Tag Archives: HB2

Trump Picks Lawyer Who Defended North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT HB2 as Civil Rights Division Head of the DOJ

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Donald Trump has nominated Eric Dreiband to serve as the head of the Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a White House press release.

Dreiband currently works as attorney for the Washington-based firm Jones Day, where he represents companies involved in labor disputes. Dreiband also represented the University of North Carolina in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Lambda Legal who sued the university for complying with the state’s anti-LGBT HB 2 law.

In a separate case, Dreiband represented nonprofit organizations seeking religious exemptions from having to provide insurance coverage for contraception under the Affordable Care Act and also argued against proposed legislation that would have allowed victims of gender and age discrimination to be compensated for their injury. 

Vanita Gupta, the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, blasted Dreiband’s nomination. “Dreiband has devoted the vast majority of his career to defending corporations accused of employment discrimination. He has opposed important legislation to safeguard our civil rights,” Gupta said. “And he has no known experience in most of the Civil Rights Division’s core issue areas, such as voting rights, police reform, housing, education, and hate crimes. He is the wrong person for the job.”

Here’s what you should know about Dreiband:

  • Dreiband represented Abercrombie & Fitch, after the clothing retailer was sued in 2008 by Samantha Elauf, a Muslim teenager in Oklahoma, who charged that the company denied her a sales job because she wore a headscarf for religious purposes. Abercrombie & Fitch, which promotes a collegiate sex-and-bros aesthetic, argued that Elauf’s headscarf violated their “look policy.” The case eventually went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled 8-1 in Elauf’s favor. Elauf was backed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the civil rights office within the Department of Labor.
  • Dreiband was also part of the legal team that represented the University of North Carolina last year in its contentious showdown with the Justice Department over “HB2,” the state law that restricted transgender North Carolinians’ access to public restrooms and voided all LGBT protections throughout the state.
  • Dreiband defended R.J. Reynolds, America’s second-largest tobacco company, in an age-discrimination case that started in 2015. The plaintiff in the suit was denied a job with the company at age 49. He sued after learning, thanks to a whistleblower, that the company had hired a subcontractor to sift through resumés and discard “older” applicants. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court left a lower court’s narrow 6-5 decision intact — which was that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act applies only to people who are currently employed rather than seeking employment.
  • He also represented Bloomberg LP in a 2008 lawsuit that accused the company of discriminating against pregnant women by diminishing their pay and denying them promotions. Bloomberg won the case.
  • According to his law firm biography, Dreiband served in the Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr, from 1997 to 2000, where he led the investigation and subsequent prosecution of a Clinton associate.
NORTH CAROLINA: GOP Controlled Senate Advances “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

NAACP And Others Calls For Nationwide Full Scale Boycott Of North Carolina After HB2 Non-Repeal Scam – #NOCarolina!

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NAACP And Others Calls For Nationwide Full Scale Boycott Of North Carolina After HB2 Non-Repeal Scam - #NOCarolina!

 

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports:

The executive committee of the state NAACP will ask the national leaders of the civil rights group for a nationwide economic boycott of North Carolina to protest the actions of the General Assembly, state NAACP President Rev. William Barber said Thursday.

“This legislature is trying to raise a new Confederacy in policy,” Barber said at a news conference. “This group doesn’t respect the Constitution. They do not respect the voices of the people. They do not respect the will of the people. They do not respect the vote, and it seems in some ways they do not respect just a little bit of money being removed from the state.”

Barber said the state NAACP takes issue with more than the legislature’s failure Wednesday to repeal House Bill 2, which he called “an anti-worker, anti-civil rights, anti-LGBT bill” because it prevents cities and counties from raising the minimum wage or enacting anti-discrimination protections. That was merely the final straw, he said, noting Republican lawmakers last week stripped incoming Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of various powers and set set up partisan elections for the state’s highest court.

 

Charlotte Repeals LGBT Rights Protection Ordinance As NC Plans To Repeal HB2 Hate Law Tomorrow, LGBT Activist Irate

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Charlotte Repeals LGBT Rights Protection Ordinance As NC Plans To Repeal HB2 Hate Law Tomorrow, LGBT Activist Irate

In a vote was 10-0. Charlotte’s City Council has voted to repeal its controversial non-discrimination ordinance, unfortunately known as the ‘bathroom’ ordinance” despite the fact that encompassed LGBT protections for housing and employment discrimination along with public accommodations. The ordinance was pushed through the council in early 2016, just months into Mayor Jennifer Roberts’ tenure, and  as a part of it required businesses to allow people to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity which quickly became the main issue on both sides.

