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Rights Activists Alarmed as Pompeo Installs Anti-Gay Anti-Abortion Activist to Head New Commission on “Natural Law”

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Pompeo hopes to redefine the entire concept of “human rights,” and to do so he’s hired a woman with a decades-long record of anti-LGBTQ activism.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday announced the formation of a new commission that will take a “fresh look” at human rights through the lens of “natural law,” and civil and human rights advocates are outraged. In preliminary filings the State Dept. noted the Commission will explore “our nation’s founding principles of natural law and natural rights.”

“Natural law,” is religious right wing extremist code for anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ rights, especially marriage for same-sex couples.

Critics are outraged.

The director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Program weighed in:

Secretary Pompeo, a known right wing Christian extremist in his own right, has named Mary Ann Glendon, a professor who is also his former mentor, to lead the “Commission on Unalienable Rights.”

Glendon is an anti-abortion, anti-gay Catholic activist who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See (the Vatican) under President George W. Bush. She is also known for her opposition to the use of condoms to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“I hope that the commission will revisit the most basic of questions: What does it mean to claim something is, in fact, a human right?” Pompeo told reporters Monday, adding, as Yahoo News notes, that “words like rights can be used for good or evil.”

Glendon should understand Pompeo’s remarks. She penned a 2004 op-ed supporting a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. In a unique twist of language she claimed the amendment “should be welcomed by all Americans who are concerned about equality and preserving democratic decision-making.”

And in a shocking move Glendon chastised the awarding of a Pulitzer Prize to the Boston Globe for its work exposing pedophile priests. She reportedly said, “If fairness & accuracy have anything to do with it, awarding the Pulitzer to the Boston Globe would be like giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Osama bin Laden.”

Anti-gay hate group leader Tony Perkins was briefed on the Commission before it was officially announced, CBS News reports.

A State Dept. official says the Commission is a “personal project” of Secretary Pompeo’s, and Politico reports the Commission “was conceived with almost no input from the State Department’s human rights bureau, people familiar with the matter say, effectively sidelining career government experts who have focused on human rights policy and history across numerous administrations.”

As extreme as Glendon is, the preliminary proposed Chair was Robert P. George, a Princeton professor who co-founded the extremely anti-gay National Organization For Marriage (NOM).

Meanwhile, Amnesty International issued a scathing rebuke to Pompeo and his new Commission. In “Trump Administration Commission on Unalienable Rights Politicizes Human Rights for Hate,” the human rights organization’s national director of advocacy and government affairs, Joanne Lin, said:

“This administration has actively worked to deny and take away long-standing human rights protections since Trump’s inauguration. If this administration truly wanted to support people’s rights, it would use the global framework that’s already in place. Instead, it wants to undermine rights for individuals, as well as the responsibilities of governments.”

“This approach only encourages other countries to adopt a disregard for basic human rights standards and risks weakening international, as well as regional frameworks, placing the rights of millions of people around the world in jeopardy.”

“International agreements, like the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, have been upheld by prior administrations over the last 71 years, regardless of their party. This politicization of human rights in order to, what appears to be an attempt to further hateful policies aimed at women and LGBTQ people, is shameful.”

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Image via NCRM

Cobra Cabana Takes A Stand With Their Gay-Fil-A Special

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Cobra Cabana’s Gay-Fil-A is not only a statement against Chick-Fil-A’s anti-LGBTQ politics, but also a damn good chicken sandwich.

“All freakies are welcome — I’ve always cared about freaky scenes and freaky people, and their values are very significant to me,” says Valient Himself, one of three owners of Cobra Cabana. Himself, who sings in metal band Valient Thorr, got together with Rob Skotis, bassist of thrash band Iron Reagan, and Josh Novicki, a chef with restaurant experience, to open Cobra Cabana last summer. Located in Carver, just north of the VCU campus, this neighborhood bar and grill strives to be inclusive to everyone, especially those who feel like outsiders.

