Republican Fuckery XXI: MTG’s Former Drag Queen Boyfriend, the Debt Ceiling, and Target Forced to Remove Pride Month Clothing

If you were to look up the definition of hypocrisy in the dictionary these days, you would likely see the Republicans and the chaos they have created.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Marjorie Taylor Greene‘s new boyfriend is a former drag queen. It has also been said that her marriage is on the rocks. I don’t give a shit who she goes home to. What I do care about is that as usual, it is do as I say, but not as I do.

Meanwhile, as we get closer to June 1st, the debt ceiling has yet to be resolved. The problem is that while Nero (the right) is fiddling, the country and the world are on the brink of burning. Given the current worldwide political turmoil, the last thing we need is a repeat of The Great Depression. We all know where that led to.

Whatever the final deal is, it should not be upon the backs of the less financially fortunate. The 1% does not need another megayacht or a penthouse in a foreign city that they only visit twice a year. What they need to do is pay their fair share in taxes.

What many on the other side of the aisle like to forget is that under the former guy, our national deficit rose dramatically. Moreover, in recent history, Democratic Presidents have paid the bills while Republican Presidents added to the bills.

Speaking of June 1st, Pride Month starts next week. Seeing an opportunity to expand their customer base, many large retailers are selling clothing and other items. But due to the hateful reactions of some consumers, Target has removed some of its merchandise from the sales floor. If these people don’t like what Target (or any other store) is selling, they have the right to shop elsewhere. What they don’t have the right to do is destroy private property and threaten staff.

Just another day in America.

P.S. Today is the anniversary of the mass shooting at Uvalde. I wish that we didn’t have to commemorate this day, but we have to.

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The NAACP’s Warning About Florida Should Not Be Ignored

When someone shows us their true colors (especially in politics), we had best believe them.

On Saturday, the NAACP issued a travel warning for Black Americans going to Florida due to the “freedom” legislation put into place by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republicans.

The warning is as follows:

“Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.” 

“Let me be clear – failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. “Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.”

This man wants to be President in 2024. We have two choices at this point. We can either be silent and watch everything we have fought for nearly 300 years slip away. Or we can tell this man and those who think like him where they can go.

Jewish Matchmaking Review

When we think of matchmaking in our modern world, we think of couples who are forced by their families to marry due to a similar economic status or place in the social strata.

The new Netflix reality dating show Jewish Matchmaking is a spinoff of Indian Matchmaking. The series follows matchmaker Aleeza Ben Shalom as she works with Jewish singles in both the United States and Israel to find their person. As with dating (both IRL and in the world of reality television), not every date leads to a happy ending. There will be a few frogs along the way before the prince or princess comes (if they come at all).

I enjoyed the series. It was not as brain numbing as other programs of this nature. I appreciated that it is as educational as it is entertaining. The men and women who are the focus of the series come represent a range of backgrounds and levels of religious practice.

My only issue is the lack of LGBTQ singles. As great as this show is, this is the one area that I find to be lacking and hope will be recitified in season 2 (if there is a second season).

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Jewish Matchmaking is avaliable for streaming on Netflix.

The Princess and the Fangirl Book Review

Others who are older and wiser than us will sometimes say that we cannot understand another person until we walk a mile in their shoes.

The Princess and the Fan Girl, by Ashley Poston, was published in 2020 and is the second book in the Once Upon a Con trilogy. Based on the Mark Twain fable/fairy tale The Prince and the Pauper, the book follows two young women who look remarkably alike.

Imogen Lovelace loves the television series turned film adaption of Starfield with a passion. Her goal at this year’s ExcelsiCon is to get the keeper of the proverbial keys to revive the IP’s now-dead female lead, Princess Amara.

The actor playing Amara, Jessica Stone, would like nothing more than to leave the character behind in the rearview mirror. While she wants to be respected for her work, she loathes fame and constant attention.

When the script for the next film is released, Jess believes that she is responsible for the leak. The only way to find out the truth is to switch places with Imogen. While both believe that this plan will be simple to execute, they have no idea what they are in store for.

Though the narrative starts out a little slow, it picks up at about the halfway point. Instead of putting it down and moving on to the next book, I am glad I pushed through. It is a lovely story that just because we think we know someone does not mean that we actually know them.

My favorite part of the tale was that Jessica is out and proud. Moreover, her romance proves once more that love knows no bounds.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

The Princess and the Fangirl is available wherever books are sold.

Republican Fuckery XX: MTG Says That Stepparents are Not Parents & 2024 Presidential Election Nominee Vivek Ramaswamy Talks a Good Game

No one expects our politicians to be paragons of perfection. We are all human and therefore, imperfect. However, what I would hope is that we expect those in the halls of power to do what is right for the country and its citizens.

About two weeks ago, Marjorie Taylor Greene was asking questions grilling AFT (American Federation of Teachers) Union President Randi Weingarten about her “political activism”. Greene also stated Weingarten is not a mother because she is “a mother by marriage”.

Basically, what she is saying is that the only adult who can parent is one who has similar DNA. A child cannot be raised by the spouse of their parent or by one who had adopted a member of the younger generation. This is interesting, considering that the right often touts the preference for adoption over abortion. It is also curious that Greene makes this declaration after Weingarten stated that her wife was in the audience.

Last weekend, 2024 Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was a guest on Meet the Press. Like Nikki Haley, he talked a good game. But underneath was the same old bullshit.

We have to get them out of office. There is no other option if we are to save this nation.

