Tag: North Carolina

Posted on

News Round-Up: March 31, 2017

Colton Haynes as “Daddy Warbucks” and Kathy Griffin as “Grannie”

Some news items you may have missed:

• Find out what happens when “Annie” hangs out too long at the orphanage in this parody “Grannie” of the hit musical. The clip stars Kathy Griffin as the aged orphan, plus it gives you a reason to finally call Colton Haynes “Daddy.”

• The NCAA will announce next week if North Carolina’s fake repeal of HB2 will actual help the state’s standing in terms of booking any championship games in the next five years.

• The Trump administration’s new budget seeks to cut $342 million in HIV/AIDS research and prevention programs. #ThanksTrump

• Congressional Democrats are demanding the next Census include questions on sexual orientation. That data is vitally needed to help policymakers understand the needs of the LGBT community.

• New survey by GLAAD indicates 25% of non-LGBTQ Americans are “uncomfortable” seeing an LGBTQ co-worker’s wedding picture on their desk.

• Trumpeter, singer, producer, and dancer Spencer Ludwig wants you to get “Diggy” this weekend. Watch the grooving video below:

Posted on

North Carolina Governor Signs Fake Repeal Of Anti-Trans Law HB2

After rushing new legislation through both the state House and Senate of North Carolina, which was touted as a “repeal” of anti-LGBT law HB2,  Gov. Roy Cooper has signed HB142.

The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement which read, in part:

Today, HRC, Equality North Carolina, and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), strongly condemned North Carolina’s shameful new legislation that lawmakers and Governor Cooper touted as a “repeal” of their discriminatory HB2 law.

“After more than a year of inaction, today North Carolina lawmakers doubled-down on discrimination,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This new law does not repeal HB2. Instead, it institutes a statewide prohibition on equality by banning non-discrimination protections across North Carolina and fuels the flames of anti-transgender hate. Each and every lawmaker who supported this bill has betrayed the LGBTQ community. HRC will explore every legal action to combat this dangerous legislation, and we urge all businesses, sports leagues and entertainers who have fought against HB2 to continue standing strong with the LGBTQ community attacked by this hateful law.”

The legislation passed today would effectively ban LGBTQ non-discrimination protections statewide through 2020 and permanently bar cities from passing laws that ensure transgender people can access facilities in accordance with their identity. ”

This was all done to meet a deadline imposed by the NCAA, which had told the state of North Carolina to either repeal HB2 or lose any championship games for the next five years.

No word yet on whether or not this fake repeal will actually satisfy the NCAA.

Posted on

North Carolina Legislature Pushes Fake “Repeal” Of Anti-Transgender Law HB2

UPDATE: The legislation passed in the House 70-48. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Whether this actually satisfies the NCAA remains to be seen.

**************************************************

In a race to meet an NCAA deadline for consideration to host championship sporting events through 2022, the North Carolina legislature is ramming through a fake “repeal” of the state’s hateful anti-LGBT law, HB2. The “compromise” was concocted in a middle of the night/backroom deal between Phil Berger, the Senate leader, Tim Moore, the House speaker, and the new Democratic governor, Roy Cooper.

While being touted as a repeal, the new bill – HB142 – bans local municipalities from passing any non-discrimination ordinances through 2020.

Additionally, HB142 bans protections for transgender individuals in restrooms and other single-sex spaces forever.

“This law does not repeal HB2, it doubles down on discrimination,” said Cathryn Oakley HRC Senior Legislative Counsel at a press conference in Raleigh Thursday morning.

“If you vote for this bill you are not a friend of the LGBTQ community,” said Chris Sgro, Equality NC Executive Director.

What is particularly galling is newly installed Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who campaigned on repealing the so-called “Bathroom bill,” is supporting this effort even as he admits it’s not “a perfect deal.”

The new bill passed the state Senate today by a vote of 32 to 16.

The legislation now moves to the state House.

LGBT advocacy groups are rightfully angry.

From Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign:

From Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD:

From the national office of the ACLU:

Businesses in the state have begun chiming in as well. From Levi Strauss:

Posted on

AP: North Carolina’s “Bathroom Bill” Will Cost State Economy $3.7 Billion Over 12 Years

Adding more details to what we already knew, the Associated Press is reporting on the huge losses to the North Carolina economy thanks to passing it’s now infamous “bathroom bill,” HB2.

Despite Republican assurances that North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” isn’t hurting the economy, the law limiting LGBT protections will cost the state more than $3.76 billion in lost business over a dozen years, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Over the past year, North Carolina has suffered financial hits ranging from scuttled plans for a PayPal facility that would have added an estimated $2.66 billion to the state’s economy to a canceled Ringo Starr concert that deprived a town’s amphitheater of about $33,000 in revenue. The blows have landed in the state’s biggest cities as well as towns surrounding its flagship university, and from the mountains to the coast.

North Carolina could lose hundreds of millions more because the NCAA is avoiding the state, usually a favored host. The group is set to announce sites for various championships through 2022, and North Carolina won’t be among them as long as the law is on the books. The NAACP also has initiated a national economic boycott.

Still, AP’s tally is likely an underestimation of the law’s true costs. The count includes only data obtained from businesses and state or local officials regarding projects that canceled or relocated because of HB2. A business project was counted only if AP determined through public records or interviews that HB2 was why it pulled out.

Posted on

NCAA To North Carolina: Kill HB2 Or Lose Championship Games For Five Years

Yesterday, the NCAA reaffirmed it’s position against North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law, HB2.

With upcoming deadlines looming for the decisions on championship sites for the next five years, the NCAA’s message is clear – either change the hateful bathroom law or “no championship games for you!”

“Last year, the NCAA Board of Governors relocated NCAA championships scheduled in North Carolina because of the cumulative impact HB2 had on local communities’ ability to assure a safe, healthy, discrimination free atmosphere for all those watching and participating in our events. Absent any change in the law, our position remains the same regarding hosting current or future events in the state. As the state knows, next week our various sports committees will begin making championships site selections for 2018-2022 based upon bids received from across the country. Once the sites are selected by the committee, those decisions are final and an announcement of all sites will be made on April 18.”

Posted on

Former NC Gov. Pat McCrory: I Can’t Get A Job Because People Think I’m A Bigot!

Pat McCrory

Excuse me if I can’t find any crocodile tears for former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who says his support for anti-LGBT HB2 last year is now making employers reluctant to hire him.

The former governor complained to Christian podcast WORLD that even though he’s left office, HB2 “has impacted me to this day, even after I left office. People are reluctant to hire me, because, ‘oh my gosh, he’s a bigot’ – which is the last thing I am.”

As folks know, HB2 struck down local nondiscrimination ordinances and requires transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds to the gender on their birth certificate while they are in schools and other government facilities. The legislation has cost North Carolina millions and millions in lost revenue through cancelled conventions, business, sporting and music events.

He then went on to blame his current situation on liberal advocacy groups: “If you disagree with the politically correct thought police on this new definition of gender, you’re a bigot, you’re the worst of evil,” he said. “It’s almost as if I broke a law.”

Along the way, he took a swipe at transgender people saying, “You ask the doctor if it’s a boy or a girl; you don’t ask the baby.”

The North Carolina Democratic Party has no pity for the pious McCrory, either, issuing this statement:

“North Carolina has already lost hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs as a direct result of House Bill 2, but I guess we can start adding Gov. McCrory’s career to the total as well.”

(source)

Posted on

Podcast: Jeb Havens, Barronelle Stutzman, Texas’ “Bathroom Bill,” Finland Ready For Marriage Equality

Click play below as I recap this week’s top headlines from politics, pop culture and entertainment of interest to the LGBT community:

• Anti-LGBT florist Barronelle Stutzman loses again – this time in the Washington state supreme court over refusing to sell flowers for a same-sex wedding

• Texas gets pushback from the NBA and major stars on it’s proposed anti-transgender “bathroom bill”

• North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper shares his plan to repeal his state’s anti-LGBT law, HB2

• Finland’s Parliament kills a last ditch attempt to block same-sex marriage

• Out singer/songwriter Jeb Havens dropped his uber-romantical, world-traveler music video just in time for Valentine’s Day – “Pushy Little Compass Heart” from his album, Home Base

Hit play below – and share the link to share The Randy Report podcast!

