LGBTQ news and entertainment
The latest Elon University Poll shows Democrat Hillary Clinton has surged to a 5.5-point lead over Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
A week ago the race for president in the Tar Heel State was statistically tied.
The survey shows Clinton with 44.5% support versus 39% for Trump. Libertarian Gary Johnson still down in single digits with 9%.
The poll found 64% of likely voters in North Carolina who watched the debate felt Clinton came out on top.
The Daily Show thought North Carolina might understand the impact of the state’s anti-LGBT law, HB2, through the use of some interactive learning.
The Raleigh News & Observer recaps:
Comedy Central’s The Daily Show came to Raleigh recently to poke fun at House Bill 2 by operating a food truck that refused to serve gay people. The show parked a fake barbecue business called Bone Bros. Flamin’ BBQ outside Trophy Brewing on Maywood Avenue and the Ruby Deluxe bar on Salisbury Street earlier this month.
“I wanted to show North Carolinians what HB2 would look like in action, so I rented a food truck … and set out to refuse service to people by telling them they’re gay,” Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. says at the beginning of the segment, which aired Thursday. “HB2 says I can do this Jim Crow-level (expletive), and nobody can stop me.”
For the record, HB2 doesn’t explicitly state that businesses can refuse service to LGBT people. But it did repeal local nondiscrimination ordinances that included LGBT protections and replaced them with a statewide nondiscrimination law.
That law bans “places of public accommodation” such as restaurants, stores and hotels from discriminating on the basis of “race, religion, color, national origin, or biological sex.” But it leaves two categories unprotected: Sexual orientation and gender identity.
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| North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory |
Republican Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina gets more bad news today via the latest PPP poll showing him trailing Attorney General Roy Cooper by 5 points, thanks in part to McCrory’s unwavering support of anti-LGBT law, HB2.
For the first time this entire cycle PPP finds a clear leader in the race to be North Carolina’s next Governor: Roy Cooper. Cooper’s at 46% to 41% for Pat McCrory, with Libertarian Lon Cecil at 2%. When undecideds and Cecil voters are asked who they’d pick if they had to choose between Cooper and McCrory, Cooper’s lead ticks up to 50/43.
McCrory continues to be unpopular, with only 41% of voters approving of him to 49% who disapprove. This makes 39 months in a row we’ve found his approval rating under water. Voters are generally having a positive reaction as they’ve become more familiar with Cooper, with 40% of voters rating him positively to 32% who have a negative opinion.
The story in this race is Cooper’s strength with independent voters. He leads McCrory 44-33 with them in the full field, and 50-34 with them in the head to head. By contrast, McCrory defeated Walter Dalton by a 2:1 margin with independents in 2012. But they have largely soured on him with now only 36% approving of him to 49% who disapprove.
HB2 is causing McCrory big trouble as well. By a 20 point margin voters want to see it repealed- just 32% support keeping it on the books, to 52% who think it should be overturned. Among pivotal independent voters, there’s 56/29 support for repeal. There may be one simple reason HB2 is so unpopular – it’s a bill targeting LGBT people, yet only 19% of North Carolinians say they have a negative opinion of LGBT people, to 47% with a positive one and 34% who are indifferent. A bill cutting the rights of a group of people that only a small slice of the electorate has a problem with isn’t going to be very popular.
I have to comment on the “only 19% of North Carolinians say they have a negative opinion of LGBT people.” Isn’t it sad that almost one in five people in the state views LGBTs negatively and that can be characterized as “only?”
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| Prince Harry |
Some news stories you may have missed:
• Woofy Prince Harry is continuing his mother’s work on behalf of those affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Did you know gay couples out-earn straight couples by more than $60K?
• Donald Trump’s much ballyhooed family leave plans won’t include gay same-sec couples who adopt.
• Did you hear the one about a douche math teacher who came up with a homophobic math question?
• North Carolina’s Gov. Pat McCrory shows his nerves as he attempts to negotiate the repeal of anti-LGBT law, HB2 – but only if the city of Charlotte will first repeal their LBGT protections ordinance. #FatChance
• First look at the upcoming film, Tom of Finland, documenting the life and work of Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen, best known for works depicting hyper-masculine archetypes such as lumberjacks, motorcycle policemen, sailors, bikers, and leathermen.