Thoughts on Yom HaShoah 2023: Book Bans, Repeating History, and A Slight Glimmer of Hope

The only way to truly learn from the past is to walk through the pain. The problem is that many of us, for a variety of reasons, are unable to walk through that pain.

Today is Yom HaShoah. Though World War II ended 77 years ago, it sometimes feels like we are still stuck in 1940s Europe. Antisemitism is on the rise. Book banning is becoming the new norm in certain parts of the country.

Last week, two African American teenagers verbally assaulted Jewish teenagers via the Nazi salute.

Based Black Teens Yell About Shooting Jews While Giving Nazi Salute To Jewish Kids Playing Basketball In NYC https://t.co/O4nbwSV8od

— Severe Beast 83 (@AllWhiteyThan) April 12, 2023

Beyond the obvious disgust, this incident points to the lack of education. Black people in Nazi Germany were as much a target as Jews, Roma, LGBTQ, etc.

But even with all of that, there is still light. The #StandUpToJewishHate campaign will (crossing fingers) will prevent another Holocaust.

May the memories of the 6 Million (my own relatives among them) be a blessing. #ZL

Thoughts on the Utah Social Media Bill

Twenty years ago, when social media was only starting, no one could have predicted that it would become part and parcel of our everyday lives.

A little more than a week ago, the Governor of Utah Spencer Cox signed a bill that requires minors to get permission from a parent or guardian to create an account on a social media platform. In addition, these sites are off-limits from 10:30 pm to 6:30 am and the adult has access to the child’s account.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to this piece of legislation. The first is that is necessary. Given the power that it has over our lives, it provides some peace of mind in regard to the medium’s influence on the young generation. The second is that it takes away the rights of these kids in favor of safety which could be perceived as misguided. If a child is being abused or is LGBTQ in a home that is homophobic, the internet may be their only form of free expression.

I admire the Governor for trying to tackle this problem It is not black and white, and therefore, not easy to resolve. However, there has to be a balance between protecting the next generation and ensuring that their rights are not trampled on.

The Uganda Anti-Gay Bill Represents Everything That is Wrong With This World

Though our history tells us that heterosexuality is the norm and identifying as LGBTQ is an anomaly, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The spectrum of human sexuality as a whole has existed for thousands of years, but it is still seen as something new and “different”.

Last week, a bill passed through the Uganda Parliament that criminalizes homosexuality to the extreme. The best case scenario is that the accused is given a jail sentence. The worst-case scenario is being put to death. Adding insult to injury, it can be used as blackmail (regardless of the person’s sexuality) and citizens are required to report those in same-sex relationships to authorities.

As someone who has recently come out of the closet, I am grateful to live in a country that recognizes and respects my humanity. That being said, I am also keenly aware that not everyone in every part of the world is allowed that same dignity.

With all that is going on, this shouldn’t be on the priority list to begin with. Who one goes to bed with should be a private matter and no one’s business. But we live in a culture that demands conformity and punishes those who go their own way.

Republican Fuckery XIIII: Randy McNally (TN Republican Hypocrite), TX Sued for Abortion Law, & SVB Woke Accusation

No one is perfect. We all have our flaws and mistakes to recover from. But there is a difference between knowing your imperfections and pretending that they don’t exist when it is convenient.

In Tennessee, Lt. Governor Randy McNally was accused of making adult comments on the Instagram page of a younger man who is in various stages of undress (otherwise known as a thirst trap). The young man whose images he responded to is gay. These Republican hypocrites claim to be for “traditional family values“. They talk a good game, but never walk the walk.

INTERESTING: Tennessee @LtGovMcNally has been liking and commenting on this young man’s Instagram page for an extended period of time—the most attention from @BillLeeTN’s second in command going toward the racier photographs. We’ve reached out to the Lt. Gov for comment. pic.twitter.com/mOgItZWeHS

— Walter Murphy (@WMurphyNews) March 9, 2023

In Texas, five women have sued the state over its abortion ban. They are suing because they believe that the ban puts their life and the lives of their fetuses at risk. These women are my heroes. They are not just standing up for themselves and their families. They are speaking for all of us who are affected by arbitrary legislation that has more to do with the beliefs of a few than reality.

And finally, one of the major headlines of the last seven days is the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank. The most disconcerting offshoots of the story are the accusations that “wokeness” was the cause of the bank’s downfall. Instead of zeroing in on the real problems that were the cause, the right once again chooses to pick the answer that suits them.

Two major points have been part of the discourse around the bank. The first is the repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act by the former guy. Like the accident in East Palestine, all of this might have been prevented had the regulations remained as is. The second is the irony that the organization received financial assistance from the federal government. However, when they wanted the government to be hands-off, they got what they wanted. They can’t have it both ways. Either there are structures in place to head off a collapse or it is the wild wild west.

Just another day in America.

Purim and the Challenge of Being Yourself

In act one, scene three of William Shakespeare‘s play Hamlet, Polonius guides his son Laertes via the following statement:

‘ To thine own self be true ‘

The Jewish holiday of Purim starts tonight. It is the story of Queen Esther, a young lady in ancient Persia (present-day Iran), who puts her life on the line to save her people. When it becomes clear that the lives of millions are in her hands, she knows that the only way to survive is to be true to herself.

Last week, after being in the closet for many years, I came out. My mental health demanded it. If I didn’t, I would never be happy. My biggest fear was being rejected. The opposite happened. I got nothing but love, which made it all worth it.

Being yourself is the hardest thing to do, but it is totally worth it.