N.C. House Strikes Down LGBT Protections Statewide
Source: The Advocate
North Carolina lawmakers voted overwhelmingly today to strike down all existing LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances in the state, during a special legislative session called in response to Charlotte passing a trans-inclusive ordinance.
The states Republican-led House of Representatives passed House Bill 2 by a vote of 83-24 today, according to the anti-LGBT North Carolina Family Policy Council, which supports the legislation that it calls the Charlotte bathroom bill. The bill now moves to the state Senate, where it will be heard at 4 p.m. local time.
The special session was called in response to Charlotte's public accommodations ordinance, passed by the local city council in February, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the citys antidiscrimination law. The ordinance does not affect employment, only public accommodations and does include guarantees that transgender people can use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity. The ordinance applies to shops, restaurants, taxi and limousine services, and other businesses that serve the general public. Businesses refusing to serve same-sex weddings or LGBT Pride events, for instance, would be in violation of the ordinance.
The ordinance was set to take effect April 1 but lawmakers in North Carolina have the power to overrule municipal decisions, which appears to be the goal of HB 2. However, as Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson noted on Facebook, HB 2 reaches far beyond Charlotte, and would effectively strike down all LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances enacted by localities throughout the state.
Read more: http://www.advocate.com/politics/2016/3/23/north-carolina-house-strikes-down-lgbt-protections-statewide
NC GOP is more interested in bathrooms than classrooms. This is an attack on LGBT rights, worker's rights and Charlotte's right to self govern. Nasty bigots have made a mess of the state government so they are going to try to re-ignite the culture wars as cover.
More here:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article67724167.html
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)wildeyed
(11,243 posts)They did this in a surprise session to limit exposure in the press because laws like these are very bad for business. The more exposure the story gets, the more likely we can defeat them.
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)I can't believe it was one of the original 13 colonies. Yes I know it was a slave holding state, however it did have minds that thought it was a good idea to rebel against the Brits.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)They are shooting themselves in the foot left and right with over reach and incompetence. We need to vote the bastards out in November....
But Charlotte City Council did an amazing job getting this legislation passed. They worked really hard to get a good bill. And now the General Assembly is yet again overturning the will of the people. And NC has been pretty progressive off and on since Reconstruction. Google Fusion Party for more on that....
revbones
(3,660 posts)The last was to ban same-sex marriage. The one before that was to ban interracial marriage.
llmart
(15,535 posts)which ended it's chances of becoming the law of the land. Thanks to that big time bigot, Jesse Helms.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)Vote the bastards out.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)yardwork
(61,585 posts)I live in North Carolina, and I'm gay. I feel bad about this, and our transgender sisters and brothers feel a lot worse. But everybody should feel terrible, because what the State Legislature is doing today will affect everybody.
The Republicans in North Carolina just used fear as an excuse to wipe out ANY local statutes that expand ANY rights beyond what the state legislature says is ok - which is very, very narrow. Wiped out are all local statutes providing living wages to workers, all local statutes providing incentives to minority-owned businesses, all LGBTQ rights of any kind statewide, etc. etc.
How did this happen to the most progressive state in the south, the state that had Democratic control of the state legislature for over 100 years, usually had a Democratic governor, and often voted to elect the Democrat for president?
It happened because Democrats couldn't be bothered to vote in 2010 and 2014, and/or they refused to vote for the Democratic nominee because that nominee wasn't "pure" enough to deserve the vote. And so the Koch-funded Tea Party took over NC and this is what we got.
And they rewrote the districts because 2010 is a census year, and the state is so gerrymandered now we have no chance of retaking the state for years, if ever. A majority of people cast ballots for Democrats last fall, but the Republicans still held onto a big majority of the state legislature and congressional representatives.
Oh, by the way, their voter ID law took effect last week during our primary, and there were lots of problems and voter suppression among the Democratic base - minorities, the elderly, students. This will definitely depress the Democratic vote in November.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)I listen to part of the live streamed debate. Dan Blue made a powerful speech and all the Democratic Senators walked out. They did a voice roll call and the odious Charlotte GOP Rep Rucho was not there either Too chicken, I guess.
https://twitter.com/BonitiTWCNews/status/712767835529994240
revbones
(3,660 posts)2010 and 2014 were midterms so turnout would normally be low. Who are you saying was the Democratic nominee that wasn't "pure" enough?
