I Didn't Say It ...

Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation and future President of the United States, calling Cankles unfit to lead troops:

“This is clearly amateur hour at the Pentagon and in the White House. And again, the price is being paid by all of us. You can also just tell from the administration’s attitude toward this war, the fact that they’re putting out videos treating this like a video game. It’s not a video game for the families of the fallen. And then, just this week, we saw campaign fundraising materials being put out, emails where the president’s committee, the president’s political operation, was raising money off of images of him at a dignified transfer. Any politician who does that has no business leading American troops in the war. If the president is willing to raise campaign funds over the bodies of America’s war dead, he is unfit to be the commander-in-chief.”

And when the families of those killed in Iran asked not to have cameras when their children’s bodies came home, the media was kept out … but not White House photographers who ignored the families’ wishes and filmed the event.

This is Cankles; a draft-dodging pedophile who only cares about himself.

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Margaret Cho, actor and comedian, on the Democratic party:

“I want a Democrat to get bit by a zombie. I want a bloodthirsty, feral, hotheaded warrior creature who wills top at nothing to win. Where are my political animals who will fight tooth and nail for what is right? I’m sick of the high road. It’s gotten nowhere. We need a new route. A lowdown dirty one.”

I don’t want dirty Democrats, but I want Democrats with balls; Democrats who speak up and resist and demand answers. I want Democrat who win in November and begin holding this regime, from Bondi and Noem, to Hegseth and Miller, and all the rest, accountable for their crimes.

We don’t need to get dirty to do that, we just need to stand the fuck up.

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Colman Domingo, actor, accepting the President’s Award at the 57th NAACP Image Awards and praising his stepfather:

“I had about four different speeches written and I let go of all of them this morning. ‘Cause I wanted to speak from the heart, and talk about service, and what gets you to this stage. You don’t get here alone. You get here by having a stepfather, Clarence Bowles, who came along when I was about eight years old and married my mom. He was a blue-collar worker, sanded hardwood floors. He fired me from my summer job with them. He said, ‘Son, come here. This is your last summer doing this.’ I said, ‘Why? I thought I was doing a good job.’ He says, ‘I don’t want you doing this backbreaking work. I want you to work with your mind.’ He held out his hands that had callouses on them, and he said, ‘Let me tell you something. I don’t want that for you. I want you to have soft hands. And I want you, when you go far, I want you to have something you believe in, and do good things in the world.’ And I carry that message with me, with every man that I portray. I want to make sure that I give them their full humanity, to make sure they look just like us in every single way, in all of our complexity. I want to make sure that there’s love, love, love, and more love.”

Sounds like Clarance Bowels was a wonder father who wanted more for his stepson than maybe he had as a child.

We could all use a parent, or parents, who lift us up.

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Maren Morris, Grammy-winning country singer, ripping MAGAts for now saying they “didn’t vote for this”:

“I don't have forgiveness for the triple [Cankles voters] or ANY of the [Cankles voters]. You did vote for this. He is a dementia-ridden, diaper-clad, cornball ex-TV host. Bankrupt as f*ck. Look at his stats … you got bamboozled.”

So, MAGAts, if you’re upset that the world’s most blatant liar tricked you, then responsibility is on you for being too stupid to recognize what’s actually going on…especially the third time around!

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Laverne Cox, actor and trans advocate, speaking at the GLAAD Media Awards:

“What we’ve seen over the past seven years is a strategic, well-funded, calculated effort to systematically dehumanize transgender people to make us subhuman. The ways that they speak about us, men in girls’ sports. Words like ‘biological sex,’ ‘transgenderism,’ ‘trans ideology,’ all of these words are designed so you don’t see us as people. You see us as some kind of idea that is meant to come and take something from you. It’s never been about sports or protecting women in sports. It’s never been about the children. If they wanted to protect women and children, they would prosecute the motherfuckers who are in the Epstein files. Many of whom are serving in this regime.”

Spot on; the GOP shrieks about the children, but children go hungry in America; the GOP squawks about abortion but ignore the children once they’re out of the womb; they fake cry about the dangers of drag queens and trans Americans harming children, but so and say nothing about billionaire pedophiles hosting Rape a Child parties on tropical islands.

So, GOP, save your bullshit, your hypocrisy, and your faux-Christian outrage. You only care about billionaires.

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I Didn't Say It ...

