It’s becoming clear that some lawmakers on the Right have lost their damn minds since marriage equality was achieved last June, but if they think they’re scoring points for their party, they’re even more incompetent than we could have imagined.
“Religious freedom” laws have become all the rage in states like Indiana and most recently Georgia (and the 20 other states with some version of the same legislature on the books), Alabama has taken steps to get out of the marriage licensing business altogether (taking the “If I have to share then neither of us will have any” strategy of a 6-year-old eating cookies), and then there’s North Carolina.
Related: N.C. Governor Warns Of Consequences If Charlotte Passes LGBTQ Rights Law
NC Governor Pat McCrory signed what many are calling the most antigay law of the century, effectively banning all LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinances across the entire state.
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.
It’s a move that the New York Times‘ Editorial Board blasted as “an appalling, unconstitutional bill,” going so far as to call upon the state to dump McCory as soon as possible. “Voters should reject the candidate who made the state a pioneer in bigotry.”
And while McCory will dismiss the NYT as a biased, liberal mouth piece (which it isn’t), there’s something as American as apple pie he can’t spin — the free market has spoken.
Numerous major U.S., multi-national, and North Carolina corporations and institutions have denounced McCrory’s misguided new law, many of which have direct business ties to the state.
Apple, American Airlines, Bank of America, Biogen, Burt’s Bees, Citrix, Dow Chemicals, Duke University, ESPN, Facebook, Google, IBM, Lowe’s, the NBA, the NCAA, PayPal, Redhat, and others have made public statements condemning HB2.
We believe in equal rights and equal treatment for all. This North Carolina law is misguided & wrong. #WeAreNotThis pic.twitter.com/3yCayn7Tum
— Google (@Google) March 24, 2016
At #RedHat we strongly value diversity: https://t.co/XDfUVzC1OL. HB#2 is a clear step backwards. Sad day. #WeAreNotThis
— Jim Whitehurst (@JWhitehurst) March 23, 2016
Citrix believes in a world that is secure & open for all. We value diversity in our workforce & lives. #WeAreNotThis pic.twitter.com/jvz1YTkKz0
— Citrix (@citrix) March 24, 2016
Dow is disappointed in the signing of NC #HB2. We will continue to call for a comprehensive federal framework to ensure fairness for all.–KK
— Dow Public Policy (@DowPolicy) March 24, 2016
Inclusion is one of our core values and we are proud to champion LGBTQ equality in N. Carolina and around the world: https://t.co/40yYLCrqO1
— PayPal (@PayPal) March 24, 2016
Hard to keep up with all those opposing NC's anti-LGBT bill. https://t.co/1m0f5mh16m #ncga #ncpol #WeAreNotThis #HB2 pic.twitter.com/AwauujZe0G
— NC Policy Watch (@NCPolicyWatch) March 25, 2016
Try explaining to voters why denying rights to LGBTQ people is more important than keeping your state’s economy on track.
We’ll be waiting to see how these companies act on their outcry if push comes to shove, but we can bet it won’t be pretty for the governor or his disgraceful agenda.
Jim Apple
MacAdvisor
One should read the Charlotte Observer’s editorial on the matter:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article68005432.html
I don’t think I have ever read an editorial in a major newspaper that speaks so plainly and brutally to the subject, condemning the governor and the bill in very direct terms.
Kevin Morrow
As someone who has lived in NC, I am truly ashamed
Glücklich
@MacAdvisor:
Thank you for sharing the link.
Glücklich
RAI get on the stick! Lotta LGBT folks still smoke.
Luis H. Lopez
Resistance to evil Antigay laws is a patriotic duty to hateful state tyrants !
Carl Jay Same
I feel most sad for the LGBT communities. Talk about 2 steps forward and 4 steps back.
Bauhaus
@Glücklich:
I’ve always enjoyed OBX, have family there and nice summer memories. I’m not gonna spend my future leisure time/money there, though. Oh well, lots of other places to enjoy.
Spike
Can’t wait for the likes of Sarah Palin to complain that what these companies are doing are denying Christians their First Amendmant rights.
AJ Beu
I hope they move their business!
Daniel-Reader
The law added language that removes the ability of North Carolina residents to use state courts to sue for discrimination in employment based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, et al. So residents must use the much more limited resources of federal court which has a much small timeframe to file claims. So Gov. McCrory and the 106 legislators attacked the human rights of all residents of North Carolina. The businesses benefit from this law.
Daniel-Reader
This “bathroom” law was used as cover to harm more than just LGBT people.
Topher Levín
I think more people than just a governor should be terrified that an elected official could be overruled by a home improvement store, bank, and aspirin manufacturer. Forgetting that it’s a bad bill that will lose in court, what does this say about who’s actually in charge?
Mack
@Kevin Morrow: Start calling for your governor’s resignation.
Bauhaus
@Bauhaus:
Tourism is enormously important to the economy of North Carolina. Dumb dumb dumb!
Glücklich
@Bauhaus:
Had to look up OBX. I was like, “Is that an airport?” I’ve never been to the Outer Banks and didn’t know that was OBX…der dee der der.
Glücklich
@Bauhaus:
That’s what I was thinking on the earlier post when commenters mentioned Asheville. Big fancy house museum chock full of antiques and bric-a-brac’s gotta be fag central.
Hoyt Havel
So what about North Carolina…what are we doing about that?
