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#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: September 19, 2016
IN TODAY’S EDITION: HB2 Fallout: LGBTQ advocates, leading editorial pages oppose latest McCrory ploy… Top 5 reasons this “reset” is a setback (and a generally terrible idea)… Stephen Curry & Phil Ford speak out in wake of NBA, NCAA, ACC news… And the Emmy goes to… Indonesia threatens to shut down LGBTQ dating apps within country…
#HB2 FALLOUT: LGBTQ ADVOCATES, LEADING EDITORIAL PAGES OPPOSE LATEST MCCRORY PLOY: As NC Governor Pat McCrory and Republican legislative leaders continue to face intense public backlash over the damaging consequences of HB2, they have mounted a second effort to bully Charlotte into repealing its citywide LGBTQ protections as part of a so-called “reset.” Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign, Equality North Carolina and allies in the business community are set to hold a press conference this morning in Charlotte to denounce this ploy for what it is: an effort to smear Charlotte and cast blame elsewhere for the devastating impact of HB2 — which now includes the loss of NCAA, ACC and NBA championship games. Leading North Carolina editorial boards are already speaking out against the thinly-veiled proposal: The Charlotte Observer called it “a step backward, both symbolically and practically” and urged the City Council not to “sell out” Charlotte’s LGBTQ community. And WRAL put it just as bluntly: “The problems that have befallen North Carolina after the hasty and poorly conceived passage of HB2 fall squarely on the shoulders of Gov. McCrory and the legislature’s leadership. They should have the conscience and integrity to repeal the bill, acknowledge and apologize for the terrible consequences at their hands and move on. Charlotte should change nothing.” And this morning, Mayor Jennifer Roberts said the issue would not be on the Council’s agenda tonight, saying “the state should overturn HB2, which the state can do at any time without any action from the City of Charlotte.”
TOP 5 REASONS THIS “RESET” IS A SETBACK (AND A GENERALLY TERRIBLE IDEA):
- It wouldn’t fix the problem. The NCAA announced earlier this year it would not locate future events in cities without nondiscrimination protections. Without Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance in place, North Carolina will not win back games.
- It pre-supposes that both the NCGA and Pat McCrory will hold up their end of the bargain. Confidence level: zero.
- It would leave the LGBTQ community worse off. HB2 will be repealed one way or another — and when it is, the LGBTQ community in Charlotte deserves the nondiscrimination protections it’s elected leaders campaigned on and passed.
- It’s a brazen attempt to saddle Charlotte with the political blame for McCrory’s mistake. The Charlotte City Council has steadfastly championed LGBTQ equality in the face of months of bullying by Governor McCrory and his allies — and they’re winning. Rescinding the ordinance would not only be pointless (see #1 & 2) it would create the impression Charlotte bears responsibility for this fiasco.
- With 50 days until Election Day, voters are prepared to elect a Governor and new state legislative leaders who will simply repeal HB2. This is, of course, why McCrory and his allies are suddenly talking about a “reset” in the first place.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: More than 135 million Americans — or 42 percent — live in cities with non-discrimination ordinances like Charlotte’s. More from HRC.
STEPHEN CURRY & PHIL FORD SPEAK OUT IN WAKE OF NBA, NCAA, ACC NEWS: Phil Ford, a former basketball player for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, endorsed Roy Cooper for governor of North Carolina, citing Pat McCrory’s discriminatory HB2 law. And NBA superstar Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) of the Golden State Warriors is also taking a stand against HB2.
Tap twice to thank @StephenCurry30 for taking a stand against #NorthCarolina’s anti-#LGBTQ law. #HB2 #RepealHB2 #LGBT #Equality #stephcurry #stephencurry
A photo posted by Human Rights Campaign (@humanrightscampaign) on
MONDAY MUST-WATCH: Yesterday on This Week, Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine told Martha Raddatz (@MarthaRaddatz) everything you need to know about LGBTQ rights in this presidential election — when asking himself “Do you believe in LGBT equality or don’t you?,” Kaine answered, “We do; Trump doesn’t.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Watch here and read the transcript here.
.@timkaine hits the nail on the head: “Do you believe in LGBT equality or don’t you? We do, Trump doesn’t.” #ABCThisWeek
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) September 18, 2016
AND THE EMMY GOES TO… LGBTQ HONORS: Last night, LGBTQ people and series had a good night at the Emmy Awards, including… Jeffrey Tambor and Jill Soloway for their acting and directing in Transparent. In acceptance speeches, Tambor called on Hollywood to hire more transgender actors and Soloway addressed violence against transgender women… SNL comic genius Kate McKinnon, who thanked Ellen DeGeneres and Hillary Clinton… longtime HRC supporter and LGBTQ advocate Ryan Murphy, who picked up an Emmy for his The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story… Sarah Paulson, who also took home an Emmy for her standout role in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, telling her partner Holland Taylor she loved her while Taylor tweeted her love for Paulson… And last weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys, RuPaul took home an award for his hosting work on RuPaul’s Drag Race and longtime HRC supporter and LGBTQ advocate, Ned Martel also took home an Emmy for his work on Inside Look: The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
SARAH MCBRIDE AT NYFW: At New York Fashion Week, HRC’s Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) kills it, describing perfectly what it means to be an American. More from HRC.
MUST WATCH: @CW6SanDiego interview of @USMC #veteran & #Pulse hero Imran Yousuf at #AMPAWestCoastGala t.co/2w9o7HZXbv @GroovyMission
— AMPA (@LGBTMilPartners) September 18, 2016
INDONESIA CRACKING DOWN ON LGBTQ-SERVING APPS: Indonesia is poised to block the use of popular LGBTQ-serving dating apps. This attack on online LGBTQ spaces is another symptom of what the Human Rights Watch is characterizing as a dangerous, anti-LGBTQ climate in Indonesia, stoked by “government officials, militant Islamists and mass religious groups.”
READING RAINBOW
The Verge’s Tasha Robinson (@TashaRobinson) says new film Moonlight is “beautifully nuanced gay coming of age tale”… Fascinating Religion News Service piece by Jonathan Merritt (@JonathanMerritt) on pushback to Christian music festival droppoing gay rocker Trey Pearson (@treypearson)… Marriage equality plaintiff Greg Bourke shares on HRC.org how he and his husband are leading a pilgrimage to celebrate LGBTQ Catholics… Can you guess the four most LGBTQ-friendly travel destinations in U.S., according to the dating app Scruff?
Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-september-19-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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