Robert Garcia, California Democrat Congressman trolling Leon Skum during a hearing by saying that he brought a "dick pic" to show everyone—before holding up a photograph of the MAGA billionaire:

"I find it ironic of course that our chairman, Congresswoman [Marjorie Taylor] Greene, is in charge of running this committee. [In] the last Congress, Chairwoman Greene literally showed a dick pic in our Oversight Congressional hearing, so I thought I'd bring one as well. Now, this, of course we know, is President Elon Musk. He's also the world's richest man. He was the biggest political donor in the last election. He has billions of dollars in conflicts of interest and we know that he's leading a power grab also abided by and encouraged by [The Felon] and, of course, the chairwoman, Congresswoman Greene. But I also want to run through what DOGE actually is going to do; it's a demolition plan that's going to run through our government: DOGE is trying to abolish the Department of Education. That means opportunities [are] denied to kids. It means ripping away opportunities for children with disabilities who are dependent on this money. You're also halting medical research, which is also critical which we also have to stop. the idea that we are going to eliminate or destroy the National Institutes of Health, NIH, is crazy. Let's talk about the Department of Labor. We're talking about protections for working people across this country, where people can actually complain about abuses their companies are making against them and their coworkers. "Workers are now going to be in danger. Let's also talk about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, another huge issue for us. Think about the scammers and fraudsters that will be empowered across this country because Elon Musk wants, essentially, these companies to have more power over consumers and over people across this country. Look at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That is actually what's being discussed partly today. Healthcare, we're talking about being denied to millions of poor people, working class people across this country. And now of course they're on to their largest target: the US Social Security Administration. We're talking about the destruction of the actual social safety net in this country. We know that one in five Americans collect Social Security. Seniors. Disabled people. This entire plan is about hurting the American social safety net and destroying out institutions. “

Garcia is absolutely right. The Felon and Leon want to transition us from a democracy into an overt oligarchy, in which the whims of the rich and corporations are inflicted on the poor with impunity. If we let this come to pass, future generations will never forgive us.

The time to speak out is now.

Sidenote: Garcia is an out gay man, which again begs the question about why it’s mostly women and LGBTQ+ members of Congress speaking out while a majority of the straight white males sit in silence?

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Cynthia Nixon, defending LGBTQ+ and trans rights NYU-Langone Hospital stopped offering gender-affirming care:

“I am here today as the mother of a proud trans man [28-year-old Seph]. I am here today as the aunt of a proud trans man. My best friend’s kid is trans and my kid’s best friend is trans. My wife and I, our lives are filled with the most amazing, beautiful, brave trans people—young and old, but especially young. My trans kid had his top surgery at NYU a number of years ago. His doctors were fantastic. His surgeon was the best we could’ve imagined. And the idea that this city is filled with young people who thought they had a place to go where they can receive the highest care—and that place has now been shut to them, sickens me. Sickens me to my core. I want to say, the last two weeks have been an assault, a barrage, so many horrific things coming at us from every direction. But since the Inauguration, and I would say since the election, nothing has made me feel so good as coming around the corner today and seeing you all standing here fighting for trans rights. Because [of] what is happening all over this country, it cannot happen here in New York. Here is where we have to take a stand.”

In one of the most diverse cities on the planet., hospitals are denying care to trans people, and if New York falls for that, nowhere will be safe and kind and welcoming to our trans brothers and sisters.

 Take a stand.

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Jerry Moran, GOP Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, splitting with his party to admonish the reckless and illegal shutdown on USAID:

"Time is running out before this lifesaving aid perishes. Food stability is essential to political stability, and our food aid programs help feed the hungry, bolster our national security and provide an important market for our farmers, especially when commodity prices are low."

Moran says the USAID office shut down left $340 million in lifesaving food grown in the US sitting at domestic ports, waiting to be delivered to various destinations where people are starving, but hey … Leon Skum thinks starving people should … starve.

Good on Moran for putting the needs of people over the ego and goose-stepping on his party and they President Leon Skum. Moran says the USAID office shut down left $340 million in lifesaving food grown in the United States sitting at domestic ports, waiting to be delivered to various destinations where people are starving.

Once the courts stepped in and smacked Leon’s smug mug, Moran posted to X:

“GOOD NEWS: State Dept. has approved shipping to resume, allowing NGOs to distribute the $560 million of American-grown food aid sitting in US & global ports to those in need [and making] certain this life-saving aid gets to those in need before it spoils.”

Again, good on Moran for standing up.

