Does This Sound Familiar?

Do you think that this is something that the Republicans are doing?

Russian Justice Ministry wants court to define LGBTQ 'movement' as extremist
UPI
By Patrick Hilsman
November 17, 2023

The Russian Ministry of Justice has filed a motion asking the nation's supreme court to label as extremist what the ministry characterizes as the "international LGBT public movement."

Last year, the Russian government expanded its pre-existing ban on LQBTQ materials being shown to children with a law banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations," directed at anyone.

[…]

The Ministry of Justice said that what it characterizes as the "international LGBT movement," was responsible for inciting "social and religious discord."

No tell me what does that sound like? Maybe the Republican pogrom on us?

19^th News reported,

House Republicans have embedded at least 45 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions into must-pass funding bills — many of which would weaken discrimination protections for same-sex couples or restrict gender-affirming care for adults and minors. The volume and severity of these provisions is an unprecedented attempt by federal lawmakers to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people, activists say.

The measures are not likely to make it through the Democrats who control the Senate as Congress finalizes a federal budget. But lawmakers’ willingness to tie these provisions to the federal budget raises the stakes for a community that has already seen its rights rolled back across many states this year. It is not guaranteed that all of the efforts can or will be blocked in the Senate, LGBTQ+ activists say.

And that is not all…

I’m a gay man and, for five months, my life was illegal in my home state
We need everybody to sound the alarm
Independent
By Skylar Baker-Jordan
November 20, 2023

For five months this year, I was illegal in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The city council passed an ordinance in June “banning ‘indecent behavior,’ including ‘indecent exposure, public indecency, lewd behavior, nudity or sexual conduct’” on city property, The New Republic reported. That ordinance refers specifically to a section of the city code defining “sexual conduct” to include “homosexuality”.

This means that for several months, I could have been arrested for holding hands with a man I love in one of my state’s biggest cities.

[…]

Living in Tennessee is a paradox. On the one hand, there are elected officials at every level of government trying to dehumanize, degrade, and deny you basic civil rights and liberties. On the other, there are the many wonderful people who don’t give a damn you’re gay. Unfortunately, many of them also don’t give a damn that their elected officials are oppressing you for it.

And that’s the thing, the people are behind us but… they care more for other issues. And that the trap of fascism, the anti-LGBTQ issues are second fiddle to the economy and the Republican base is energized by their anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion stance. But the Republicans miscalculated on the pushback on abortion.

The week the Republican Party caved to MAGA and surrendered America's middle to extremism
If you see Donald Trump and his MAGA movement as a dishonest, disingenuous threat to America, if you believe religion and politics shouldn’t mix, then new House Speaker Mike Johnson should worry you.
USA Today
By Rex Huppke
October 29, 2023

If you care about democracy, or about abortion rights or about the lives, freedoms and well-being of LGBTQ+ friends and loved ones, this past week was important.

If you believe the 2020 presidential election was free and fair, as has been proven time and time and time again, this past week was important.

If you see former president and current criminal defendant Donald Trump and his MAGA movement as a dishonest, disingenuous threat to America, if you believe religion and politics shouldn’t mix, that we are not a theocracy, this past week was important.

It marked the end to the myth of the moderate House Republican and the party’s embrace of both Trump and a form of right-wing extremism voters have made clear they find unpalatable.

I implore you – young voters, older voters and everyone in between – to pay attention.

The Republicans are doing the same thing Putin is doing, using us for scapegoats to distract attention from all the ills of the nation. The old magician sled of hand trick… don’t look at the crumbling bridges, the poisonous water treatment plants look over at those drag queens and trans kids they are a scourge that are causing all the problems.