Monday Morning Male Beauty

 

More Sunday Male Beauty - Pt 2

 

Liz Cheney Endorses Democrat Abigail Spanberger

Virginia's 2nd and 7th Congressional District contests are among the most contested in the nation and each has an incumbent moderate Democrat facing off amainst a lunatic election denier who supports a total ban on all abortions and a heavy dose of anti-LGBT bigotry.   Of the two races, the 7th has perhaps one of the most deranged Trump endorsed Republicans  who is nothing short of scary.    Into this mix anti-Trump Republican Liz Cheney has endorsed the Democrat Abigal Spanberger (who I have met and who is most impressive) in an effort to keep election deniers from being elected.   Hopefully, Cheney's endorsement will help moderate Republicans to the extent they exist to vote Democrat to help save American democracy.  A piece at Mother Jones looks at Cheney's endorsement:

Rep. Liz Cheney used to be one of the standard-bearers of the Republican party—she’s literally the heir to one of the most prominent Republicans in modern history. But since she broke with former president Donald Trump, she’s strayed far from the party and is now not just campaigning against pro-Trump Republicans, she’s endorsing Democrats. After endorsing Michigan Democrat Elissa Slotkin, Cheney says she is now endorsing Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

Spanberger is one of the most moderate Democrats, having criticized President Joe Biden for trying to enact too sweeping of an agenda and called for Nancy Pelosi to step down. She’s running for reelection in what was once one of the most conservative districts—it was considered a safe seat for former Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, but he lost it to right-wing challenger Dave Brat in 2014. Spanberger took the seat in 2018 but is in a close race with Republican Yesli Vega, who was endorsed by Donald Trump last week. 

Vega has played down her Trump endorsement, with both candidates clearly trying to appeal to a moderate middle. Cheney told the Washington Post she was endorsing Spanberger because Vega was an election denier.

“We don’t agree on every policy, but I am absolutely certain that Abigail is dedicated to serving this country and her constituents and defending our Constitution,” Cheney said in a statement the Post. 

Cheney lost the Republican primary to keep her seat representing Wyoming earlier this summer, but is still a fundraising behemoth, with millions of dollars in her PAC, which she can use to support other candidates or eventually organize another run for herself, possibly for president. Cheney has also maintained a high profile as the highest-ranking Republican on the House’s Jan. 6 Committee.

More Sunday Morning Male Beauty

 

Youngkin Needs to Stop Politicizing Public Schools

Since launching his gubernatorial campaign and even more so since taking office everything Glenn Youngkin has done has been with an eye at a presidential run in 2024.   Part of this has involved a faux "parental rights" agenda in public schools which fits hand in glove with well funded far right efforts to censor public education and avoid any reference to topics that upset the Christofascist/white supremacist base of today's GOP - a party that is unrecognizable from what it was 25 0r 30 years ago.  Hence Youngkin's effots toward the erasure of any honest, fact based discussion of (i) Virginia and America's history that touches on systemic racism and the ugly brutality of the Jim Crow era, and (ii) the existence and contributions of LGBT individuals.  Sadly, so far transgender students - who are an obsession with the Christofascist set - have been the most targeted under the Youngkin regime's "new model policy" that would "out students" to their parents - many of whom could be abusive towards their LGBT offspring (40% of homeless youth are LGBT individauls discarded by their parents) - and elimiante any safe haven schools might provide to LGBT students.  A column in the Washington Post by the school board chair of the City of Alexandria (one of the highest achieving in Virginia) slams Youngkin and calls for politicians like Youngkin to stop politicizing public schools.  Here are excerpts:

On Sept. 16, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) released a “model policy” for how schools should work with transgender youths, including referring to students only using information about names and sex listed in their official record unless a parent or guardian has submitted a name-change form. School staff cannot “conceal material information” about a student, including information related to gender. The policy requires the use of bathrooms, locker rooms and other “intimate spaces” based on sex assigned at birth and states that athletic participation must be determined by sex.