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Diana Ross, at the Grammys, on facing the darkness and rising again:

“I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can have the balance between celebrating and being filled with sorrow. Even as we face trials and tribulations with our soul, music brings us home. I am inviting us all to give love, hope and courage to those who are hurting tonight, especially the children who might be frightened. You are not alone. We stand with you. My heart reaches out to you. May this moment remind us all of the power that we hold to rebuild, to lift and to come together with compassion, and by reminding our future generations that, even in the darkness, we can rise again and keep the light of hope and love alive.”

I agree it’s hard to be hopeful or happy or optimistic, but don’t just read the bad news, read about those who are standing up and speaking out, the courts denying The Felon’s hate, the politicians, mostly women still, speaking out and standing up.

There will be light.

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Bree Fram, a Colonel in the Air Force and one of the highest ranking trans service members in the US Military, on the Felon’s move to remove trans people from service:

“Turning away capable volunteers or removing highly qualified service members simply because they are transgender not only weakens our military but also undermines the very principles that define America. If you meet the standard, your service should be welcomed.”

Bigots and racists are welcomed into the military but a trans soldier is somehow deemed not worthy or a distraction?

The trans soldiers are fighting for the rights or people while the racists and bigots are fighting for white male rights.

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Laverne Cox, trans actor, on this new regime:

"At the end of the day, trans people are less than 1% of the population. Trans people aren't the reason you can't afford eggs. They're not the reason you can't afford healthcare. We're not the reason you can't buy a house. I think they're focused on the wrong 1%."

Truth. It’s not trans Americans trying to cut down the government to enrich the wealthy.

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Bobservations

Y’all know Carlos has vision and hearing issues, right? Well, the other day, we were running errands and taking our recyclables and such to the Recycling Center. We loaded up the car and, as usual, got Ozzo to come along for the ride. But Ozzo, roughly 16 or 17 years old, has become a little hard of hearing, and having his own vision issues and it's a whole thing to get him into the car. As we drove to the recycling center, I told Carlos that Ozzo was definitely his dog because they are so much alike, and that’s when I realized I had a new name for Carlos:

“Carlozzo.”

He was not amused.

Tuxedo doesn’t wanna tell y’all how to vote, but he does think you’ve been getting it wrong for years.

The Italian release of the Oscar-winning thriller Promising Young Woman has been after the Italian-language version of the film used a male voice actor Roberto Pedicini to dub the role of Gail played by trans actor Laverne Cox.

In 2021, someone thought a trans female should be dubbed by a man.

The march goes on …

So, we had the pipeline hack last week and gas shortages all over the South with people waiting in line forever just to fill up, and hoard up. I only work away from home three days a week and my roundtrip commute is 6 miles, so I has plenty of gas and wasn’t worried.

But a co-worker said she had filled up her car and bought three extra-large gas cans and filled those up, too, because, as she said, “You never know.” I smiled at her little dimwitted face and asked:

“You’re still sitting on over a hundred rolls of toilet paper from last spring, aren’t you?”

Judging from the look on her face, I was right.

Joel Osteen was on the Today show saying:

“Don’t focus on what you have or don’t have.”

This from a man who owns a mansion, Ferrari, and a jet, and who took a $4.4 million federal PPP loan. This from a man of God who had to be shamed into opening his church after a hurricane for the people who were displaced from their homes. This from a  man whose net worth is estimated at $100M.

Perhaps Joel focuses too much on what he has.

The other day Carlozzo—gosh, that makes me smile—and I drove out to Costco for our Every-Five-Weeks-Shopping trip. We get out there early to avoid the crowds and the morons, but, apparently, at least one moron had the same idea.

I was standing in the meat section, looking at the pork tenderloin. We usually buy a large one and cut it into pork chops ourselves and save a couple of bucks. While looking, a woman came right up to me, right up on me, and reached in front and around me to grab a tenderloin. I backed up and gave her a look and then she inched onto me, which, sorry, I couldn’t help myself:

“Excuse me? Am I invisible?”

She gave me a look like she had no idea what I meant. Cut to Carlozzo and I headed to the checkout, and as we near a checker, I hear a voice alongside me, saying:

“I’ll just slip in ahead of you because I have just a few things.”

I turned. It was the moron. I said:

“No, thanks, I’m already here.”

She looked at me. Something clicked in her pea brain. She remembered. I felt better.

