Category: Uncategorized

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North Carolina: Charlotte Loses Another Convention Over Hate Law

The economic backlash from North Carolina’s anti-LGBT hate law, HB2, continues as the Charlotte Observer reports that the city has lost yet anther convention.

According to the city’s tourism office, the cancellation by the National Organization for Victim Assistance, constitutes one of at least 20 conventions cancelled due to the hate law.

The event by NOVA would have included 1,200 attendees, 1,516 hotel rooms plus all the ancillary economic impact to the businesses in the area of the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel-Le Meridien, which had planned to host the event.

Earlier in the week, the Association for Library Service to Children announced plans to cancel their September event.

Happy Hate Law, North Carolina! It’s continuing, kids.

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Donald Trump Opposes North Carolina Hate Law

During a town hall appearance this morning on NBC’s Today Show, Donald Trump seemed to oppose anti-LGBT laws like North Carolina’s hateful HB2.

I say “seemed” because during his answer he kept saying “Leave it the way it is.” Leaving it the way it is would mean keeping HB2 in North Carolina., because that’s currently “how it is.”

But the gist of his answer would seem to be in opposition to the legislation that has garnered so much attention and caused so much economic hardship for the state.

Here’s Trump talking on the issue this morning:

“North Carolina did something that was very strong and they’re paying a big price. And there’s a lot of problems.” Trump said. “Leave it the way it is. North Carolina, what they’re going through, with all of the business and all of the strife — and that’s on both sides — you leave it the way it is. There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble. And the problem with what happened in North Carolina is the strife and the economic punishment they’re taking.”

UPDATE: Trump’s opponent in the Republican presidential primary blasted Trump for even suggesting opposition to the hate law.

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News Round-Up: April 20, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Tracey Morgan pulls a Springsteen on Mississippi over anti-LGBT law.

• The FAA grounds Donald Trump’s out-of-registration jet.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders says he will still surpass Hillary Clinton in pledged delegates, even though he’s behind by almost 300.

• Could it be – Cher The Musical?

• Salt Lake City votes unanimously to name a street after LGBT icon Harvey Milk.

• The new documentary Strike A Pose chronicles the lives of Madonna’s male dancers both during and after her iconic 1990 “Blonde Ambition” tour.

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Trailer: “The Magnificent Seven” Starring Denzel Washington & Chris Pratt

I love that Chris Pratt brings his trademark enthusiasm along for the ride.

Clip description:

Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ and Columbia Pictures’ The Magnificent Seven.

With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier).

As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

(h/t JMG)

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Target Posts Policy Statement Supporting LGBT Rights

Target has posted a statement on it’s corporate website underlining the department store’s commitment to inclusivity.

The statement is particularly “targeted” at LGBTs, and makes clear that transgender folks have nothing to worry about when looking for a rest room while shopping.

Recent debate around proposed laws in several states has reignited a national conversation around inclusivity. So earlier this week, we reiterated with our team members where Target stands and how our beliefs are brought to life in how we serve our guests.

Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate. We stand for equality and equity, and strive to make our guests and team members feel accepted, respected and welcomed in our stores and workplaces every day.

We believe that everyone—every team member, every guest, and every community—deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally. Consistent with this belief, Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination.

In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.

We regularly assess issues and consider many factors such as impact to our business, guests and team members. Given the specific questions these legislative proposals raised about how we manage our fitting rooms and restrooms, we felt it was important to state our position.

Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.

I want to add that I’m a regular at Target stores. Friends of mine have asked why I don’t go to Walmart or similar stores. In addition to the values I find there, public positions like these make it clear where I should spend my consumer dollars.

Thanks Target!

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‘Underground Railroad’ Hero Harriet Tubman To Replace Andrew Jackson On $20 Bill

The most famous “conductor” of the ‘Underground Railroad,’ Harriet Tubman, will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

Via Politico:

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Wednesday will announce a decision to keep Alexander Hamilton on the front of the $10 bill and put leaders of the movement to give women the right to vote on the back of the bill, sources tell POLITICO.

Treasury will also announce that it plans to replace former President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill with Harriet Tubman, the sources said. There will also be changes to the $5 bill to depict civil rights era leaders.

Lew’s decision comes after he announced last summer that he was considering replacing Hamilton on the $10 bill with a woman. The announcement drew swift rebukes from fans of Hamilton, who helped create the Treasury Department and the modern American financial system.

As everyone knows, Tubman escaped from slavery at the age of 29 during the American Civil War, but returned to the south over and over again to rescue other slaves from the plantation system via a secret network of safe houses.

Truly an American hero.

This move comes after initial plans to remove Alexander Hamilton from the $10 bill and replace him with a female historic figure. You can perhaps credit the Pultizer Prize winning Broadway musical HAMILTON for that reversal.