Such petty bullshit coming from our government. But should we expect any better at this point?

Trump Administration Denies U.S. Embassies Permission To Fly Pride Flag

U.S. embassies in Germany, Israel, Brazil and Latvia requested permission from the State Department to fly the rainbow flag on their flagpoles and were denied, NBC News reported Friday, citing three unidentified American diplomats.

Some U.S. embassies still hoisting rainbow flags, despite advisory from Washington

Since the State Department began rejecting all embassy requests to hoist rainbow flags outside the mission buildings during LGBTQ Pride Month this year, some U.S. diplomats have been finding ways to defy, or at least get around, the new policy.  Although most embassies seem to be toeing the line, the policy shift appears to have sparked something of a revolt among diplomats.

This is probably my favorite one, however:

Some embassies that have flown the flag in previous years opted this year to commemorate the month by posting on their websites President Trump’s statement affirming LGBT rights and inviting nations to join a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality.

California’s Governor even called Trump’s bullshit:

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR DEFIES TRUMP, FLIES RAINBOW FLAG OVER STATE CAPITOL DURING PRIDE MONTH

California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered that for the remainder of Pride month the rainbow flag will fly above the state’s capitol building, directly flouting White House policy.  The rainbow flag was raised over the California capitol building, flying alongside the Stars and Stripes and the California state flag.

Such compassion! Such Christlike behavior!

Tennessee Deputy, Pastor Calls For Execution Of LGBTQ People

A Tennessee deputy and pastor is being investigated by the District Attorney’s office after he gave a sermon calling for the government to round up and execute members of the LGBTQ community.

“Send the police in 2019 out to these LGBT freaks and arrest them,” Fritts continued. “Have a trial for them, and if they are convicted then they are to be put to death. Do you understand that? It’s a capital crime to be carried out by our government.”

Charming. You know, if Jesus came back today he’d slap the living shit out of this piece of trash. He did say something that made me laugh, though:

“I’m sick of sodomy getting crammed down our throats,” Fritts said during his sermon.

Um… If anyone was cramming sodomy somewhere, it probably wouldn’t be down your throat. You know?

Oh, he knows. It’s common knowledge these days that anyone this homophobic is hiding some seriously queer skeletons in his closet. It’s something we’ve seen a thousand times from a thousand vehemently anti-gay types, all of them crowing about the evils of homosexuality and how it’s “infecting” our country with…whatever. I think we should start taking bets on how many wangs this guy has had in his various orifices over his lifetime. 50? 200? Always done in strict secrecy, probably using church funds to keep the dudes quiet. You know it’s true! It’s only a matter of time before the story breaks, and I can’t wait…

Wow.  This gay guy is the social media manager for the NRA.  He’s got some questions (and a bit of whining) for his fellow gayfolk.  Let’s take them one at a time, shall we?

I wish the gay community were more accepting of gun supporters. I should know.

If we in the gay community know we are frequent targets, why do we overwhelmingly oppose laws that protect our right to defend ourselves?

Typical NRA thinking: the only way you can be safe is carrying a gun around everywhere.  “Hey, let’s head out to the club!  Just let me grab my pistol.”  What kind of life is that?  And how is it safer if average citizens start walking around with automatic weapons?  What a sad, paranoid way to live your life.

Why do I find myself, at party after party, defending my decision to work for the NRA?

Well, let’s see.  How about…because you work for a corrupt and dangerous organization that glorifies weapons which can kill dozens of people in just a couple of minutes.  You know, like at the Pulse nightclub and dozens of other public places.  Do you really need more reasons?  There are quite a few more.

Why does my wanting to own a firearm make some gay people I meet accuse me of being self-hating?

Hmmm.  I’ll bet you’re a Republican too, because you’d pretty much have to be.  So maybe they think you’re self-hating because you’re aligning yourself with people who actively work to suppress and dehumanize gay people like yourself.  Ugh…gay Republicans are already insufferable, and adding gun-worship to the mix is especially gross.

Why is a community that prides itself on inclusion and tolerance so intolerant toward the Second Amendment, the NRA and those who believe in the right to self-defense?

To quote one of the comments on this article:  “It’s not that the gay community ‘is so hostile toward the Second Amendment’, it’s that we’re hostile towards the NRA because (I’ll stick to the facts and refrain from chanting obscenities) they’re divisive fraudulent money grubbing Trump supporting homophobic liars. They don’t exclusively OWN the second amendment and define what it means.”

This is exactly right.  The NRA is a shitty organization which has abused the Second Amendment for decades.  So fuck off with your self-pity — if you want to be liked, make yourself likeable.

I’m happy to see this artist finally see a little bit of compensation for the abuse he and his art have taken at the hands of Nazi wannabes. Of course they’ll still use Pepe to their own stupid ends, but Alex Jones can’t even touch Pepe again. (Stay tuned for the follow-up story where he violates the agreement and does it anyway…)

InfoWars Must Pay Pepe the Frog Creator $15,000, Never Sell Pepe Merch Again in Settlement

InfoWars founder, conspiracy theorist, and tainted supplement pitchman Alex Jones has settled with artist Matt Furie, creator of the unfathomably widespread Pepe the Frog meme, for $15,000 after InfoWars used the image on an obnoxious poster it sold during the 2016 elections, Vice reported on Monday.