Alabama lawmakers ended their legislative session without a vote on one of the most controversial bills before them: a measure to outlaw gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors.

Now, before you go all ‘Woo hoo Alabama,’ let me tell you that the bill died because it was placed at the end of a debate agenda and lawmakers were tired and ready to go home.

It wasn’t the idea that the law would have been hateful and hate-filled, it’s because politicians are lazy and hungry in Alabama.

If you still don’t believe the GOP is terrified of Thing #45, howsabout this: he has ordered … ordered … the GOP to resist setting up a 9/11-style bipartisan commission to investigate the MAGAt riot at the Capitol in January.

Imagine the outrage from the right if, once out of office, Obama had given the Democrats an order. That says volumes about the complicit GOP and what they’re willing to do to this country for a con man.

Fuck.Them.All.

This is Hugo Soriano Tudela, a model from Spain. That’s all I know about him, and that’s really all I need, know what I mean?

I Didn't Say It ...

Jennifer Finney Boylan, Trans woman, author and activist, on her “gay agenda”:

“What I want above all, is the special right to be left alone, and to be considered half of just one more unextraordinary American couple—just as the two of us were as we sat at the bar watching the ocean and drinking our beers. You’d think that most of this would be common sense—that protecting American citizens from violence and unemployment and homelessness would be something we’d all agree upon. You’d think that respecting the privacy and humanity of some of the country’s most vulnerable souls would be a common goal.”

Isn’t that simple? Just live and let live ...

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Elton John, telling Prince Harry how his mother, Princess Diana, changed attitudes toward gay people and people with AIDS:

“It was considered to be a gay disease. For someone who was within the Royal Family and who was a woman, and who was straight, to have someone care from the other side, was an incredible gift. Because of her ... she had that incredible ability—which [Harry] kind of inherited—to make people feel at ease and make them feel that everything’s gonna be all right. I haven’t experienced many people in my life who have that ability, but she could walk into a room of people and make them feel as if everything was great.”

She truly helped changed minds about the LGBT community and, especially, people with AIDS.

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Jason Chaffetz, suggesting what the GOP needs to do about the Democrats and their investigation into the _____ Klan and Russia:

“Republicans need to get a backbone. Every time the Democrats say they need to call up Jared Kushner or Don Jr.—call up Chelsea Clinton, call up the Clintons. ... You have Bill Clinton, the former president, taking millions and millions of dollars from countries, that Hillary Clinton is going in and then doing business. So every time a Democrat says ‘I gotta talk to Donald _____ Jr.,’ then go up and bring Chelsea Clinton in there.”

Chaffetz a goose-stepping, ass-kissing GOP lapdog then went on to suggest that Chelsea Clinton was “involved in the Benghazi situation.”

No proof; not a shred of evidence. Just another fearmongering GOP fuckmonkey ... no offense to monkeys.

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Sean Spicer, ousted White House flunky, whining to Sean Hannity about SNL:

“I think when it’s funny it’s funny. I think that there were parts of it that were funny, but there’s a lot of it that was over the line. It wasn’t funny. It was stupid, or silly, or malicious. But there were some skits on late night television that I did crack up at. So sometimes it can be funny, Some of the memes you have to crack up about. But sometimes it goes from funny to mean.”

Mean is still funny, you wingnut, and Melissa McCarthy was a better you than you have ever been.

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Seth Meyers, on _____’s new communications director Anthony Scaramucci:

“_____’s new Communications Director is Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci. Look at this guy! He’s a human pinky ring. He’s the human embodiment of a double-parked BMW. He looks like the guy who leaves a doo-wop group over creative differences. He looks like the only magician you can get on short notice. I could go on and on. He definitely calls waitresses ‘sweetheart.’ His yearbook quote was ‘don’t worry about it!'”

I find Scaramucci to look a little like comedian Mario Cantone, and Tweeted Mario, sugessting he offer his services for SNL’s new season. Mario then Tweeted that he’ll be playing ‘The Mooch’ on Comedy Central, and maybe SNL will be next.

I asked him to do “The Mooch” as Lizaaaaaaaaa!

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Laverne Cox, actress and Trans woman, on _____’s transgender military ban:

“I have met many transgender Americans over the years who have served or are currently serving our country in the military. I have heard from them humiliating stories of being misgendered and experiencing various kinds of mistreatment when they are willing to put their lives on the line in ways many of us would never do including our current President. This latest reversal of another Obama administration policy continues to send the message to trans Americans that our lives, our safety and service are less valuable and unwanted in this country, the country I love and hold so dear.”

