Hell hath no fury like an angry Cher on Twitter.
The dance diva unleashed on Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson over the weekend after he voiced his support of a bill that would make it illegal for local governments in his state to adopt nondiscrimination ordinances protecting LGBT people. It has been nicknamed by some as the “Gays Stay Away” bill.
On February 22, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Arkansas, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Lambda Legal, and National Center for Lesbian Rights released a joint statement urging Hutchinson to veto the bill.
Hutchinson responded by telling local media his stance “will not change” on the matter.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Enter Cher.
The legendary entertainer joined the chorus of voices calling for the governor to veto the bill, tweeting:
Why am I not surprised That Asa Hutchinson, Gov of Arkansas,is hanging LBGT community out to dry??
— Cher (@cher) February 22, 2015
The bill passed through the Arkansas State House earlier this month by a landslide margin of 58-21, and in the Arkansas State Senate 24-8. It is expected to go into affect this summer.
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Giancarlo85
If he doesn’t veto it, the state will get sued and taken to court. This bill is in direct violation of the 14th amendment and will not stand. Since these right wing fanatical morons can’t take away our rights to marriage equality, they’ll try to strike against us when it comes to employment and other legal protections.
And just the other day on this site I was arguing with someone about how Obama is bad bad bad, and republicans are awesome. Unbelievable.
When 2016 the republicans will get shellacked. They already proven they can’t do anything with that majority they have in Congress (they don’t have enough votes to override a veto lol).
Giancarlo85
@Giancarlo85: Note: I was arguing against republicans when talking to that poster. I can’t believe gay republicans even exist.
Ladbrook
@Giancarlo85: It’s true, and a sad fact. Even though the writing is on the wall with respect to LGBT equality, as soon as they regained power across the country the first thing they do is go full-beast on LGBT rights. All this after a very careful strategy of avoiding social issues while talking about foreign policy, economics, etc. They never change. The hate is still there.
Giancarlo85
@Ladbrook: They’ll do anything to hurt us. They can’t hurt us on marriage equality, so they’ll go after our job security and try to put us on the streets.
The republican party is one of the most despicable I have ever seen. But they know come 2016, they’ll lose and they’ll end up losing the majorities they have I think.
Ladbrook
@Giancarlo85: The GOTV effort on behalf of the Dem candidates will need to be huge and historic in 2016, because all those Repubs who sat home in 2008 and 2012 aren’t going to be so quiet in 2016. I’m hopeful, but also fearful of what they might accomplish. My plan is to vote and then harass all of friends to do the same… even if that means driving them there myself.
Bob LaBlah
Forgive my ignorance but how many times has Cher appeared in the god fearing, white christian state of Arkansas? She must have brought a lot of money into that state for the governor to be shitting in his pants because of her personal opinion.
Giancarlo85
@Ladbrook: The only reason why republicans did win a lot in the 2014 Midterms was because democrats stayed home. They don’t really have enough voters to win general elections anymore when there is more interest. At least that is my hope and prediction.
Desert Boy
It’s so good to know we have an unshakeable ally in Cher. BTW, I hope Cher is feeling better. That viral attack seriously derailed her. She had to wear a heart monitor for months.
jwtraveler
@Giancarlo85: If you’re rich enough, it’s more important to protect your wealth than everyone’s civil rights.
Daniel-Reader
The silver lining is that the politicians willing to commit mass human rights violations against other Americans have been identified so Americans don’t have to support their actions any longer. Learning who the politicians committing genocide are on the planet was always half the battle.
jason smeds
Well, well, if it isn’t Bill Clinton’s home state doing this! Where is our delightful Bill? Silent? Why doesn’t he get his wife Hillary down there to speak out for our rights? Or does she only do it if there’s a vote in it for her?
If old Hillary fails to stand up for us, she does not deserve to be President.
david-tullis
@Bob LaBlah: Cher has performed in Arkansas several times (with and without Sonny). Cher’s mother is actually from Arkansas. Cher is related to the last Arkansas First Lady, Ginger Beebe.
onthemark
I’m guessing this law is directed specifically at the gay-friendly town of Eureka Springs? – maybe the ONE place in all of Arkansas that attracts gay residents and gay tourism?
Thad1527
It was actually directed against an anti-discrimination ordinance in effect in Fayetteville.
onthemark
@Thad1527: Thanks, I hadn’t heard of it (& see it’s a college town).
Giancarlo85
@jason smeds: Taking a page from FAUX news already? I’m pretty sure Hillary has done more for gay rights than any republicant (and yes, I did call them REPUBLICANTS). But please, go ahead and vote for a REPUBLICANT if you want. I guess you’re one of those who votes with his “checkbook”. Never mind republicants are ALWAYS bad for the economy. Every REPUBLICANT presidency in the last 50 years has ended in a recession and large amounts of debts. Bill Clinton left this country with a SURPLUS.
Hillary deserves to be President far more than the fascist turds in the other party.
ExplorerRowan
@Giancarlo85: Problem is that it’ll have to get high enough in the court system to even be ruled on in the first place. Deep in the Bible Belt, odds are decent that it’ll never get to court at all, that one of the corrupt, local, lower-level judges will stall on it, throw it out, and refuse to hear the case until the plaintiffs run out of time, money, energy, etc. “Boss Hogg” style corruption is rampant in the system down here, and a higher court that could actually rule on the constitutionality might never even see the case. It’ll be a challenge just to get it on the docket.
Change is going to have to happen at the lowest levels before we even have a hope of changing it higher up.