The model policies have many inherent issues, beginning with a privileged assumption that all students have supportive home environments free of family abuse, neglect and generationally inflicted trauma. Policies protecting parents’ rights should take extreme care not to trample on the rights of innocent children.

Moreover, the timing of these policies follows extremely vocal criticism from the governor and his team about the state’s recent Standards of Learning assessment, results they attribute to the reduction of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic. So, the question should be raised: What does a revamp in policy that focuses on preferred pronouns and bathroom preferences have to do with academic achievement and addressing unfinished learning?

[T]he only way to prepare students for college, career and life is to follow the data and set our tasks and priorities accordingly.

The data does not tell us to focus on outing students to their parents, hammering kids on bathroom preferences and calling a child “she” when they prefer to be called “he.” What the data does tell us is that we need to improve student literacy. Virginia’s School Quality Profile in the 2021 to 2022 school year showed that only 73 percent of students demonstrated proficiency in reading, 65 percent in writing, 66 percent in math, 65 percent in science and 66 percent in history. Unsurprisingly, Black and Hispanic students continued to lag behind their White and Asian counterparts on these assessments. If these achievements were to be “graded,” then Virginia would have a D average.

As educators, we must use data to make informed instructional decisions for our students so that we can crawl out of this pervasive hole of mediocrity. We should be given the space and time to respond to the individual needs of our students and families, working together to do the grueling work of placing an equity lens on everything we do and dismantling the broken systems that perpetuate opportunity gaps within our schools and school systems.

Though I appreciate the governor’s fervor for parents’ involvement in their child’s education (I, too, support this), the Youngkin administration’s “listen to parents” narrative has done more harm than good. This slogan has morphed into a tool used to divide families from their public school systems instead of encouraging the much-needed support of our educators. Of course we must listen to our parents. But we must also trust the expertise of our public educators and value their knowledge and experience.

I would not tell my doctor how to perform surgery; it is time to stop telling trained educators how to navigate the very complex task of educating our children.

This model policy is a distraction. The issue of schools and what happens in them has become too focused on politics and not focused enough on kids. The data is clear and tells us that we have an academic and equity problem. The pandemic showed us that our kids are hurting and we just need to let them be who they are right now.

So, let the teachers teach, let the principals lead and give the superintendents respect and grace. Elected officials must stop distracting them. That is the only policy that will help right now.

Don't expect Youngkin to heed such sound advice.  His sole concern is furthering his political ambitions and he cares nothing about the lives he is damaging.  He is yet another example of the moral bankruptcy of most Republican elected officials across America.

Sunday Morning Male Beauty

 

More Saturday Male Beauty - Pt 2

 

Glenn Youngkin: Not Ready for Prime Time

To many it is becoming apparent that Glenn Youngkin (pictured at a political event in New York State rather than governing Virginia) never really cared about governing Virginia and the Commonwealth's future prosperity.  Instead, it was to be merely a staging ground for a presidential run.  Hence his first day in office Youngkin reignited the culture wars seeking to ban "divisive subjects" - read any honest history and discussion of race and/or any mention of the existence of gays - from public schools.   Virginia's "welcoming to all" slogan was tossed away.   Meanwhile, Virginia lost its rating as "best state in which to do bussiness."  Pandering to the ugliest elements of the GOP base is all that matters to Youngkin as put on display by his tasteless (at best) remarks following the attack on Paul Pelosi by a MAGA inspired individual.  Given opportunities to appologize, Youngkin failed to do so, likely out of fear of the party base.  As a column in the Washington Posts lays out, Youngkin isn't ready for prime time and, in my view shows how suburban voters wereduped into voting for Youngkin.  Here are highlights:

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is quickly learning the downsides of testing the national political waters. Stumbles and gaffes can wreck a nascent campaign before it even gets to the exploratory phase.

Consider Youngkin’s words at a Friday campaign rally for 7th Congressional District GOP nominee Yesli Vega [a true nutcase]. News broke that day that David DePape attacked and brutally beat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in their California home. As The Post’s Greg Schneider and Meagan Flynn reported, Youngkin said “There’s no room for violence anywhere, but we’re going to send [Pelosi] back to be with him in California.”

