If it baffles you that anyone would still support Trump after he killed off 180,000-plus people in the U.S. through his indifference, inaction and lies about coronavirus, you aren’t alone. If it’s hurting your head, you need to do yourself a favor and shut off your logical brain that uses things like facts and science to order the world around you. Trump supporters don’t use that part of their brain.

Whether that part of your brain is active depends, largely, on where you get your news. If you read about Trump’s scandals and insanity in places like The New York Times, CNN, NPR, the Washington Post or Fangoria, then you might have the notion that breaking the law and being a misogynistic racist con man is, like, bad. If you get your “news” from Fox News, then you laugh at the idea of drinking liberal snowflake tears. You’ll also be treated to the exact same security briefing Trump himself gets when you watch Sean Hannity’s show, which I believe is called “Hannity Insanity,” and if I’m wrong all I can say is what a missed opportunity.

For so many white people in the U.S. racial justice and equality is far more terrifying than fascism. Under fascism they’ll be fine, but if faced with racial justice they might have to, you know, address this country’s horribly violent racist past and present. Fascism may be what your great grandpa fought a war about, but it’s what your uncle fantasizes about to lower his blood pressure after he sees protesters demanding that Black people not be killed indiscriminately by police on Fox News.

Trump is talking to that uncle when he rage Tweets, “LAW AND ORDER!” Funny how law and order doesn’t apply to Trump and his administration. Law and Order, you see, is what white people use to keep Black people in line. And by “in line” I mean not making pesky demands like, “Don’t kill us.”

There is nothing Trump can point to that hasn’t been a disaster during his presidency. Sure, the stock market rebounded after a huge drop, but millions are still out of work and 1,000 people a day are dying from a virus just about every other country managed to get under control in some way.

So Trump has to scare folks into voting for him. And he doesn’t care that he’s escalating clashes between anti-racist protesters and white supremacist militia groups and people are being killed.

But Joe Biden sees Trump.

“Trump and Pence are running on … quote, ‘You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.’ And what’s their proof? The violence we’re seeing in Donald Trump’s America,” Biden said recently. “These are not images of some imagined ‘Joe Biden America’ in the future. These are images of Donald Trump’s America today.’”

But, of course, Trump is the president who said, “I take no responsibility at all.” For anything.

“He keeps telling you if only he was president, it wouldn’t happen if he was president,” Biden continued. “He keeps telling us that if he was president, you’d feel safe. Well, he is president whether he knows it or not. And it is happening. It’s getting worse and you know why? Because Donald Trump adds fuel to every fire. Because he refuses to even acknowledge that there’s a racial justice problem in America, because he won’t stand up to any form of violence.”

Trump’s largely white supporters love a “strong man” and are so desperate and afraid right now they’re willing to pretend that Donald Trump is one. He’s not. He is pathetic, he is cruel, he is ignorant. But strong? No.

Remember in 2016 when everybody was like, “There’s no way in hell Trump can win. What a joke.” But he did. And now here we are in 2020 and Trump has exceeded all of our most nightmarish expectations and he absolutely has the chance to win again. And if he does, goodbye Democracy. Goodbye civil rights. Goodbye marriage equality. Goodbye transgender people being treated like anything other than pariahs.

You need to vote. And, yes, voting isn’t the end-all be-all. There is deep healing work to do in this country. But we can kiss any hope of healing if faced with another four years of Trump.

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

The post Creep of the Week: Donald Trump (Again) appeared first on Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta News.

My Sister’s Room has been Atlanta’s number-one lesbian bar for more than 24 years and a favorite destination for the queer community since 1996. The bar is a safe haven and home to everyone who enters featuring nightly drag shows, burlesques shows, comedy, karaoke and more.

“Being one of the most diverse bars in the country where everyone is welcome makes a huge impact on our community. People want to come where they see a reflection of themselves,” said Owners of My Sister’s Room Jennifer Maguire and Jami Maguire. “People have been coming to My Sister’s Room for years for gatherings, community or in times when they need a friendly face. They know that they have a place to come home to. We hope to continue the legacy another 25 years.”

