Surprise, Surprise!

Who would have thunk it!

That I would be writing a positive blog on Rep. Santos, not me. But…

Santos introduces legislation defunding countries with anti-LGBTQ policies

The Hill

By Brooke Migdon

June 13, 2023

A new resolution introduced by Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) seeks to end federal funding to nations that persecute or discriminate against LGBTQ people based on their sexual orientation.

The resolution filed in March would cut all federal funding to countries where laws or policies discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, “including by criminalizing homosexuality or same-sex marriage.”

Santos, who is openly gay, on Monday said the resolution was motivated by laws including Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, which calls for the death penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality,” defined as homosexual acts carried out by those infected with HIV or acts involving children, disabled people or those drugged against their will.

Oh course you know that this has a snowball chance in hell in passing, but still.

“June is pride month, and the best way to celebrate the history and achievements of gay rights is to stand up to countries actively oppressing the LGBTQ community,” Santos said Monday in an emailed statement. “While waving rainbow flags and changing corporate logos may signify solidarity, we need to send a clear message that the United States will not offer federal aid to countries found to be violating the rights of individuals based on sexual orientation.”

This is really a surprise but I like it, I know that this just a gimmick to make him look good but I will take it… any port in the storm.

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Another win in court!

A Utah city violated the First Amendment in denying a drag show permit, judge rules

AP News

June 17, 2023

The city of St. George must issue a permit for a Utah-based group that organizes drag performances to host an all-ages drag show in a public park, a federal judge ruled, calling the city’s attempt to stop the show unconstitutional discrimination.

“Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces,” U.S. District Judge David Nuffer wrote in a Friday ruling granting the preliminary injunction requested by the group. “The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”

Southern Utah Drag Stars and its CEO, Mitski Avalōx, sued the city of St. George in May after the city denied the group permits for an all-ages show it aimed to host in a public park in April. A complaint filed in federal court accused city officials of “flagrant and ongoing violations of their free speech, due process, and equal protection rights,” and asked for St. George to reverse its decision and authorize a drag show at the end of June.

[...]

“Public officials take an oath to ‘support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Utah,’” Nuffer wrote. “They do not merely serve the citizens who elect them, the majority of citizens in the community, or a vocal minority in the community.”

He got that right!