That sounds bad. But the videotape of Youngkin’s remarks was even worse. The rookie governor doesn’t change his tone or timing when he says it’s time to send Pelosi back to take care of her injured husband.

It’s a sorry display of a pol who sounds callous, even flippant, in the face of another person’s horror.

Youngkin’s gaffe drew swift and entirely warranted condemnation from Democrats.

But in this current era, neither politicians nor corporate honchos (like Youngkin used to be at the Carlyle Group) admit gaffes. And in those vanishingly rare occasions when they are, it’s in the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (channeling Richard M. Nixon) “some mistakes were made” vein.

Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren gave Youngkin a chance to take what she called a “do over.” It started out okay. Youngkin said, “there is no room for violence in America,” that the assault was “beyond belief” and that he would pray for Paul Pelosi’s full recovery.

Hearing no apology, Van Susteren again offered the “do over” option to Youngkin, who stuck to his script: “At the core of this is that a terrible thing happened to the speaker’s husband. It should never happen, and we just wish him a speedy recovery. And as I said, the first lady and I keep him in our prayers.”

No “sorry.” Not even a “I should have been more sensitive.” Not even a lame “some mistakes were made.”

It almost qualifies as performance art. Virginia’s political press has long complained that Youngkin rarely strays from his talking points. It served him very well against his 2021 opponent Terry McAuliffe, after all, so why shouldn’t it work elsewhere, like maybe New Hampshire?

But if Youngkin really, truly wants to play on the national stage — not just making the rounds for assorted GOP gubernatorial hopefuls or in-state congressional candidates, but the big show in 2024 — he’s got to take his rhetorical and mental game to an entirely new level.

That means being able to think on his feet while the cameras are rolling, showing he’s capable of deviating from his canned remarks when circumstances demand it.

It also means showing empathy for those with whom you disagree, politically — otherwise known as common decency. That’s an increasingly rare quality among politicians. If Youngkin can show it on the stump, it would immediately set him apart from and above his otherwise increasingly coarse party colleagues.

[W]hatever Youngkin might think he can do in 2024, it won’t be on the national stage.

Which means he’s grounded here in Virginia. And that means we need to pay closer attention — press and voters alike — to what Youngkin does in the year ahead.

More Saturday Male Beauty

 

Putin and DeSantis Increase Their War Against Gays

Ultimately the far right "Christian" elements in Russia and America to whom Putin and Republicans like Ron DeSantis pander, want the same thing: EVERYONE in society must live according to their belliefs and anyone who deviates needs to be erased or made invisible. Thus, the more they attack gays, the more Putin and DeSantis endear themselves to the hideous religious extremist base of their parties. Attacking gays also has the added value of creating an internal threat to "Christian values" and the national way of life that destracts the lazy, bigoted and gullible from the the failures of this self-prostituting politicians and their parties.  Thus, it is in some ways little surprise that the same day reports come out that Russia will soon prohibit representation of LGBT. relationships in any media — streaming services, social platforms, books, music, posters, billboards and films - the Florida Medical Board (appointed by DeSantis)  has acted to ban medications and surgery for new adolescent patients seeking gender transitions.  Putin and DeSantis both annoint themselves as "defenders of the family" when in reality they care solely about their own power and will do anything to maintain it no matter the number of lives lost or damaged in the process. Both men are evil in my view, the only issue being one of magnitude of evil (Putin wins this one hands down).  Two pieces in the New York Times look at these politically motivated attacks on LGBT individuals.  The first looks at the disturbing news out of Russia:

MOSCOW — In an industrial block in northeastern Moscow on a recent Friday night, organizers of an L.G.B.T.Q.-friendly art festival were assiduously checking IDs. No one under 18 allowed. They were trying to comply with a 2013 Russian law that bans exposing minors to anything that could be considered “gay propaganda.”