The full list of awardees of  “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative” include: Alibi Lounge (New York, NY); Amplio Fitness (Rocky River, OH); Salon Benders (Long Beach, CA); Blush & Blu (Denver, CO); Doyenne (Charlotte, NC); El Rio (San Francisco, CA); Freed Bodyworks (Washington, D.C.); Herz (Mobile, AL); My Sister’s Room (Atlanta, GA); and Pearl Bar (Houston, TX).

“We must preserve affirming, welcoming community spaces for LGBTQ+ people – including young people who may not have supportive families or communities at home,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “HRC is thrilled to be partnering with SHOWTIME to support LGBTQ+-serving businesses in order to ensure that they can continue to provide a space for LGBTQ+ people to express ourselves freely, find community and be our authentic selves.”

The “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative” celebrates and supports the LGBTQ+ community by identifying and donating to a number of businesses, selected based on the communities they serve and how COVID-19 has affected them. As COVID-19 continues to impact businesses nationwide, LGBTQ+-serving spaces experienced significant revenue loss in June, when patrons are more likely to frequent LGBTQ+ businesses for Pride Month. By directing funds to these businesses, “Queer to Stay” demonstrates a continued commitment from HRC and SHOWTIME to support and advocate for the diverse members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The post My Sister’s Room Receives Funding from HRC and SHOWTIME’s “Queer to Stay” Initiative appeared first on Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta News.

The award honors the best LGBTQ politicians who are in a bid for local public office. Rev. Jackson is one of five nominees, along with Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres, Charmaine McGuffey, and Rosemary Ketchum.

Rev. Jackson has been well known in Atlanta’s LGBTQ community for her role as the first out person of color to be ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta’s 100-year history. This, her LGBTQ-friendly work as a clergy person, plus her work advocating for LGBTQ rights with Georgia legislators earned her recognition as one of Atlanta Pride’s 2019 Grand Marshals.

Now, she’s running for Georgia State Senate for District 41. Her platform includes advocating for voting rights, gun safety, education reform, quality affordable housing, Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, reproductive health, an increase on the minimum wage, and more.

Rev. Jackson has garnered the support of local LGBTQ advocacy group Georgia Equality, who endorsed her back in June. If elected, she would become the first out LGBTQ person ever to be elected as a state senator in Georgia.

You can vote for Rev. Jackson to win the Up and Coming Politician Award here.

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Let’s get to the heart of the issue. Are you registered to vote right now and do you have a plan to vote?  If you do not have both of those points in order now, you are helping to elect Donald Trump again, and you are helping elect the most anti-LGBTQ President in our time.

Now is the time to act. Not tomorrow, not, in October, NOW. Any election can change on a dime or a day. So it only takes one issue to change the projection of this election and put Trump in the driver’s seat again. And that would be a travesty for all Americans, and especially the LGBTQ community.

But, another important question that sometimes gets lost is: why should you vote for Biden/Harris? Biden and Harris make up one of the most pro-LGBTQ tickets in modern history. There is absolutely no comparison between Biden and Trump or Harris and Pence. One ticket will help our community, one ticket will harm it as they have done the past four years.

There is no President in the history of this country who has tried to damage our community more than Trump.  He has literally dismantled LGBT rights given under previous administrations including in healthcare and the military. Vote like your health insurance depends on it. Vote like your job depends on it. Vote like your spouse depends on it. Vote like your life depends on it. Because if you are LGBTQ, all of those things matter.

The work and progress we have all done since Stonewall depends on your vote. The nondiscrimination laws we have worked for depend on your vote. The ability for us to get married and love whomever we love depends on your vote. The ability for us to serve in the military depends on your vote. The ability for us to live our lives with dignity and respect, yes, depends on your vote.

This November, vote like you’re at Stonewall and there is no other option but to fight back.

The post This Election is Your Stonewall Moment appeared first on Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta News.

Because the event has gone virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic, the theme has been changed to a Pajama Party, so attendees can enjoy the evening in comfort and style from their homes.

The evening will include a line-up of performances, guest appearances, and live and silent auctions to benefit the LGBTQ-centered arts organization. The wide array of auction items include one-hour massage sessions, a 2-night stay in Tallulah Falls, virtual voice acting lessons, Botox gift cards, a Fort Lauderdale vacation, and more. You can view and bid on auction items here.

The completely free live event will be streamed via Out Front’s Facebook page starting at 8pm. For more information, visit outfronttheatre.com.

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