Diversity Rules Magazine

4 Diversity Rules Magazine September 2019 When Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, I knew from the min- ute he took office that we were in for a very rough ride. Li le did I know then, nor did anyone else for that ma er, how rough the ride would actually be. Donald Trump has proven to be one of the most, if not the most, toxic Presidents this na on has ever had the displeasure to experience. Trump's elec on to the highest of- fice in the land has also unleashed a wave of hateful rhetoric that has produced tragic results in terms of the atroci es commi ed against immigrants, and those groups who are not white, or who do not fit into the alt-right's vision of what an American should be. That vision, un- fortunately, does not include people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and others who do not stack up to the percep ons of white privileged America. Specific to LGBTQ Americans, we experience a steady, daily drumbeat of an -LGBTQ rhetoric and policies that degrade LGBTQ Americans to the second-class status once again. We endure con- stant harassment from religious and other bigots and homophobes who take issue with two people of the same sex loving each other, raising children, and having the life that straight Americans have and taken for granted for so long. When our own take a stand against the advancement of LGBTQ rights, it is doubly painful, and hur ul. It is like Judas betray- ing Jesus, or Brutus stabbing Ceaser to death. It is unforgivable, quite inexcusable and most reprehen- sible. The Log Cabin Republicans are our Judas, our Bru- tus. With their endorsement of Donald Trump's re- elec on, they have become enemies of the LGBTQ community and are not considered to be "friends" or even allies. This despicable group must be ag- gressively fought and repelled, just like the vilest of the religious bigots and homophobes that wish to relegate us to insignificance and take hard-fought rights away from us. We must take a stand against those who will do us harm, es- pecially those within our own com- munity. In its endorsement of Trump, Log Cabin states that Donald Trump has taken "bold ac ons that benefit the LGBTQ communi- ty." They also state that he has "met his commitments to LG- BTQ Americans." Really? What planet are you folks living on? Let's take a look at how he has met his "commitments to LGBTQ Americans." 1) Withdrew an Obama direc ve to treat transgender students equally; 2) Reinstated the ban on transgender indi- viduals serving in the military; 3) Stripped LGBTQ protec ons in the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare); 4) Banned the display of pride flags at all US embas- sies; 5) Refused to issue an official proclama on recog- nizing Pride Month; 6) A empted to strip the Stonewall Inn of its his- toric site status; 7) Signed an Execu ve Order focused on "religious liberty" that set the stage for legal discrimina on of LGBTQ Americans; 8) Inmates must be housed as per their biological sex at birth; Log Cabin Republicans Traitors To The Cause By Jim Koury, Editor/Publisher

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