One particular group often deemed outsiders that Cobra Cabana hopes to welcome into their space is the LGBTQ community. This, of course, puts them in stark contrast with Chick-Fil-A, who officially became the third-largest restaurant chain in America as of 2019, according to Business Insider. In 2017 alone, Chick-Fil-A were found by a ThinkProgress investigation to have donated nearly $2 million to three different groups with anti-LGBTQ agendas.

“I’ve taken a stand several times when big corporations would make their views known to the world and it was a pretty messed up view,” Himself said, “The popular ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ chain blantantly refuses to hire and discriminates against gay kids and they are not queer-positive at all.”

In March, Chick-Fil-A held a “Beloved Benefit” in its founding city of Atlanta, raising money for a variety of non-profit organizations working to help underprivileged communities in the area. The benefit’s name was based on an idea of the “Beloved Community” popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King. Through actions like these, Chick-Fil-A helps shift emphasis from the more discriminatory aspects of their religiously-driven business model to a more positive portrayal. But Valient Himself sees through this.

“I haven’t eaten at that chain in over ten years because of their values,” Himself said. “I want to be able to stand up to them and say: they’re closed on Sunday? We’ll be open on Sundays, and offer an alternative to this corporate garbage — but make it even better.”

Cobra Cabana chef Lauren Vincelli originally came up with the idea of making an alternative to Chick-Fil-A’s well-known chicken sandwich. Himself and the other owners thought it was a perfect way to show their opposition to Chick-Fil-A’s agenda.

“Lauren pitched this great idea, and we ran with it,” said Himself. “She helped us pick [LGBTQ youth support and advocacy organization] Side By Side, a local non-profit here in town, to donate the proceeds to.” Side By Side receives 10 percent of the proceeds generated by the sandwich special.

The Gay-Fil-A, as Cobra Cabana has dubbed it, is a pickled bun chicken-breast sandwich, which comes with waffle fries and a house-made Polynesian sauce. A vegan version of it is offered as well, and the Gay-Fil-A is only offered on Sunday particularly to make a political statement.

“It is reminiscent of a Chick-fil-A sandwich, from what I can remember,” said Himself. “Come get a better version of it on a day that they won’t even sell it.”  

The Gay-Fil-A made it’s debut about six months ago and it has been one of the best sellers on Sundays.

“If someone enters on Sunday and sees the Gay-Fil-A, they ask about it, and almost always buy it,” said Himself. “It’s a good system to have specials, and in turn has generated money for the local nonprofit.”

As a restaurant with roots in the community and an independent ownership, Cobra Cabana is glad to take stands against oppression whenever they have the opportunity. Indeed, after they learned of the Yuengling beer company’s endorsement of Trump, and CEO Dick Yuengling’s defiant response to the boycott that ensued, Cobra Cabana removed Yuengling from their draft list, despite having carried it since they opened. “I’m not going to support Trump, and I’m not going to support hatred, xenophobia, racism and homophobia,” said Himself.

As far as he can tell, making these kinds of decisions has only helped Cobra Cabana’s standing in the community. “I’m not scared of any kind of weird backlash,” Himself said. “We’ve been supported in our neighborhood and city because of this, and we appreciate everyone in our community that supports not only us, but also the local LGBTQIA community.”

Cobra Cabana is located at 901 W. Marshall St in Carver, and are open every day from 11 AM til 2 AM. Don’t let another Sunday go by without trying their Gay-Fil-A — the opportunity to finally eat a chicken sandwich with a clear conscience isn’t one you want to miss.

Written by Brea Hill and Marilyn Drew Necci. Photos by Brea Hill.

Senate Republicans Just Gave a Lifetime Appointment to One of the Most Anti-LGBTQ Judges Trump Has Ever Nominated

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He thinks transgender people are “delusional.”

He sees the fight for LGBTQ equality as a “clash of absolutes” where “religious liberty and sexual liberty” are forever at odds.

He says the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is “weaponizing” the Supreme Court Obergefell marriage ruling against Christians.

He’s said that “preventing sexual orientation-based discrimination cannot justify serious burdens on…constitutionally protected religious freedom.”