Charlotte Observer:

Following a surprise move by the Charlotte City Council, Gov.-elect Roy Cooper said Monday that Legislative leaders have promised him to call a special session Tuesday to repeal House Bill 2.

“Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore assured me that as a result of Charlotte’s vote, a special session will be called for Tuesday to repeal HB 2 in full,” Cooper said in a statement. “I hope they will keep their word to me and with the help of Democrats in the legislature, HB2 will be repealed in full.

“Full repeal will help to bring jobs, sports and entertainment events back and will provide the opportunity for strong LGBT protections in our state.” Cooper’s announcement followed the Charlotte City Council’s vote to rescind the LGBT ordinance that prompted House Bill 2. The council was meeting at a breakfast meeting called to discuss its legislative agenda.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts called it the first concrete opportunity to repeal HB2. The law, which limits LGBT rights, has been cited as the reason for millions in lost economic development and boycotts by the NCAA and others.

LGBT activists nationwide along with the the ACLU and Lambda Legal are outraged by the city of Charlotte’s move:

“H.B. 2 was an unprecedented attack on the LGBT community, in particular against transgender people, and we are encouraged that its days are numbered,” said Sarah Gillooly, Policy Director for the ACLU of North Carolina. “It is imperative that the General Assembly hold up their end of the deal and repeal H.B. 2 in full without delay. This will be an important step for North Carolinians to move forward, but it never should have come at the cost of protections for LGBT people living in Charlotte.”

“LGBT rights aren’t a bargaining chip. Charlotte shouldn’t have had to repeal its ordinance in exchange for H.B. 2 to be repealed,” said Simone Bell, the Southern Regional Director for Lambda Legal. “LGBT people in North Carolina still need protection from discrimination.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of North Carolina, Lambda Legal and the law firm of Jenner & Block are challenging H.B. 2 in federal court on behalf of four LGBT North Carolinians and members of the ACLU of North Carolina.

The ACLU and Lambda Legal lawsuit, Carcaño v. McCrory, was filed days after H.B. 2 was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed by Governor Pat McCrory. In the lawsuit, the groups argue that through the law, North Carolina sends a purposeful message that LGBT people are second-class citizens who are undeserving of the privacy, respect, and protections afforded others in the state and that transgender individuals, in particular, are expelled from public life through H.B. 2’s mandate that they be forced out of restrooms and changing facilities that accord with who they are.

The complaint argues that H.B. 2 violates Title IX and Title VII by discriminating against students and school employees on the basis of sex.  It also argues the law is unconstitutional because it violates the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment by discriminating on the basis of sex and sexual orientation and violates the privacy and medical decision making rights of transgender people.”

Unsurprisingly the Human Rights Campaign does not seem all that upset about it:

“Governor-elect Cooper has briefed us on a deal he brokered with state lawmakers to reach a complete and total repeal of HB2,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “HB2 is precisely why North Carolinians went to the polls and ousted Governor McCrory last month. It’s time to chart a new course guided by the state’s values of dignity and respect, not discrimination and hate — and to ensure non-discrimination protections exist in cities, towns and across the state of North Carolina. It’s been 271 days since the shameful and archaic HB2 was first passed, and the entire country has witnessed its devastating impact. It’s time for state lawmakers to repeal HB2 and begin repairing the harm this bill has done to people and the damage it has done to North Carolina’s reputation and economy.”

 

After North Carolina HB2 Fallout Kentucky Governor Now Says He Won’t Push For Anti-Trans “Bathroom Law”

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matt-bevins-ky

The Associated Press reports:

Kentucky’s Republican governor says he will not use the state’s new GOP majority to push through a bill restricting transgender bathroom use. Matt Bevin held a news conference Friday to discuss his first year in office and look ahead to the 2017 legislative session, where Republicans will hold super majorities in both chambers for the first time.

Bevin earlier this year joined a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s directive that public schools allow students to use the bathroom of their gender identity. But Friday, Bevin said Kentucky has no need to pass a law restricting transgender bathroom use because it is not an issue here.

A North Carolina law has prompted condemnation from business leaders and was one of many factors contributing to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory’s narrow re-election loss.

Meanwhile Kentucky’s S.B. 180, which creates “protected rights” and “protected activities” — in short, nobody has to serve anybody else if it violates their conscience to do so, is being looked at for the 2017 session.