Following yesterday’s announcement from the NCAA to pull 7 championship events from North Carolina due to the anti-LGBT HB2 legislation, the Atlantic Coast Conference has followed suit by announcing 10 championship events will also be pulled from North Carolina.
The Atlantic Coast Conference voted Wednesday to find other sites for its championship games through the 2016-17 school year while the law remains in effect.
The 10 events include baseball, basketball, soccer, diving, tennis and golf.
Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC, the statewide LGBTQ rights organization, issued a statement which read in part, “It has never been more clear than it is right now – HB2 is hurting our state every minute that it remains law.”
Via press release:
Statement from the ACC Council of Presidents:
“As members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the ACC Council of Presidents reaffirmed our collective commitment to uphold the values of equality, diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination. Every one of our 15 universities is strongly committed to these values and therefore, we will continue to host ACC Championships at campus sites. We believe North Carolina House Bill 2 is inconsistent with these values, and as a result, we will relocate all neutral site championships for the 2016-17 academic year. All locations will be announced in the future from the conference office.”Statement from Clemson University President James P. Clements, chair of the ACC Council of Presidents:
“The ACC presidents engaged in a constructive, wide-ranging and vigorous discussion of this complex issue over the past two days. The decision to move the neutral site championships out of North Carolina while HB 2 remains the law was not an easy one but it is consistent with the shared values of inclusion and non-discrimination at all of our institutions.”Statement from ACC Commissioner John Swofford:
“The ACC Council of Presidents made it clear that the core values of this league are of the utmost importance, and the opposition to any form of discrimination is paramount. Today’s decision is one of principle, and while this decision is the right one, we recognize there will be individuals and communities that are supportive of our values as well as our championship sites that will be negatively affected. Hopefully, there will be opportunities beyond 2016-17 for North Carolina neutral sites to be awarded championships.”
Earlier today I reported on the NCAA’s decision to pull seven championship games from North Carolina due to the state’s anti-LGBT hate law, HB2.
Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton concurs with the decision sending this tweet today. Note: the H at the end of the tweet means Hillary wrote the tweet herself.
Thanks for being a leader, Hillary! #ImWithHer
The @NCAA is right to pull tournament games from North Carolina because of the anti-LGBT HB2 law. Discrimination has no place in America. -H— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 13, 2016
The bad news keeps coming for beleagured North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory as his state’s anti-LGBT law, HB2, continues to hurt his state’s image and economy.
The NCAA has announced seven championship games have been pulled from the state including the first and second rounds of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship — part of the Road to the Final Four — originally slated to be in Greensboro.
Via press release, the Board underscored that “NCAA championships and events must promote an inclusive atmosphere for all college athletes, coaches, administrators and fans. Current North Carolina state laws make it challenging to guarantee that host communities can help deliver on that commitment if NCAA events remained in the state.”
The seven championship events to be relocated from North Carolina for 2016-17:
• 2016 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship, College Cup (Cary), Dec. 2 and 4.
• 2016 Division III Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships (Greensboro), Dec. 2 and 3.
• 2017 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, first/second rounds (Greensboro), March 17 and 19.
• 2017 Division I Women’s Golf Championships, regional (Greenville), May 8-10.
• 2017 Division III Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships (Cary), May 22-27.
• 2017 Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship (Cary), May 26 and 28.
• 2017 Division II Baseball Championship (Cary), May 27-June 3.
The North Carolina Republican Party, which champions the hate law, issued this statement:
This isn’t the first negative impact on the state due to HB2. To date the state has lost mullion and millions of revenue due to cancelled conventions and concerts and other entertainment events.
And the governor is feeling the heat as he currently trails his opponent for reelection by an average of 6 points according to Real Clear Politics.
Small victory for transgender rights in North Carolina today as a federal judge has ruled that the University of North Carolina may not enforce HB2, the so-called “bathroom bill,” in regards to two students and a university employee.
