Florida: DeSantis Appointee to Disney Allegedly Suggests Tap Water Turns People Gay, Ryan Field Books

Florida: DeSantis Appointee to Disney Allegedly Suggests Tap Water Turns People Gay

Just when you think it can't get any worse in Florida, you read something like this. 

DeSantis has appointed someone to the new Disney Over Sight Board and this appointee allegedly claims that being gay is not only evil but that tap water can turn people gay. 

Ron Peri is one of those Christian pastors and the CEO of The Gathering. The Gathering is a Christian outreach group for men. I can only imagine what goes on there. He is now one of five people to oversee the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The goal is to remove Disney's power because Disney allegedly criticized the DeSantis don't say gay bill. 

This is just one of Peri's comments. 

“So why are there homosexuals today? There are any number of reasons, you know, that are given. Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there’s estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They can’t get it out,” Peri baselessly said in a January 2022 Zoom discussion, later put on YouTube. 

Here's more. He simply can't admit that there have always been gay people and that we are simply born that way. They go into far more detail about Peris and gays, Disney, this new board, and DeSantis. It's going to be interesting to see if Disney retaliates...or rather when they retaliate.

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After Don't Say Gay Feud DeSantis Will Run Disney Self-Governing Distrtict, Ryan Field Books

After Don't Say Gay Feud DeSantis Will Run Disney Self-Governing District

For years and years Florida's Disney world has had its own self-governing district. And thanks to Florida's hateful Governor DeSantis that will not be a reality anymore. He plans to take over Florida's self-governing district very soon, as a retaliation for Disney World disagreeing with his don't say gay bill. 

Apparently, a state takeover of the district it legal. 

“This all seems a retaliation by the governor for Disney voicing its support for the LGBTQ community,” Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart said Friday before the bill’s passage.

Here's more. It goes on to discuss the entire law in detail, and why Disney wanted their own self-governing district in the first place many years ago. I'm sure we'll hear more about this one. It's interesting that he'd screw around with Disney, the only reason many come to his state anymore. 

 Uncertainty on Amazon

“A wonderful story that I loved. The characters were well developed and strong. Gus: A sweet young man. Doing something for all the wrong reasons. Craig: his boyfriend, he’ll go along with anything Gus say. Henry: Gus father a no-nonsense man, who’s husband died last year. I enjoyed this story.”



What readers said about “Altered Parts”
“Best Gay Novel In Years. This story will stay with you and you will feel you know every character and the beauty of their home in the mountains of North Carolina.”
In paperback or e-book. #gayromance #Wednesday

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The Wizard of Pride

The Straight Pride Parade

 How to Be a Good Gay Bottom 

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After "Don't Say Gay" Law A Weaker Disney Hopes to Limit Damage, Ryan Field Books

 After "Don't Say Gay" Law A Weaker Disney Hopes to Limit Damage

I find it hard to believe that Disney is all that weaker after the Don't Say Gay Laws. For one thing, I know there are a lot of gay people in Disney, but its mostly a heteronormative venue. And look at what happened to Billy Eicher's new movie, Bros, this past weekend. It tanked at the box office because the straights didn't show up. Many call themselves gay allies, but when it comes to things like Disney I'm not sure they are willing to let go. The straights will always go to Disney. 

Ultimately, I don't think Disney is all that weaker. It's not as if people have stopped going there. But I could be wrong. 

Last May 2 Florida officials went to Orlando to speak with Disney's leadership about their self-governing district. Ron DeSantis had abolished the district in an act of vengeance because Disney came out against Don't Say Gay. According to this article, Disney has been weakened by this move and DeSantis has only become more popular. 

You can read more, here. They go into more detail about DeSantis and his anti-gay policies.

And here is a good article about Disney being a self governing district. This goes back at least 50 years. It's really very interesting. 