“Protected activities” specifically refers to actions conducted by professionals who “provide customized, artistic, expressive, creative, ministerial, or spiritual goods or services,” which is specifically designed to address wedding vendors and others who might be disposed to refuse service because of a customer’s sexuality. The “protected rights” means that the government can not in any way impede on those activities if it violates the person’s “right of conscience” or other First Amendment protections.

Sponsor Sen. Albert Robinson (R) claimed the bill was necessary because gay people “are trying to force their beliefs down the throats” of those who oppose marriage equality. To try to make the case that his legislation wasn’t just designed to discriminate against LGBT people, he also claimed it was necessary to protect a Jewish baker from making a cake with a swastika for Nazis. Not only has there never been such a conflict, but being a Nazi is not a protected class under any Kentucky law, so a Jewish baker could already refuse to produce such a hateful symbol.

BREAKING NEWS: North Carolina LGBT Bigot Pat McCrory Finally CONCEDES Governors Election [VIDEO]

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pat-mccrory-concedes

 

Raleigh’s CBS affiliate reports:

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has conceded to Attorney General Roy Cooper in the state’s gubernatorial race. McCrory released a video Monday where he congratulated Roy Cooper in his win. “I personally believe that the majority of our citizens have spoken,” McCrory says in the video. “And we now should do everything we can to support the 75th Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper.” The race was the closest margin in North Carolina history, with Democrat Cooper leading Republican McCrory by 10,250 votes.

As you all know EX-Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed the hateful law HB2 into effect last March that, among other things would allow discrimination including service and public accommodations against LGBT people and would ban any city in the state of North Carolina the ability to provide LGBT discrimination protections. (It wasn’t all about bathrooms.)

Expect one of Governor-Elect Roy Copper’s first  moves in office to repeal the law.

 

Let the joyous news be spread! The Wicked Old Witch at last is DEAD!

 

Charlotte NC Stands Stong, City Council WILL NOT Consider McCrory’s “Compromise” To Repeal LGBT Rights Law

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Charlotte NC Stands Stong, City Council WILL NOT Consider McCrory’s “Compromise” To Repeal LGBT Rights Law

 

The Charlotte Observer reports:

Despite pressure from business leaders, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said Monday the city won’t repeal the ordinance that led to House Bill 2 this week – and maybe not at all.

And in a memo to the City Council, the city attorney said the General Assembly doesn’t need the city to rescind its ordinance in order to repeal HB2. Legislative leaders had made dropping the city ordinance a condition for repealing HB2.

“Some people don’t realize there’s no legal reason for Charlotte to do anything, and that’s the point we want to make clear to the community,” Roberts told the Observer.

The ordinance, which was nullified by HB2, extended anti-discrimination protection to the LGBT community and would have allowed transgender people to use the bathroom or locker room of their gender identity.

Roberts’ comments came after a news conference in which LGBT leaders accused Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders of “holding Charlotte hostage.” State Rep. Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC, called HB2 “the worst anti-LGBT law in the nation.”

On Friday, the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association announced it was trying to broker a compromise to stop the economic damage from HB2. And Sunday the Charlotte Chamber, along with hospitality and tourism leaders, called for the city and state to repeal the controversial laws.

After a weekend of bashing and additional boycott threats against NC restaurants and hotels because of NCRLA’s initial statement.  Today it issued a “clarification” of its stand.  But did not change its decision.

Raleigh, N.C. (September 18, 2016) — The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association remains committed to a resolution of this very complex situation. Our position is not for one side or the other. The hospitality community is an open and welcoming industry, but we find ourselves caught in the middle of a situation that we did not ask for, and our team members are suffering. We urge all sides to work together to find a solution.

We believe a reset is necessary. To break an impasse, one side has to make the first move. We issued our statement on Friday because we were advised that if Charlotte makes the first move, the Legislature will reciprocate, and we will have that reset. Charlotte leaders can confirm whether our information is accurate.

Our City, our State and our industry, including restaurants, hotels and their staffs are being adversely impacted. We have to work together shoulder-to-shoulder, not nose-to-nose. Let’s get this one right, so hard working North Carolinians are not so significantly affected.

Expanding the non-discrimination ordinance cost businesses in the state next to nothing, if anything at all. HB2 on the other hand has cost the state $395M.

Stick to your guns Charlotte N.C.!

Fuck you, North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association!

