'Ted Cruz, anti-gay lies, & the 'sweater from hell'' & other Monday midday news briefs

I wish this was a joke, but it's not

Ted Cruz's 'Transgendered Leftist' Claim About Planned Parenthood Shooter Emerged From Far-Right Web - Aside from ruining everyone's Christmas with an UGLY sweater, Cruz has topped all of the news cycles with this mess about the Planned Parenthood shooter being transgender. Some of his defenders said he only uttered this to make a point about jumping to conclusions when it comes to violent acts. Funny how that only makes it worse because of the conclusions he jumped to with regards to the Syrian refugees after the violence in Paris.

 Kids At This School Will No Longer Be Allowed To Read A Book About Trans People - The part about this situation which should spook us all is that the principal offered an "opt-out" for students if they didn't want to read this book. The Liberty Counsel threatened to sue to keep all students from being assigned the book.  

Holiday Homophobia Hurts - It's important to remember that the law can't change everything. As lgbts fight for equality, we do need to combat these things which fall between of legal rights.

 Houston mayor says nothing could have averted HERO loss - And she is right because HERO opponents reached way back into an old but effective playbook which we don't seem to think of combating until things like referendums arise. Then we tend to sink.