After eight years of Obama, I cannot grasp the idea that a president is trying to go back to closeting people, discriminating against people, treating anyone as less than.

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Gregory Angelo, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, on _____’s ban: 

“This smacks of politics, pure and simple. The United States military already includes transgender individuals who protect our freedom day in and day out. Excommunicating transgender soldiers only weakens our readiness; it doesn’t strengthen it. The president’s statement this morning does a disservice to transgender military personnel and reintroduces the same hurtful stereotypes conjured when openly gay men and women were barred from service during the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era. As an organization that led the charge against that hateful policy, Log Cabin Republicans remains equally committed to standing up for transgender military personnel who put their lives on the line to keep us free.”

Perhaps the LCR needs to rethink its party affiliation because, while some in the GOP are quietly bigoted, this stance is not really that new.

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Orrin Hatch, Utah Seantor and Republican, on the trans ban:

“I don’t think we should be discriminating against anyone. Transgender people are people, and deserve the best we can do for them. I look forward to getting much more information and clarity from our military leaders about the policy the President tweeted today.”

Well, well, well, color me embarrassed. A Republican, from Utah no less, showing support for the Trans community.

Is it me, or did Hell suddenly get a lot cooler?

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Michael Surgaugh, Boy Scouts of America president, finally commenting on _____’s disgusting speech at their Jamboree”:

“I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree. That was never our intent. The invitation for the sitting U.S. President to visit the National Jamboree is a long-standing tradition that has been extended to the leader of our nation that has had a Jamboree during his term since 1937. It is in no way an endorsement of any person, party or policies. For years, people have called upon us to take a position on political issues, and we have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.”

You should have known when you invited him. When _____ gives a speech he only speaks about himself, never the group to whom he’s speaking.

And, about ten seconds in, when you realized this was to be a political speech,. His microphone should have been cut off.

No disrespect to an actual president, but the #FakePresident needed to sit down.

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I Didn't Say It ...

, who was at Stonewall, on the new white-washed film version of the riots: 

"It's so disappointing. They keep doing this! My first thought is: how dare they attempt to do this again? A few years ago they did another Stonewall movie, and I swear if I saw a black person, it had to be a shadow running against the face of somebody who was white! It’s absolutely absurd — you know, young people today aren’t stupid. They can read the history, they know that this is not the way it happened. These people can’t let it go! Everybody can’t be white! This is a country of different colors and people and thoughts and attitudes and feelings, and they try to make all of those the same for some reason."

Don’t make a film about a specific historical even and then change the facts. That’s easy enough, right?

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Bryan Cranston, on [t]Rump:

“There’s something so refreshing about shaking up that world that is all about being handled, and here comes this loose cannon who has terrible ideas and would be a horrible president, but there’s something great about his ‘I-don’t-give-a-shit attitude that really kind of keeps others honest. I think it’s a surprise benefit to the country, actually. I can’t wait to see these and many more. I hope he stays in for a long, long time. And just collapses that whole tent of his.”

Like Michele Bachmann before him — and remember how popular she was four years ago this early on — [t]Rump is going to fold like a cheap suit in a bad rug.

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Domenico Dolce, of Dolce and Gabbana, who once called IVF babies “chemical offspring” are now apologizing for their remarks:

“I’ve done some soul-searching. I’ve talked to Stefano a lot about this. I’ve realized that my words were inappropriate, and I apologize. They are just kids. You don’t need labels, baby labels. I think everybody chooses for themselves. I don’t know everything about IVF, but I love it when people are happy. It’s like medicine. Science has been put on the table to help people.”

Wow, how long did that take? And is it an actual apology or an attempt to salvage their bran from the damage caused by these comments and their anti-marriage equality comments.

Uh huh.

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Ricardo Aca, an undocumented immigrant who came to the United States ten years ago, and who now works at a [t]Rump hotel:

“I know I could lose my job just for talking about Trump. It doesn’t make me proud to go to work every day under his name. I’m not a criminal. I work really hard and I definitely don’t take it for granted.”

Wait. So [t]Rump hates immigrants but he hires undocumented immigrants for his hotels?

Pot.Kettle.Racist hypocrite.

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Laverne Cox, trans actress, on the “state of emergency” in the trans community:

“Your life should not be in danger simply for being who you are. I think the reasons why trans women experience so much violence has to do with employment, housing, health care, etc., so we need to make sure that trans lives matter.”