The organizers had good reason to be wary: Life has been challenging for gay Russians since the law passed, as the government has treated gay life as a Western import that is harmful to traditional Russian values and society.

Now Russia’s Parliament is set to pass a legislative package that would ban all “gay propaganda,” signaling an even more difficult period ahead for a stigmatized segment of society.

The laws would prohibit representation of L.G.B.T.Q. relationships in any media — streaming services, social platforms, books, music, posters, billboards and films — and, activists fear, in any public space as well.

The proposed laws are part of an intensifying effort by President Vladimir V. Putin to cast Russia as fighting a civilizational struggle against the West, which he accuses of trying to export corrosive values.

The Kremlin is coupling the crackdown on L.G.B.T.Q. expression with its rationale for the war in Ukraine, insisting that Russia is fighting not just Ukraine but all of NATO, a Western alliance that represents a threat to the motherland.

Mr. Putin drove home that argument in a speech last week, saying that the West can have “dozens of genders and gay pride parades,” but that it should not try to spread these “trends” elsewhere.

Aleksandr Khinstein, a deputy from the ruling United Russia party and the lead author of the new anti-gay bills, was even more blunt. “A special military operation is taking place not only on the battlefields,” he said, using the approved Kremlin euphemism for the war, “but also in the consciousness of the people, in their minds and in their souls. Today, we are fighting so that in Russia instead of mom and dad there isn’t ‘parent No. 1,’ ‘parent No. 2,’ ‘parent No. 3.’”

Kremlin critics see the proposals as an attempt to create an internal enemy to divert attention from battlefield setbacks and an unpopular draft of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

“It’s the equivalent of saying, ‘Look, we have this special operation. If we lose, your kids will have their gender changed, they’ll take your kids away, it’ll be the stuff of nightmares,’” said Dr. Nikolai Lunchenkov, a physician who focuses on L.G.B.T.Q. health.

The proposed laws have prompted some L.G.B.T.Q. Russians to doubt that they can continue living in an environment that is increasingly hostile to anyone who challenge the Kremlin’s line, whether on the war or on queer lives.

The 2013 law was promoted as protecting children, while the new ones “seek to prohibit gay propaganda as a danger to the state system,” defining it as extremism, he said.

The second times piece looks at what has happened in Florida which will likely lead to more LGBT suicides and an even more difficult lifefor the transgender who DeSantis is seeking stigmatize all under the false flag of "protecting children."   Here are highlights:

Florida has effectively banned medications and surgery for new adolescent patients seeking gender transitions after an unprecedented vote by the state’s medical board.

The move makes Florida one of several states to restrict what’s known as gender-affirming care for adolescents, but the first to do so through the actions of its Board of Medicine, whose 14 members were appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The strategy circumvented the Republican-controlled State Legislature, which had twice declined to take up a bill aiming to restrict such treatment.

The board voted 6-3 (with five others not present) on Friday to adopt a new standard of care that forbids doctors to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones, or perform surgeries, until transgender patients are 18.

The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine also voted to restrict care for new patients on Friday, but allowed an exception for children enrolled in clinical studies. Doctors who flout the rules risk losing their medical licenses.

And it comes four days before the conclusion of the governor’s race in the state and as conservatives have adopted gender-related medical care for adolescents as a key issue on the national political stage.

Before the medical board decided to craft the new standard, members received personal calls from the state’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo [a certifiable nutcase appointed by DeSantis], urging them to do so.

Earlier this year, Florida became one of at least nine states to bar Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care, affecting thousands of low-income adults and children.

Such treatments for adolescents typically include puberty blockers, which stall development, often followed by testosterone or estrogen to bring about secondary sex characteristics that better align transgender adolescents’ bodies with their experience of gender. . . . . All treatments require parental consent and approval from physicians.

Major medical groups in the United States, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have condemned state bans and insurance restrictions of such care as dangerous political intrusions into standard medical practice.

I am very fearful for the future - especially if Republians gain control of Congress. It may soon be time to emigrate.