From Buzzfeed‘s Chris Geidner:
In the ruling U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder noted, “Ultimately, the record reflects what counsel for Governor [Pat] McCrory candidly speculates was the status quo ante in North Carolina in recent years: some transgender individuals have been quietly using bathrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity, without public awareness or incident.”
The case was brought by the ACLU on behalf of several North Carolina residents, including professors and students at UNC schools.
After reviewing the record in the case and relevant case law, Schroeder concluded a preliminary injunction of part of the law was appropriate. Specifically, he pointed to a case (G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board) in which the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals — from which appeals from North Carolina are heard — held that the Obama administration’s interpretation of Title IX’s sex discrimination provision as including anti-transgender discrimination was permitted.
“Part I’s wholesale ban on access to facilities is inconsistent with DOE’s guidance on Title IX compliance under G.G.,” Schroeder concluded.
“Accordingly, the court will enjoin UNC from enforcing Part I against the individual transgender Plaintiffs until the court reaches a final decision on the merits in this case,” Schroeder concluded.
More evidence Donald Trump’s post-Republican convention rants and tirades continue to dog his presidential campaign.
Democrat Hillary Clinton now has a slim 2 point lead over the Trumpster according to the latest Public Policy Polling survey in North Carolina.
She’s at 43% to 41% for Donald Trump, 7% for Gary Johnson, and 2% for Jill Stein. In a head to head contest just between Clinton and Trump, she leads 47/46. Voters haven’t changed their feelings much about Clinton since our June poll in the state- her favorability rating was 39/55 then and it’s 40/55 now.
But Trump – already unpopular – has become even more so. He’s seen a 7 point decline in his net popularity from -14 at 38/52 down to -21 at 37/58. “Hillary Clinton’s taken a small lead in North Carolina,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “That has more to do with Donald Trump than it does with her- every time he opens his mouth he just keeps getting even more and more unpopular than he already was.”
Also from the poll, 69% of Trump supporters say should Clinton win, it will be due to the race being rigged.
Yahoo Sports’ The Vertical is reporting that the NBA will soon announce that the 2017 All-Stars game will be pulled from North Carolina over it’s hateful anti-LGBT legislation, HB2.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver had threatened to move All-Star Weekend out of Charlotte unless a discriminatory North Carolina law aimed at the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community was changed – and time to do so has run out because of the logistics and planning the NBA needs to run its marquee midseason event, league sources said.
The issue is centered on North Carolina’s House Bill 2, a law that mandates transgender people use public restrooms corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificates. The law also omits LGBT people from North Carolina’s anti-discrimination protections, forbids local governments from widening LGBT protections and excludes all forms of workplace discrimination lawsuits from North Carolina state courts.
New Orleans, which last hosted an All-Star game in 2014, now looks to be the leading contender to host the event.
Here’s the official notice from the NBA:
The NBA has decided to relocate the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte with the hope of rescheduling for 2019. Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change. We have been guided in these discussions by the long-standing core values of our league. These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view.
Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community – current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans. While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2.
We are particularly mindful of the impact of this decision on our fans in North Carolina, who are among the most passionate in our league. It is also important to stress that the City of Charlotte and the Hornets organization have sought to provide an inclusive environment and that the Hornets will continue to ensure that all patrons – including members of the LGBT community – feel welcome while attending games and events in their arena.
We look forward to re-starting plans for our All-Star festivities in Charlotte for 2019 provided there is an appropriate resolution to this matter. The NBA will make an announcement on the new location of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in the coming weeks.
The Human Rights Campaign chimes in with praise:
Today the NBA and Commissioner Silver sent a clear message that they won’t stand for discrimination against LGBTQ employees, players or fans.
The NBA repeatedly warned state lawmakers that their hateful HB2 law created an inhospitable environment for their 2017 All-Star Game and other events.
Nevertheless, Governor McCrory, Senator Berger and Speaker Moore doubled down on HB2 and refused to undo their discriminatory and costly error in judgment.
Every day that HB2 remains on the books, people across North Carolina are at risk of real harm.
We appreciate the leadership of the NBA in standing up for equality and call once again on lawmakers to repeal this vile HB2 law.