 

North Carolina Restaurant And Hotel Association Calls For Charlotte To Repeal Its LGBT Rights Ordinance

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NCRLA

 

WTF?

Via press release:

The unintended consequences of Charlotte City Ordinance #7056 and House Bill 2 have taken a considerable toll on our state as a whole. The hospitality industry has become collateral damage in a fight it did not start or ask for. Restaurant and lodging businesses and their employees are suffering the adverse impact of these policies though lost business and wages.

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) urges policy makers on all sides of this issue to work together to find resolution quickly. “NCRLA has received assurances this week from legislative leadership, that if the Charlotte City Council repeals Ordinance #7056 at their meeting on Monday, the General Assembly is prepared to meet in special session as early as next week to repeal House Bill 2,” said Lynn Minges, NCRLA president and CEO. “Furthermore, Governor Pat McCrory has assured NCRLA that he is willing to call legislators into a special session next week for this purpose if both the city and legislators have the votes for repeal,” she said.

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association calls on Charlotte City Council to repeal ordinance #7056 immediately, on Governor McCrory to convene a special session of the NC General Assembly, and on the NC House and Senate to repeal House Bill 2 in its entirety.

We believe these actions are necessary as many complex issues have arisen since the passage of the Charlotte City Ordinance #7056 and House Bill 2; we also believe all elements of the debate should be carefully, thoroughly, and deliberately considered and evaluated through the immediate formation of a study commission.

The NCRLA doesn’t want it’s own LGBT members to be legally protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public services in Charlotte? This same type of ordinance has been passed without problems in hundreds of US cities. The NCRLA is part of the problem.

Congratulations NCRLA, you just found a way to make matters worse for your businesses and have become just another reason to boycott North Carolina.

Here is there Facebook page.

NBA Officially Moves 2017 All-Star Game Out Of North Carolina Over Anti-Gay Hate Law HB2

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NBA Officially Moves 2017 All-Star Game Out Of South Carolina Over Anti-Gay Hate Law HB2

 

Sports Illustrated reports:

The NBA has pulled the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte, with New Orleans emerging as the favorite to be the new host, reports The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The NBA had discussed moving the game in the wake of North Carolina’s controversial “bathroom bill,” legislation passed earlier this year that has been criticized as anti-LGBT. Formally known as House Bill 2, the law forces transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding with the gender on their birth certificate. Both NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Hornets owner Michael Jordan have condemned the bill, though Silver has not publicly committed to moving the game. The commissioner said earlier this month the league would likely make a decision by the end of the summer.

2014: New Oreleans $106.1 Million + $4.9 Tax revenue.

2015: Dallas $152 Million.

2016: Toronto $140 million.

2017: Charlotte $0.00 – Priceless.

#JustPee PSA – Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein and the Cast of Kinky Boots Perform “Just Pee” (Where You Wanna Pee) – Video

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Just Pee - Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein join the cast of Kinky Boots on Broadway for a bathroom break

Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein join the cast of Kinky Boots on Broadway for a bathroom break. You change the world when you change your mind.

KINKY BOOTS is the unforgettable Broadway sensation with music by Tony® and Grammy®-winning pop icon CYNDI LAUPER.

Inspired by true events, KINKY BOOTS features a book by Tony-winning theater legend HARVEY FIERSTEIN and direction and choreography by Tony winner JERRY MITCHELL. It tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits his father’s shoe factory. Looking to save the family business, Charlie turns to a fabulously fashionable new friend — cabaret star Lola — who gives him an outrageous idea that could change both of their destinies. Soon, this unlikely duo creates the most sensational footwear that’s ever rocked the runways of Milan… giving the factory and its hardworking family a sparkling new future.

Everybody #JustPee!

Adam Levine and MAROON 5 Say #NoCarolina! Cancels NC Concerts Over Anti-LGBT Hate Law HB2

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Adam Levine and MAROON 5 Say #NoCarolina! Cancels NC Concerts Over Anti-LGBT Hate Law HB2

 

From Maroon 5’s website:

We have announced that we will be canceling our upcoming shows in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina because of the recent passage of the HB2 legislation. This was a difficult decision for us to make as a band. We don’t want to penalize our fans in North Carolina by not performing for them, but in the end it comes down to what we feel is morally right AS WE FEEL EVERYONE SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY

Way to go Adam and MAROON 5!

Now you need to do Addy is get your Voice BFF Blake Shelton to start convincing country stars to take the same stance that would really put anti-LGBT North Carolinian good ole’ boys in a tizzy!