As the harsh reality of a Trump administration sinks in, it’s clear that Trump and company will undo much of what Obama has done. We’re already getting strong signals that much of what we celebrated over the past eight years will likely be nothing but a memory by 2017.
If anyone out there still thinks Trump is “not that bad gay issues” please read this list and think again.
Here’s a list of the things that we can probably kiss goodbye soon after Trump takes office.
1. Employment protections
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In the absence of federal legislation, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Obama later extended the protections to transgender workers. While Trump hasn’t singled these protections out, he has promised to repeal all of Obama’s executive orders. Vice President Mike Pence, who will play an outsized role in the Trump Administration, would gladly add this to his list of measures to axe.
2. Transgender students
On the other hand, Pence has explicitly promised that the Trump administration will roll back guidance allowing transgender students to choose the bathroom that matches their gender identify. “Washington has no business intruding on the operation of our local schools,” Pence told religious right leader James Dobson in an interview last month.
3. Housing discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development decided that government housing discrimination issues do include LGBTQ people, even though they are not called out in federal statute. Since that’s not codified in law, the next HUD Secretary will likely rescind that protection.
4. Health care rights
Trump’s promise that he will repeal Obamacare will have multiple consequences. For one thing, the Obama administration specifically said that the law prohibits discrimination in health care. For another, the law prevents health insurers from refusing to offer a plan or charging more to someone on the basis of a pre-existing condition. This has been a major benefit for people with HIV, who are now facing a return to the old insurance market, and getting essentially locked out of them unless they find a group or company plan.
5. Marriage benefits
Trump can’t stop marriage equality–at least not right away. But his appointees could erode a number of benefits that we enjoy as a result of it. For example, the administration could decide to overturn Obama’s decision to extend family leave benefits to same-sex couples. Or the Pentagon could stop allowing military personnel from bringing their same-sex spouses with them on overseas assignments.
6. A hostile Supreme Court
Not at first. By filling the spot left vacant by the death of Antonin Scalia, Trump will merely return the Court to its previous conservative tilt. But if Anthony Kennedy retires–and at age 80, he’s ready–we will lose our staunchest and only conservative supporter on the Court. You can guarantee that Kennedy’s replacement will be nowhere near as friendly to our issues. If you think that a hostile court can’t erode decided law, you haven’t been following the debate about abortion.
7. A resurgence of conversion therapy
The Obama administration called for a ban on conversion therapy for youth. On the other hand, Mike Pence has spoken kindly of it. Don’t be surprised if the federal government decides that conversion therapy is a perfectly legitimate treatment.
8. Religious freedom legislation
Otherwise known as a free pass to discriminate and much prized by Trump’s evangelical supporters. Trump has promised to sign the First Amendment Defense Act, which will give homophobes carte blanche to refuse services to us on vaguely worded religious grounds. In other words, we’ll have a replay of Indiana’s own religious freedom law under Pence. The big difference is that the financial pressure that business placed on Pence won’t apply here, because the law isn’t geographically focused. How can you boycott the entire U.S.?
How much of this will come to pass is anyone’s guess. But if you are placing your hope in Trump being relatively friendly to us, forget it. He’s probably going to delegate the work of governing to Mike Pence and his appointees.
That means the future of equality looks pretty bleak.
1EqualityUSA
I worry more for the other victims on their to-do list.
Bob LaBlah
From the article: “it’s clear that Trump and company will undo much of what Obama has done.”
Tonight on CBS’ 60 minutes Trump is being interviewed. Based on the excerpts I have seen so far on the news Trump is sounding like himself but at the same time, based on what he said, he is sounding more and more like a closeted liberal. Trump has said the minimum HAS to be raised (and during an interview the other day corporate raider Carl Ichan agreed with him). But that is not what caught my attention. What caught my attention was when he said that yes, he was getting rid of Obamacare BUT as soon as its death was signed into law IMMEDIATELY afterward, as in the next second afterward, HIS version was going to take over. He is assuring everyone that there is nothing to worry about because no one is going to lose their health coverage. That is not the rantings of a true, red republican. At least it sure as hell doesn’t sound like it to me. It sounds like he is going to simply stamp his name on the same plan. What changes could he actually make that aren’t already there? But he is assuring the public you will have healthcare.
I say lets sit back and give the man a chance but whatever you do be sure to see the interview. In case you miss the full interview it will be posted on their site below after it airs nationally.
http://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes/
Heywood Jablowme
@Bob LaBlah: Yeah, I wondered about that too. Suddenly it’s all “We hate Obamacare and we have to get rid of it except we like the X part and we like the Y part and we like the Z part….”
Apparently the only really “bad” thing about Obamacare is the name!