Also, if you are comparing not voting with Hillary to your example, I think the people that are not voting for Hillary will still be coming out to vote for down-ticket races.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)This is important.
revbones
(3,660 posts)I just asked what you were referring to since those were midterms.
You said "It happened because Democrats couldn't be bothered to vote in 2010 and 2014, and/or they refused to vote for the Democratic nominee because that nominee wasn't "pure" enough to deserve the vote. And so the Koch-funded Tea Party took over NC and this is what we got. "
Maybe you should back it up a bit and realize that perhaps it's a legitimate question to wonder which Democratic nominee you were talking about in your comment that wasn't "pure" enough during midterms and people stayed home because of. I live in NC as well and the governor's race is timed with the presidential one. So who were you talking about during midterms?
Or were you just trying to use this travesty to argue the loyalty pledge point which should actually be left in GDP...
I am the OP. You are the one bringing primary mess into this thread. I am asking you to please stop because it distracts from the very real issue, which is that our LGBT brothers and sisters and worker's rights are being assualted. Plus I voted for this city council because I WANT them to enact laws like they did and not what General Assembly is overturning my right again. F'ing taxation without representation in this state these days
This is LBN, not GDP. Can we talk about the issue at hand? Thanks!
I posted a question in a comment about a comment you had made. That's how it works. I'm sorry if you don't like someone asking an honest question for some reason, but perhaps if you have a problem with comments, then you should post a blog post somewhere that doesn't allow comments.
Again, I ask you - who were you talking about when you said "It happened because Democrats couldn't be bothered to vote in 2010 and 2014, and/or they refused to vote for the Democratic nominee because that nominee wasn't "pure" enough to deserve the vote. And so the Koch-funded Tea Party took over NC and this is what we got. "
Yes, calling me out in such a way and telling me to take my question to GDP, when it's a legitimate question about something you posted in the thread is distracting, but that's on you. I didn't bring primary mess in here, I asked you about a comment you made. Are you not able to answer the question because the statement wasn't true or something? I wasn't even trying to argue with you, I really wanted to know.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)And you are the only one saying the names of primary candidates in a thread the is NOT about primary politics where no one else has mentioned any. But Imma leave you to it
revbones
(3,660 posts)IF you look, my original comment and question were to the person that I quoted from. Not you. You are the one that saw fit to reply and derail the thread.
And I can mention names of politicians if I want. Sheesh. Either way, you're the one that has distracted from your OP. The original commenter may or many not have replied, but you've added all this to the thread now.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)that we could have a civil discussion on this site without dragging f'ing primary bullshit into the ring. I also forgot that everyone here hates Democrats now. Well have fun, I'm out....
revbones
(3,660 posts)What primary stuff are you so flustered over? I asked about the comment about NC elections in off years and who they were talking about. If you re-read my comment, I think you might find you over-reacted.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)And this isn't a GDP topic which is restricted to the campaigns of Bernie and Hillary anyway.
Rev bones is seeking background info on past NC voting patterns from 2010 and 2014 which wouldn't be allowed in GDP at all.
revbones
(3,660 posts)yardwork
(61,585 posts)North Carolina's state legislature had been controlled by Democrats for 100 years. Yes, many of these Democrats were conservative, but handing over the state to Republicans has been a nightmare. They gerrymandered the state to ensure that they will never lose power.
Turnout was shamefully low among Democrats in 2010. Our party compounded the problem in 2012 by allowing a Republican to be elected governor. Many Democrats felt that the Democratic nominee wasn't good enough, so they didn't bother to vote, telling themselves that McCrory, a former mayor of Charlotte, was "moderate."
The Republicans are literally dismantling my state. I can't even...
revbones
(3,660 posts)because in your original comment you said 2010 & 2014. Thanks for the explanation.
yardwork
(61,585 posts)In recent years, a majority of Democrats have voted, but the districts are now so securely gerrymandered, the Republicans still held onto big majorities. The recent federal decision requiring the legislature to redraw the worst gerrymandered districts did not help - sniggering and sneering, they just rewrote them in a different way to their benefit.