He works for an anti-LGBTQ legal group that seeks to defend Christians against  perceived religious discrimination. Among their clients have been Christian bakers Melissa and Aaron Klein of Sweetcakes by Melissa.

And on Wednesday Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted 52-46 to give him a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.

Matthew Kacsmaryk of the very anti-LGBTQ First Liberty Institute will soon be U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk for the Northern District of Texas.

All Democrats and one just one Republican, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) voted against Kacsmaryk’s confirmation, as The Washington Blade reports.

Kacsmaryk is opposed by hundreds of LGBTQ and civil rights groups. The Leadership Conference, a coalition of more than 200 national organizations calls Kacsmaryk “a right-wing extremist who has made a career out of dehumanizing LGBTQ people, debasing women, and assailing health care rights. He has expressed staunch opposition to the Equality Act, marriage equality, and promoted the dangerous lie that being transgender is a ’delusion.’ He has attacked Roe v. Wade and challenged the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive access.”

Lambda Legal is part of a 75-group coalition that also opposes Kacsmaryk, saying in a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein. The group notes that Kacsmaryk defended Melissa Klein of Sweetcakes by Melissa, and argued that “preventing sexual orientation-based discrimination cannot justify serious burdens on…constitutionally protected religious freedom.”

The Alliance for Justice published a six-page report on Kacsmaryk, concluding “Kacsmaryk has built his legal career opposing equal rights for millions of his fellow citizens. His harsh and demeaning rhetoric regarding LGBTQ rights and reproductive rights sends a clear message that he has little regard for established legal precedent in this area. Kacsmaryk often couches his opposition to equal rights in religious language.”

The AFJ added, “Kacsmaryk’s statements demonstrate beliefs that discrimination against LGBTQ Americans is valid and should be condoned.”

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Photo via NCRM.

WATCH: Fox & Friends Celebrates Signing of New Texas Anti-LGBTQ Law by Eating and Defending Chick-fil-A

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The “Fox & Friends” crew celebrated Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s signing of the anti-LGBTQ “Save Chick-fil-A” bill into law by eating and praising the chicken fast food, and defending the Christian retailer by misrepresenting opposition to the bill and to the company.

The “Save Chick-fil-A” law now makes it illegal in Texas for the government to take “adverse action” against anyone or any entity for their “sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction, including beliefs or convictions regarding marriage.”

It was created in response to the San Antonio city council barring Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in its airport, based on the company’s multi-million dollar support of anti-LGBTQ organizations, including an anti-gay hate group.

But that’s not the story “Fox & Friends” told its viewers Wednesday morning.

“The area lawmakers said no” to Chick-fil-A opening in the San Antonio airport, co-host Ainsley Earhardt said, “because there’s some controversy with this restaurant, what their beliefs are on LGBT, so they voted no.”

(It’s not “LGBT.” It’s “LGBT people.”)

And the issue is not the company’s beliefs, but their massive multi-million dollar financial support of anti-LGBTQ organizations that discriminate against or work to harm LGBTQ people.

“Even if you disagree with the restaurant’s politics it doesn’t mean I’m necessarily not going to like their food,” Earhardt added as she began to eat the Chick-fil-A from the table.

Co-host Brian Kilmeade was more to the point.

“Every time you try to stop Chick-fil-A, you help Chick-fil-A.”

Watch:

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Image via screencap.

State Dept. Quietly Creates Commission Focused on ‘Fresh Thinking’ About ‘Natural Rights’ – Code for Anti-LGBTQ

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The U.S. State Dept. on Thursday quietly published a notice in the Federal Registerannouncing it creating a new commission to provide “fresh thinking” about “natural law and natural rights,” which is the religious right’s code for anti-LGBTQ.

The “Commission on Unalienable Rights” will “provide fresh thinking about human rights discourse where such discourse has departed from our nation’s founding principles of natural law and natural rights,” the notice states.

Politico reports human rights activists are “surprised,” and “privately said they worry that talk of the ‘nation’s founding principles’ and ‘natural law’ are coded signals of plans to focus less on protecting women and LGBT people.”