Oh well, it was always Romneycare anyway.
Heywood Jablowme
Most of these things on the list are certainly annoying and wrong, but they affect relatively few people. Most of us don’t lose much sleep about, for instance, gay couples getting married who need to go to the nearest big city to get a wedding cake.
The only really dangerous things are the Supreme Court appointments and the truly evil conversion therapy.
Alistair Wiseman
‘Love Trumping Hate’ involves a lot more assualt, arson and violence than I anticipated.
Heywood Jablowme
@Alistair Wiseman: Yeah yeah yeah, we get it – you don’t give a sh!t about ANYTHING on this list, even the conversion therapy.
Heywood Jablowme
Gay Republicans aren’t really gay. Just because you have sex with a big pile of money and cum all over it, that doesn’t make you gay!
Bob LaBlah
@Heywood Jablowme: “Yeah yeah yeah, we get it – you don’t give a sh!t about ANYTHING on this list, even the conversion therapy.”
What many of “them” do not realize is this: Trump is from NEW YORK. Many northerners know absolutely nothing about the mentality of southern Bubbas but Trump knew he HAD to have them in his corner to win. He told them exactly what they needed to hear: he was going to restore law and order to the country. I have NO doubt Rudy Giuliani’s octogenarian ass will be made Attorney General and declare martial law not if but WHEN the next terrorist strike hits the U.S. and kills enough people. It was Rudy who closed off NYC during 9-11, not Bush. He did it on his own. No one get in nor out. Imagine what he is going to due to BLM and white groups who clearly think a “new” day for the better has arrived for them.
As the situation stands, you have a bonafide northerner for president along with a quite possible Italian American for Attorney General. The only thing left is to make Christy Sec of State (which is highly unlikely but still possible because Christy is due something). The only two southerns being mentioned are Jeff Sessions and ol’ Newt. Newt I have written off because behind the scenes he is too combative. It was his OWN republican party who ousted him from the Speaker of the House position. Trump can’t lose and the whole while he is waving his middle finger at EVERYONE. For him, it seems impossible to be any sweeter. Don’t be so quick to say he is going to go after gay rights. You say what it takes to get them to vote. After your win, then you go back to being yourself.
Brian
I’m not opposed to promiscuity therapy. Promiscuity therapy is needed to prevent gay-identifying men from falling into the trap of meaningless lives peppered by weekends of unfettered sleaze. Don’t deny that this is common.
Conversion therapy is totally unnecessary as I believe male homosexual desire (MHD) is a natural emotion that ALL men should be allowed to opt into. Where I have a problem is the sleaze that develops in many men’s lives when they lack morals.
That’s why I support promiscuity therapy.
Mo Bro
This is nothing but a list of “could-happens” and “might-bes” and “what-ifs.”
The liberal fear and paranoia anticipating the coming Trumpocalypse is knee-slappingly hilarious.
Alistair Wiseman
@Heywood Jablowme:
Hey, I think we have a first! You are actually correct – ‘having sex with a big pile of money and cumming all over it doesn’t make you gay’.
Speaking of big piles of money, for the first time since the 1950’s that the presidential candidate who spent the most money did not win. Donald Trump spent a fraction as much as his rivals and yet won with unprecedented efficiency.
Alistair Wiseman
“THE SKY IS FALLING!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!
-Queerty
Bob LaBlah
@Alistair Wiseman: ““THE SKY IS FALLING!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!
-Queerty
They did me the say way when I tried to post a second comment. Intellect once again loses. lol
Paco
At least we will have some high drama entertainment from the Trump reality show. Just waiting for all the late night Twitter-tantrums from Trump every time the GOP congress refuses to do what he wants. Paul Ryan already said he is confident Trump will get in line with how the GOP wants to govern. I doubt his ego will allow that to happen.
Bob LaBlah
@Paco: “Paul Ryan already said he is confident Trump will get in line with how the GOP wants to govern.”
Its also clear Ryan has kissed Trumps ass for dissing him during the election. There is going to be hell to pay for a lot of the “establishment” GOP. Trump is not the type to forget. That rally this week was a clear sign Wall Street and its manipulators too are kissing his ass.
Paco
@Bob LaBlah: Everyone is all smiles when the wedding pictures are being taken. The honeymoon won’t last long. It never does.
Alistair Wiseman
Not to worry; Obama’s got this covered.
President Obama spent Saturday and Sunday golfing as cities across the country are convulsed by violent Obama and Hillary supporters.
Obama has issued no statement about the protests which have included calls to assassinate Trump, kill police, rape Melania and the attack of numerous reporters by pro-Hillary protesters.
After 8 years of this, I bet Obama’s golf game has gotten really good.
