In 2016, anti-LGBT discrimination will cost you, and one North Carolina Senator is calling out HB2 for costing the state $4.5 Billion in federal education funding.
Senator Jeff Jackson added the graphic above to his Facebook page, asking if his state can really afford to lose all that funding. We’ll go out on a limb and say they probably can’t.
The $4.5 billion number comes from an ACLU estimate that claims North Carolina could lose the money because it violates an anti-discrimination clause of title IX funding.
From Indy Week:
How about we take this to the next level?
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Title IX is a provision of the 1972 Education Amendments law that says: “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Title IX applies to any school that receives federal funding, which include about 16,500 local districts, 7,500 postsecondary institutions, “as well as charter schools, for-profit schools, libraries, and museums.” In 2014, the Department of Education clarified that transgender students are, in fact, protected under Title IX.
Mind you, this $4.5 billion is only for educational funding and doesn’t count the billions in potential lost revenue if the dozens of corporations who’ve already spoken out against HB2 follow through with their threats to boycott North Carolina.
Can North Carolina afford this? All signs point to no. But by all means Gov. McCrory, continue to double down on discrimination and bankrupt your state while you’re at it.
We’re sure that’ll bode quite well when you’re up for re-election this November. We’re sure your Democratic challenger Roy Cooper is soaking up the donations as we speak.
ChuckF
Sadly the economics argument is the one the hurts hypocrites like McCrory hardest. Men like him gave up on reason and justice long ago if they ever had any.
jimontp
We don’t have to wait for corporations or the Federal government to cut off money to states that sanction discrimination.
I was just about to buy a small sofa online from Birch Lane, when I checked on their “made in USA” claim. Yup, all of their furniture is made in North Carolina, so I cancelled the order and wrote them an email saying I wouldn’t do business with a company that allows discrimination. Not a major blow to them, I’m sure, but each of us has a responsibility to make that point clear to any businesses that operate in NC. If equality doesn’t matter to these bigots, then dollars will. Do you know where you online purchases come from? Turns out most of USA furniture is made there. Make every voice count.
Guy068
We all know McCrory will get reelected even if he stands his ground being a bigot. His people will see it as persecution of a man standing up for principles and further fuck themselves over…
Dave Downunder
@jimontp: Great move Jim, this is the best way to make a stand and hopefully many other people will follow your example.
Dakotahgeo
Wake UP, North Carolina and other backward States! You’re about to lose your financial asses!
Dakotahgeo
@Dave Downunder: THANK YOU for that tip! My partner and I will be buying all new furniture in the near future and this will help us A LOT! Kudos!
captainburrito
@jimontp: Does their company allow discrimination?
youarekiddingme
@captainburrito: Birchlane is owned by Wayfair (who does their hiring by the way). Wayfair DOES NOT descriminate based on sexual orientation. Here’s there web page: http://www.wayfair.com/careers It’s listed near the bottom where they don’t descriminate based on sex, race…sexual orientation…
I see Jimontp’s point about not wanting to buy their furniture (with it being manufactured there), but not about them “allowing Descrimination”. They are in a shitty situation with many other companies. They’re in a fucked up state with a fucked up law where they now must make a decision to either stay and support the economy or pick up and move to another state. It’s a tough choice (I’d say for anybody). If I lived in that hell hole, it would be tough to just pack it up and move when I had everything invested there. The only way to “pressure” the legislature to change is by pressuring the companies and thereby financially pressuring the state. Glad to see Title IX will be going away.
danemichael
I actually changed my travel route from GA to PA to avoid North Carolina all together. I did not want to give them a nickel of my gas or food money.