                                                    How to Be a Good Gay Bottom 

A Different Kind of Southern Love Story

What readers are saying about “Uncertainty”

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“A wonderful story that I loved. The characters were well developed and strong. Gus: A sweet young man. Doing something for all the wrong reasons. Craig: his boyfriend, he’ll go along with anything Gus say. Henry: Gus father a no-nonsense man, who’s husband died last year. I enjoyed this story.”



What readers said about “Altered Parts”
“Best Gay Novel In Years. This story will stay with you and you will feel you know every character and the beauty of their home in the mountains of North Carolina.”
In paperback or e-book. #gayromance #Wednesday

Altered Parts

The Wizard of Pride

The Straight Pride Parade

Bullying and The Tyler Clemente Foundation, "Don't Say Gay" Bill Is Nothing New To Conservatives, Including Ronald Reagan, Disney Employees Walk Out Because of the "Don't Say Gay" Bill, Ryan Field Books

Bullying and The Tyler Clemente Foundation

Although bullying isn't exclusive to the LGBTQIA community, this is always my focus and I stick to one thing. The straights can handle their own issues because it's usually a straight kid bullying a gay kid. 

In any event, here is a link to the Tyler Clemente foundation with a few statistics to look over. In some cases it's staggering. But even if only one LGBTQIA kid gets bullied, that's one too many for me. 

Bullying is an intricate issue and I'm no expert, and I don't claim to be. In fact, nothing bothers me more than those who think they are experts and they know nothing. It only diminishes the real bully issues.

Understanding bullying data is just one part of preventing and interrupting bullying. The information available from research depends on terms, definitions, and measures. When students are surveyed about their experiences with bullying, their answers may vary depending on how or when a question is asked. The information below will look closer at the “what, how, why, and who” of bullying so that you can start conversations about how to prevent it in your community. 

Here's more. Do you see what I mean about how intricate it is? If you leave it up to amateurs you could make it worse. The article goes on to explain all kinds of bullying, even cyberbullying. As I said, it's not a simple issue. And you need some seriously trained professionals to handle it. 

"Don't Say Gay" Bill Is Nothing New To Conservatives, Especially Ronald Reagan

While millions of people are marching for equality in Florida against the "don't say gay" bill and the way Disney reacted to this bill that will basically silence all LGBTQ kids, I saw this article trending on Google and it's really spot on with regard to what I remember as homophobia from politicians such as Ronald Reagan. The Reagan years were terrible times for gay people. During the height of the AIDS crisis, with millions dying, Reagan pretended we didn't even exist. He's not the only one. 

During a similar episode of anti-gay moral panic none other than Ronald Reagan — whose record on L.G.B.T. issues is most often defined by his shameful inaction around H.I.V. and AIDS during his presidency — turned to his libertarian roots to thwart such bigotry, rather than promote it.

Here's more. The entire article is worth the read.  I think Reagan, and his Moral Majority, were probably the worst offenders. This is also how Reagan will go down in history in some regards.

Disney Employees Walk Out Because of the "Don't Say Gay" Bill

This all reminds me of when former "Family Friendly" Hallmark CEO, Bill Abbott, decided to pull the Lesbian Wedding commercial and the world went berserk. Abbott eventually left Hallmark over the debacle. Sadly, Bill Abbott is now running a family-friendly cable channel that's so far off the radar I can't even get it. But he's still around, and so is the CEO of Disney who really botched up this time. 

With that said, here is why LGBTQIA people are walking out.  

Organizers of the walkout wrote in an open letter posted on its website that statements by Disney's leadership regarding the bill "have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation."

You can read more here. From what I gather, Disney has been trying to do better. At least on the surface. But is it all too late? If you read the article you'll see what I mean. I think the problem is the way Disney responded in the first place. CEO Bob Chapek tried to remain neutral. It's all in the article. This bill is too dangerous to remain neutral. You either take a stand on one side or the other. As a gay author, I can't just sit back and support a bill like that. I would be an idiot.  