In fact, Christian extremists, anti-gay hate groups, and other factions of the religious right often argue against LGBTQ civil rights, including same-sex marriage, as violations of “natural law.”

The newly-formed Commission on Unalienable Rights will directly advise Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It appears it may be headed by his Director of Policy Planning, Kiron Skinner, whose name appears at the bottom of the notice.

Pompeo is a far right religious extremist who has openly stated the function of politics is to “fight these battles” because there is a “never-ending struggle” until “the rapture,” as The New York Times has reported. He has also said the Bible “informs everything I do.”

Skinner is a highly-accomplished and noted scholar who recently caused an international stir. Professor Skinner at a public forum on national security told attendees that America’s upcoming competition with China would be especially bitter, as Foreign Policy reported, because, she said, “it’s the first time that we will have a great-power competitor that is not Caucasian.”

The Trump administration has a horrific record on human rights here in the U.S. and internationally. At home, Trump has now rolled back or rescinded every protection for transgender people codified under President Barack Obama, including but not limited to evicting transgender Americans from the U.S. Armed Forces. He and has administration are working to remove hard-won protections across the board for LGBTQ people and women. Internationally, the President repeatedly praises and protects dictators who are responsible for the murder of their own people. Just one example: Trump’s claim that he and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un “fell in love.”

But Trump has also prioritized defending, promoting, and even creating special rights for Christian conservatives over U.S. law and over decades of U.S. foreign policy.

The Commission on Unalienable Rights appears to be the next step in the process.

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Image by U.S. Dept. of State via Flickr 

New Trump Rule Would Allow Transgender People To Be Denied Health Care

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The attacks from this administration just do not stop.

On Friday, Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed a rule that seems calculated to have devastating effects on LGBTQ health care in the United States.

Roger Severino, who is the director of HHS’s Office of Civil Rights — and, probably not coincidentally, a known LGBTQ-rights opponent who has been called a “radical anti-LGBTQ activist” by the Human Rights Campaign — announced that under HHS’s proposed rule, the government would rescind Obama-era guidelines calling for Civil Rights Act protections “on the basis of sex” to be interpreted as applying to gender identity.

“When Congress prohibited sex discrimination, it did so according to the plain meaning of the term, and we are making our regulations conform,” Severino said, according to the Washington Post.

This change mirrors several other changes made by Trump’s cabinet since the 45th President took office, including in the Departments of Education and Justice. It comes only days after a proposed rule by the Department of Housing And Urban Development that would allow homeless shelters to refuse access to transgender people.

US Senator Patty Murray, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Labor, and Pensions Committee called this decision “blatantly harmful, discriminatory and wrong” in a statement.

“Patients don’t need the ideological judgment of President Trump, Vice President Pence, or anyone else for that matter—they need to know that when they seek the health care they need, they won’t be turned away because of who they are,” Murray stated.

Emilie Kao, director of the DeVos Center For Religion and Civil Society for right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation, claimed in a statement that this ruling was necessary in order to protect the rights of doctors whose religious beliefs prohibited them from performing gender-reassignment surgeries or abortions.

“The Trump administration is right to revise Obamacare’s unlawful regulation that was blocked from taking effect by a federal court,” Kao stated. “It would have forced physicians to offer sex-reassignment procedures and abortions despite strong ethical and medical concerns.”

However, neither Kao nor the Trump administration has addressed the fact that this change could open the door for doctors to refuse even life-saving health care to a transgender person with critical injuries — as happened in 1995 to Tyra Hunter, a trans woman who’d been injured in a car accident. After discovering Hunter’s transgender status, EMTs and ER staff refused or gave inadequate health care, and Hunter died of her injuries as a result.

“Predicated on little more than prejudice, this proposal will abandon 2 million Americans who already face significant barriers to accessing adequate and life-saving health care,” said Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, in a statement.

“This is not about free health care or special treatment. It’s about the right of every American to be treated with dignity when they walk into an emergency room, meet a new doctor, or find the right insurance plan,” Keisling continued. “If permitted, this rule will promote ignorance and hate that no American should have to face while seeking care, and we are ready to fight it with everything we’ve got.”