Bauhaus
@Glücklich:
I’ve only had excellent experiences in NC. Fantastic water sports, and I’ve picked up a few antiques, too! Hope Mr. Glücklich had a nice homecoming! He must be something else…
John Malin
I’ve known two M/F transitioned women and if I had not been told, I would never have even guessed. What are they going to do have genitalia monitors? Perhaps they can hire rapists and pedophiles to do the checking, or is that a prerogative the legislators are reserving for themselves?
Glücklich
@Bauhaus:
Same here…see my comments on the earlier NC post…
Mr. Glücklich and I have been spending *quality time* to make up for his absence. 🙂 But Sunday I leave for London for a week. 🙁
Chris Mele-Wagner
Corporate statements without action aren’t worth much
Manknee Aeizona
Roy Lewis
Is Georgia going to suffer next?
joeyty
Nobody in N.C. is worried, governor or otherwise, because nothing is going to change. This is a dopey tempest in a teapot.
GC1985
Then they need to pull out and come to an accepting state like California. Jerry Brown needs to start discussing with these businesses and bring them to California. Best to punish the state hard… Hit their economy. That is the only way. Texas, for example, is in a recession… They deserved it for bringing us Ted Cruz.
I feel sorry for some of the residents in the state, but North Carolina is to blame for urban areas not getting out to vote in large enough numbers. They allowed rural nutcases to guide the policy of the state. Now is time for businesses to withdraw and relocate.
joeyty
They should move to Texas. Less crime than in California. And that’s per capita.
joeyty
@GC1985: “They allowed rural nutcases to guide the policy of the state. Now is time for businesses to withdraw and relocate.” Ha ha! Yeah….no gay bashings in the N.C. “urban areas” like Durham, Raleigh, and Greensboro.
joeyty
@Glücklich: I just remembered that Thomas Wolfe (Look Homeward, Angel) was Asheville born and based. Though I haven’t read him, yet…..
GC1985
@joeyty: I never said that you illiterate. Gay bashings even occur in LA, but overall crime rates are down.
@joeyty: Texas? And you were talking about gay bashings. Texas is a bad move because of very high property taxes and the fact the state is in a major recession. Texas depends on commodities such as petroleum. This is all too complex for a simpleton like you.
joeyty
@GC1985: Yes, it’s too complex. But I still think they should move to the state with less crime and less hate crimes. (That’s if they even left N.C. over this stupidity…LMAO )
Dinodogstar
And, of course, these are also great companies and businesses to support. We in Missouri are facing a similar ‘Religious Freedom’ bill here. It’s worth mentioning that Monsanto, Purina, Wells Fargo and MasterCard who have a large corporate presence here, have denounced our local proposed like measure.
Back in the day, some of us trouble-making punks used to take bills, ones, mostly, in my case, and write or stamp them with the phrase, ” GAY MONEY”… sort of an off-shoot tactic encouraged by the ‘Queer Nation” org of the 90s…
NOW– with the advent of the INTERNET, it is INCREDIBLY easy to contact businesses that either are our allies or enemies, and attempt to sway and encourage them to either be out and proud of that support, or even to shame those who are total dckheads towards us.
Good or bad, and it can be both, companies attempt to appeal to lgbt customers, so grab that acknowledged power and use it to demand support and parity for our allegiance. It is sort of sad to me that the bars used to be wallpapered with ads and promo banners and the like from liquor companies and cigarette companies as well. Yep, to say the inconvenient truth about it, we’ve lost many lgbt people to THOSE azzholes, as we were more than average-ready to drink and smoke ourselves to death. So, CONTACT Absolute, Coors, A-B, and whatever (evil, but generous) liquor companies that want to be our friends, and make them act like it. Because, like it or not, these “religious freedom” laws are eventually coming to a state near you!
Daniel-Reader
Always interesting that politicians think they can violate the human rights of Americans. Must stem from the historic genocide U.S. politicians have committed against minority groups, starting with Native Americans, then ignoring the plight of Jews in WWII, the abuse of Irish immigrants, the attacks on black Americans, the internment and discrimination of Asian Americans, the mistreatment of women in the USA which doesn’t even protect women’s rights, the persecution of Italian Americans, the abuse of disabled Americans, and the list rolls on with LGBT Americans the latest on the list of some politicians. Makes you appreciate the politicians who uphold human rights and abhore the politicians who violate them. The contrast from state to state in America is stark.
joeyty
@Daniel-Reader: Why’d you leave out anti-Catholic sentiments ?
Andrew Danger Mccurdy
What happened to disney and marvel boycotting the state they seen to have gone quiet in this issue
GC1985
@joeyty: Yet Texas has more hate crimes and higher crime rates and is stuck in a recession because of the collapse in oil prices. You totally missed the point. Texas is a dump anyways with horrible politicians at the state level.
Giancarlo86
TROLL >>>>>> @GC1985: <<<<<< TROLL
joe
but no one is leaving the state, so why would nc care about idle threats?
joeyty
@joe: Like I said. Tempest in a teapot.
GC1985
@Giancarlo86: FAKE LOSER! FAKE LOSER ALERT!
Get a life, troll.
GC1985
I can’t believe that’s all the loser pedo has… coming up with fake usernames intending to mock. It’ll disappear totally and come back when c.hathour dries up. I guess the troll can’t hit on teen boys anymore because it’s under surveillance.