You shouldn’t have to die just because you’re trans.

It’s really that simple.

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Josh Duggar, Christian, anti-LGBT bigot, child molester and member of an online adultery website, apologizing:

“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife. I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him. I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust. I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.”

Let me rephrase that first sentence of the apology:

‘I am the biggest hypocrite ever because I spent years condemning gay people for being gay after I molested my sisters and other young girls, and then I got married and started spanking my monkey to internet porn and then took that up a notch to commit the sin of adultery.”

Fuck you.

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I ♥ Laverne Cox

I’m gonna start off by saying that I love Laverne Cox. I love her honesty, her openness, and her frankness about being transgender, and her unlimited and relentless support of all trans people.

But then I read this story and I fell even more in love with Laverne; it comes to us from a mother, Marlo Mack — a pseudonym — who blogs about raising her transgender daughter:

As the mother of a young transgender child, my response to Caitlyn Jenner’s headline-grabbing announcement is a visceral one.

Yes, I’m kind of put off by the hype. No, I’m not a big fan of celebrity culture or reality television. But when I look at the cover of Vanity Fair, and read the news articles that respectfully use Jenner’s new name and female pronouns, I’m overwhelmed by this new state of affairs, and by a world that might just be ready to accept my daughter. And that knocks me off my feet with awe and gratitude.

I called my friend Alice, a member of our support group whose trans daughter is a few years older than mine. “Did you see it?” I said. She knew what I was talking about.

“Of course,” she said. I could hear her shaking her head over the phone, as overcome as I was. What was there to say? The world seems to be changing, just in time for our beloved children.

Earlier this year, when I heard that Laverne Cox was coming to my hometown, I sent Alice an email: “We have to take our girls to see Laverne!”

If you don’t know about the fabulous Ms. Cox, she’s one of the stars of the TV series "Orange is the New Black" and she’s the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy.

"Orange is the New Black" isn’t really appropriate viewing for 7-year-olds, but I had shown M. the photo of Ms. Cox on the cover of TIME when it came out last year, so M. had a vague idea that this was someone important who was also transgender. But I don’t think she really got it until we showed up for the event.

The line snaked out of the venue for half a mile. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house. We got there early enough to snag seats near the front, and when Laverne walked into the room, the crowd went nuts. M. and Alice’s daughter went nuts, too, cheering and clapping for the glamorous lady everyone seemed to love so much.

I think ours were the only kids in the audience. Most of the speech went over their heads. But here’s the message that I hope got through to them: Here is someone who is talented and smart and famous and beloved by the multitudes – and she’s also like you.

A friend of a friend knew the event organizers, and she told us she might be able to sneak us into the smaller reception following Laverne's speech. I kind of doubted that she’d remember to put our names on the list, so as M. sat on my lap, caught up in the frenzy of the crowd, I told her that she might (“just maybe”) get to meet Laverne that night.

“Really?” she said.

Our names were on the list. Laverne wasn’t there yet when we entered the private reception hall, but M. staked out a place near some doors at the far end of the room. There were multiple entrances. Why did she think Ms. Cox would come in through those particular doors? M. ignored my question and stood alone at the far end of the room, her back to me, her eyes glued to the doors.

She was right. A few minutes later, Laverne burst through those doors, and the crowd went nuts once again. But this time, a tiny person in a flowery sun dress stood between her and that crowd, looking her in the face, waiting to be noticed.

Laverne waved her Hollywood wave at the crowd, thanked us graciously, and then looked down at the little girl blocking her path.

“Well, hello,” she said.

"I’m M.,” my daughter said.

Laverne smiled down at her. “Hello, M.”

“And I’m trans,” M. said.

I don’t think Laverne saw that coming. The crowd around me gasped their approval—“Did you hear what that little girl said?”. Laverne seemed at a bit of a loss. She looked around the room. “Is anyone with her?”

I stepped forward. “I’m her mom.” Then I got tongue-tied in the face of celebrity, and forgot how to speak like a normal human. I have no idea what I said.

But M. knew what to do. She went in for a hug. Laverne crouched down to meet M.’s hug at eye level, and as I frantically snapped photos for posterity, I heard her say to my daughter, “Remember, honey, transgender is beautiful.”

Thank you, life.

Yeah, I got a little teary ….

KUOW