Posted on

North Carolina Governor Presents Plan To Repeal Anti-LGBT Law HB2

Gov. Roy Cooper

Roy Cooper, the new governor of North Carolina, is not waiting for state Republicans to get around to repealing the hateful anti-LGBT law, HB2.

Today, in an op-ed for the Charlotte Observer, he presents his plan to get rid of the legislation and get his state back on track.

North Carolinians are tired of hearing about this. As I travel across the state, people from Murphy to Manteo tell me that they want their elected officials to come together to solve this problem before HB2 does even more damage.

We came close to repealing it in December. The Republican leadership in the legislature committed to repeal HB 2 if I persuaded the Charlotte City Council to repeal its nondiscrimination ordinance. I kept my commitment. They did not.

However, in order to break the log jam, I have proposed a common sense compromise that includes three parts:

▪ Repeal House Bill 2. It’s time to take this harmful law off the books immediately.

▪ Strengthen punishments for criminals who violate the safety, security and privacy of people in public bathrooms or dressing rooms. I believe this is a manufactured issue and it’s wrong to suggest LGBT individuals are a threat. But time and again, Republicans contend HB2 is about security and safety. This addresses those concerns and increases penalties for crimes committed against anyone in this setting while also removing discrimination against the LGBT community.

▪ Require local governments to give the legislature and the public a 30-day notice before passing new non-discrimination ordinances. Local governments are the closest to the people they represent, and I believe that they should be able to make these decisions on their own. This compromise ensures that there is time for input on new ordinances.

This common sense compromise addresses concerns from both sides. It is a path forward to bringing back businesses and sporting events. It is reasonable, and it will begin to wipe the stain off our state’s reputation.

I will continue working to repeal this damaging law and restoring a North Carolina that works for everyone, but Republican legislative leaders must do their part as well.

I urge Republican leaders to bring this proposal to a vote this week.

Posted on

News Round-Up: February 10, 2017

Pietro Boselli

Some news items you may have missed:

• First things first – from sexiest math teacher turned model Pietro Boselli’s Instagram (above). #dead #woof

• North Carolina state lawmakers have filed bills that would repeal anti-LGBT law, HB2.

• A new poll shows 35% of Americans don’t know “Obamacare” and the Affordable Care Act are the same thing.

• Melania Trump was conspicuously absent earlier today when Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his wife visited the White House. First Ladies traditionally welcome and host the spouses of visiting leaders – but not today.

• Check out these 5 buzz-worthy off-Broadway shows you should see – including my pal Ed Dixon’s new hit show, Georgie: My Adventures With George Rose.

• Dance your way into the weekend with Hercules & Love Affair’s “Controller” featuring vocals by Faris Badwan. Check out the catchy, hypnotic sex anthem below:

Posted on

News Round-Up: January 29, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Ignacio Pérez Rey (above) says this is what a hangover looks like. Looks good to me #morewine #grrrr

• Sir Elton John and Paul Rudnick are working on a stage musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.

 • North Carolina state Senate Leader says anti-LGBT “bathroom bill” HB2 isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

• Congressional Republicans will reintroduce the anti-LGBT legislation the First Amendment Defense Act. The bill, which President Trump has promised to sign into law, would allow anyone with “deeply held religious beliefs” to legally discriminate against LGBTs.

• In light of Uber’s CEO willingness to work with President Trump, and ridesharing rival Lyft’s announcement to donate $1 million to the ACLU, folks are dumping and deleting their Uber accounts in massive numbers.

• In case you haven’t been paying attention, folks in the “pro-life” movement not only want to outlaw safe abortions, they think “the pill” and IUDs should be illegal as well.