JackBeck
(12,359 posts)yardwork
(61,585 posts)JackBeck
(12,359 posts)Time to regroup and strategize in preparation for the next session. I can already picture lots of civil disobedience on the horizon. Hopefully Chris at ENC is engaged. Let me know if I can help at all.
dsc
(52,155 posts)I am furious to say the least.
yardwork
(61,585 posts)dsc
(52,155 posts)but William Barber is in my district so there might well be.
yardwork
(61,585 posts)I think that there may be protests from some of the corporations based in North Carolina. This is going to make national news because the bill is so far-reaching.
dsc
(52,155 posts)and then changed districts as I literally couldn't stand working at the school I was at. I like my new school, they like me, and I am close enough to Raleigh that I am still in the chorus and will be able to be at the protest tomorrow at UUFR in Raleigh. That said, Eastern NC is a different animal at times.
yardwork
(61,585 posts)I'm glad that you are happy in your new school.
JustAnotherGen
(31,798 posts)What words I do have are ugly.
Re Voting - same thing happened in NJ in 2009 and 2013. When people don't vote - you end up with your rights (literally YOURS) decimated - or Christie on a stage supporting Trump.
LonePirate
(13,412 posts)wildeyed
(11,243 posts)Curious to know who jumped ship.
Senator Dan Blue was great on the livestream.
LonePirate
(13,412 posts)Looks like 13 abstentions/non-votes unless my fury screwed up my math.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)And the Dems walked out at the vote, so not sure what the math is on this. I am seeing nothing on Twitter or in my LGBT friends feeds about Dem turncoats. I really DO want to know if there were some.
So again, do you have a link?
LonePirate
(13,412 posts)If every R voted for it, then so did 9 Dems at a minimum.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)Nobody else is talking about this BUT YOU. Not my heavily political NC LGBT network, not the NC politically focused pundits or bloggers, not the state political coverage like WRAL. No one but you. Everyone else says "Senate Dems walked out" and are done. So please post a link. Again, I would be VERY interested to know who voted for this if that is true. But so far I am finding ZERO confirmation when I go look myself.
Are you even from NC? It seems like you are investing in making NC Senate Dems look bad. Is that true? Why?
LonePirate
(13,412 posts)The OP has the vote total. The link I provided has the party affiliation breakdown of the House. You can do the same math that I did. I never said a word about the NC Senate.
dsc
(52,155 posts)originally 13 but two changed their minds. One of the 11 is my own representative. One Republican voted against and one was absent.
LonePirate
(13,412 posts)dsc
(52,155 posts)yardwork
(61,585 posts)I have no problem with the few Democratic senators doing that. They WERE shut out of the process. The draft bill wasn't even shared with the chambers until this morning! There was a five minute recess to read it before voting began!! There are so few Democratic senators, their votes wouldn't have mattered.
I'm furious with all the Republicans and the Democrats in the House that voted for this travesty, and went along with the travesty of a "process."
olddad56
(5,732 posts)Let all the 'southern state refugees' migrate to a new home in the United States, let all the gun nuts and tea party wacko's move to the south and lets all just start over.
Okay, I'm dreaming.
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)I firmly do not believe in "running away" when it comes to fighting republicans.
As for your dreaming, I'd call it more of a hallucination. Although perhaps in context with the minds of too many of your fellow like-minded DUers, it's more like mass hallucinations.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)dsc
(52,155 posts)to say I am angry is an understatement.
markpkessinger
(8,392 posts). . . that sums up the sheer absurdity of the right's bathroom fixation perfectly:
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)malthaussen
(17,183 posts)... whereupon the legislature will pass a similar bill, which the courts will overturn...
Let's see, how many times has the U.S. Congress voted to overturn Obamacare, now?
-- Mal
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)in November and he will veto This is a sad effort by the NC GOP to drum up support from their bigoted base with a little red meat. They are really unpopular, even with most Rep voters, and are in trouble this fall.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)Weird.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)...and I suspect that plays an important role in this. The backwards people there want the college-educated "liberal Yankee carpetbaggers" out and BS like this helps to discourage educated, liberal creative types for moving there for work.
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)No more trips to N.C.
Nascar loses again.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,986 posts)wildeyed
(11,243 posts)and progressive voters in November. People in my social feeds are PISSED OFF and ready to vote.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,986 posts)After decades of a right-leaning SCOTUS, the country is ready for a progressive one again but it requires voters actually voting.
Behind the Aegis
(53,936 posts)Amazing some still think GLBT rights aren't "real" civil rights, nor do GLBT persons suffer from "real" discrimination and that our struggles and movement are "winding down."
More to come.