Paco
@Alistair Wiseman: people are exercising their constitutional right to have their voices heard. Those few protesters that are breaking the law while protesting, are being arrested, as they should be. Our Democracy working as intended. Trump didn’t win the popular vote, so these patriots are letting the government know that any tyranny by the minority (those that voted for Trump), will not be tolerated.
Alistair Wiseman
The anti-Trump protest buses. Five blocks of shipped in, paid protester buses. For $18.00 an hour, courtesy of George Soros, you to can be on the Soros payroll and protest and riot the election of a new president.
“When they go low, we go high” – Hillary Clinton
https://youtu.be/2OVHb-zc4Lw
Bob LaBlah
@Alistair Wiseman: Remember when I asked you if you had heard this and you swore to the Wailing Wall that you hadn’t?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIZGpbx9yQ4
Alistair Wiseman
Disgusting. I watched that speech, but didn’t hear it until now.
Thanks for sending it to me.
Bob LaBlah
@Alistair Wiseman: I feel almost certain Carson will be the next Surgeon General as will Giuliani the Attorney General but what do you think he’ll do with Christy?
Alistair Wiseman
@Bob LaBlah:
The Donald Trump ’60 Minutes’ interview just concluded on the West coast. I hope you and millions of others saw it.
Leslie Stahl asked Trump about gay marriage. He stated it is “settled law” and “I’m fine with that”. (Got that, Queerty?) Let’s see if Queerty reports this news.
If you (or anyone else) didn’t see this interview, hopefully you can find it online. I was somewhat surprised by the tone, demeanor and content.
Bob LaBlah
@Alistair Wiseman: So do you think he will leave Obamacare “as is” and simply slap his name on it or revamp the entire system? I say he will put his Trump stamp on it and move on.
Alistair Wiseman
@Bob LaBlah:
No, he has stated that he will keep the pre-existing conditions aspect and possibly the coverage of “kids” to age 26.
Alistair Wiseman
Short classic video of political pundits making fools of themselves over the election.
https://youtu.be/zT0Rjc6jKCg
1EqualityUSA
The problem with keeping the preexisting conditions is that some could wait and wait and wait, save money on not buying insurance and then when some vile little tumor arises, run in and get insurance, bankrupting the system.
1EqualityUSA
You need the whole enchilada or else the system falls.
Alistair Wiseman
TRUMP ON GAY MARRIAGE TONIGHT
(From the linked THE HILL article:)
“In a interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” aired Sunday, Trump said the issue has “been settled”, adding that he personally feels about gay marriage is irrelevant. “It’s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court,” Trump said.”
“It’s done. …These cases have gone to the Supreme Court. They’ve been settled, and I’m fine with that.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/305803-trump-diverts-from-gop-fine-with-supreme-courts-gay-marriage
1EqualityUSA
They realized that two-tiered set of rights for American citizens won’t fly. Idiots.
Brian
@Alistair Wiseman: Thanks for posting that insightful video of pundits making a fool of themselves.
MediaGuy
The feds/Obama have no right to weigh-in or to outlaw any medical or therapeutic procedure, in this case conversion therapy. Who TF do they think they are, doctors? Stay out of my healthcare decisions. It’s not your fu*cking business. All of a sudden Obama knows that conversion therapy is ineffective? Seriously? If I want it then I should be able to get it. If you’re outlawing something based on your perception of the facts you better be qualified to do it. You’re no fu*cking doctor Barry Obama, so stick to what you know, golf. Obama once again proves the hypocrisy of the extreme liberal left wing. Idiot.
Heywood Jablowme
@Bob LaBlah: You can maybe stop worrying about Christie getting a prominent appointment of any sort. Jared Kushner (T’s son-in-law) despises Christie for various reasons going back to when Christie prosecuted Kushner’s father. Trump himself is apparently no longer a Christie fan, he thinks Christie fucked up “Bridgegate” and is no longer worth the aggravation. Says the NY Post, a right-wing source.
Bob LaBlah
@Heywood Jablowme: Thanks for the info. I will Bing search it. If you can in the future post a link to good stuff like that. Thanks again.
1EqualityUSA
Type into Google images Ivanka, Melania porn and see if this family should represent the United States. Faithless elector petition. Now Republicans are being asked to sign this petition. Please consider adding your voice. Thanks.
https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-make-hillary-clinton-president-on-december-19
Heywood Jablowme
@MediaGuy: You might have a point if we were discussing adults, but “conversion therapy” is almost always something that is forced on MINORS.
The article says: “ban on conversion therapy for youth.”
MediaGuy
@Heywood Jablowme: Yeah, I know, I read the link. The point is still the same. Youth or adult, the government has no business politicizing psychotherapy of any kind for anyone.