Ring My Bells

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What readers are saying about "Uncertainty"

Amazon

"A wonderful story that I loved. The characters were well developed and strong. Gus: A sweet young man. Doing something for all the wrong reasons. Craig: his boyfriend, he'll go along with anything Gus say. Henry: Gus father a no nonsense man, who's husband died last year. I enjoyed this story."



What readers said about "Altered Parts"
"Best Gay Novel In Years. This story will stay with you and you will feel you know every character and the beauty of their home in the mountains of North Carolina."
In paperback or e-book. #gayromance #Wednesday

Altered Parts

Disney Sponsors Outfest; Queen Makes History; Gay Travel Alert Mississippi

Disney Sponsors Outfest

Outfest is an LGBTI family event being held this July in Orlando, Florida. Other sponsors include Hilton, Macy's, and Nickelodeon.

Organizers are calling Family Outfest: ‘The first of its kind. ‘It is designed to bring LGBT and straight allied families together to experience the city, beautiful theme parks and other family-friendly activities found in Central Florida.'

You can read more here.

It's nice to know we're (gays) not just expected to go to Provincetown, or a handful of other destinations that have always been predominantly gay. Frankly, Tony and I went to Provincetown, MA, for over fifteen years, three times a year...Halloween, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve. I love it and the times we spent there, but it did get tired after a while, which is why we stopped going and went to Vermont to get married this past January.

We've already seen the decline of the gay bar...at least as it once was. In part, that's thanks to the Internet. I think we'll begin to see the decline of the gay ghetto eventually, too. I know I have no intention of retiring early, moving to Wilton Manors or Palm Springs, and living out my last days surrounded by only gay people. I'd like to be part of everything, including the families going to Outfest this year in Orlando.

Queen Makes History

Queen Elizabeth II made history recently when she openly congratulated an LGBTI charity group in Britain. It's the first time she's acknowledged any LGBTI group during her 62 year reign.

“Best wishes and congratulations to all concerned on this most special anniversary,” read the Queen’s message, according to a transcript released by Buckingham Palace.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also congratulated the group, along with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, London’s Mayor Johnson, and the head of the Labour party in Parliament, Ed Miliband.

These acknowledgements from people like Queen Elizabeth are extremely important to many people, and not just in a grand general sense. They are sometimes even more important on a personal level.

You can read more here.


Gay Travel Alert Mississippi

A group called GetEQUAL is issuing what's being called a "travel alert" for LGBTI people who are planning to go to Mississippi. Where they received the authority to issue this warning isn't clear, and I haven't seen any solid examples of any LGBTI people having issues in Mississippi...at least not any examples more distressing than in any other state in the US.

According to most articles I read, and there are plenty out there, the alert issued is because law makers in Mississippi are trying to pass a bill...SB 2681 Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act...that would allow business owners in Mississippi to refuse business to LGBTI people for religious reasons. It's basically that same as what happened in Arizona not too long ago. The Governor of Arizona vetoed the bill.

GetEQUAL Mississippi alerts those traveling to the state of a continued risk of discrimination based upon sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The State of Mississippi does not currently protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (“LGBT”) people from being legally ejected from their hotel rooms or other places of public accommodation, and is on the cusp of passing legislation that would give business owners even more latitude to legally discriminate against minority groups.
Those who are required to travel to Mississippi are encouraged to take the following precautions:
- Avoid traveling alone in the state.
- Only book travel at hotels which have policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Visit only known LGBT-friendly establishments, including restaurants, bars and venues.
- Be aware of your surroundings and adopt other appropriate safety measures to protect yourself while traveling.
GetEQUAL Mississippi will continue to monitor this situation and update travelers as needed.

I get where they are going with this. I don't always like it. I think it helps spread panic and makes things worse. But I get it. I hate these laws and don't fully understand how anyone who calls themselves religious could discriminate.

I know a few LGBTI people in Mississippi who aren't too thrilled about this either.

You can read more here.