his victory in Connecticut, Erick Russell is the first Black gay statewide official. (LGBTQ Nation)
A List of LGBTQ+ Wins
Czech MP comes out as gay after Slovakia LGBTQ+ bar shooting: ‘Society is being radicalized’ (Pink News)
Daniel Radcliffe explains why he had to speak out against J.K. Rowling’s transphobia (LGBTQ Nation)
In Taiwan, Pride is a potent mix of LGBTQ and democratic rights (Wash Post)
It's Time to Queer the Vote (The Advocate)
LGBTQ candidates hope to make history in elections (Bay Area Reporter)
LGBTQ Representation in Ads Has Grown, but Many Consumers Find It Inauthentic (Wall Street Journal)
Miss Argentina & Miss Puerto Rico announce their marriage with heartwarming video (LGBTQ Nation)
New Vatican document acknowledges concerns of LGBTQ Catholics (Philly Gay News)
Poland’s highest court rules same-sex marriages are not banned (Washington Blade)
Qatar Could Pivot on LGBT Policies During World Cup (Front Office Sports)
Techno & lust in wartime Kyiv: No photos. No prejudice. (LGBTQ Nation)
The 19th Explains: The governor’s races we’re watching in 2022 (19th News)
This SC county to keep LGBTQ-themed books in children’s library after emotional meeting (The State)
Tokyo starts recognizing same-sex relationships (France24)
Trevor Project launches LGBTQ youth suicide prevention service in Mexico (LGBTQ Nation)
White House holds LGBTQ economic briefing (Dallas Voice)
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws/Violence Around the World
Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric roils Wisconsin, providing political fuel for the right (PBS)
As the Ukraine war rages, Russia doubles down on anti-LGBT laws (Al Jazeera)
Australian inquiry probes 40 years of gay hate killings (Washington Post)
Brittney Griner Has Been Sent to a Penal Colony (them)
Cis woman with short hair terrorized by transphobe while using women’s restroom (LGBTQ Nation)
Colorado LGBTQ and Latino advocates denounce transphobic political mailers sent to Spanish-speaking voters (Colorado Public Radio)
Elon Musk’s Twitter already looks grim for the LGBTQ community (Huff Post)
Erdogan says the constitutional change will protect families against 'perverse trends' (Reuters)
First trans politician in Russia quits after the push to expand ‘LGBT propaganda’ law (Xtra)
Fresh Off Reelection, Tennessee Republicans Are Trying to Criminalize Drag (them)
‘I’m Afraid for My Future’: Proposed Laws Threaten Gay Life in Russia (NYTimes)
Israel election results could prove disastrous for LGBTQ community (Washington Blade)
My Harrowing Journey Through Gay Conversion Therapy in Russia (GQ)
Nearly half of LGBTQ teens in Japan have considered suicide (Japan Today)
Newly ascendant anti-LGBT MK says he will seek to ban Jerusalem Pride Parade (Times of Israel)
No matter election results, threats to LGBTQ students in Kansas will continue in the new session (Kansas Reflector)
Putin goes to war on LGBT rights (The Spectator)
“Qatari officials gang raped me for being gay”: The truth about how the World Cup hosts treat LGBT people. (iNews)
Republicans Push Homophobic Conspiracy Theory About Paul Pelosi's Attack (Jezebel, LA Blade)
Russia strengthens its anti-LGBT legislation in its fight against “Satanism” (New Statesman)
Links, Quotes & Gay Shit
An Oral History of Batman: The Animated Series (Vulture)
How Alabama’s Confederate museums get state funding to distort our history (AL.com)
East Germany's Hidden LGBTQ Life Uncovered In Wittdorf Exhibition (Barron’s)
Finding Black Queer Life Between the Lines of History (LitHub)
Kanye's Masculinity to Right Wing Pipeline (Darrell Owens)
Kim Petras on Religion, Abortion, and Making History as a Trans Pop Star (Daily Beast)
Navigating coming out of the closet in the South (Bay Area Reporter)
Navigating Life with Misophonia: “For the Past Ten Years I Have Lived Inside Music.” (LitHub)
What It’s Like Coming Out To My Grandmother—Over And Over Again (Chatelaine)