Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD – the world’s LGBTQ media advocacy organization, released the following statement after the North Carolina state legislature approved a “repeal” of its HB2 law, a last-minute maneuver that only further marginalizes and endangers the transgender community while also nixing any opportunity to add more protections for LGBTQ North Carolinians across the state.
“This so-called ‘deal’ is politics at its worst and was only made as the state faced losing key NCAA events and further economic damage. What we witnessed was a last minute idea thrown together with little thought of protecting transgender residents. Any human being, regardless of who they are, should always come before a basketball game – but apparently the North Carolina state government still doesn’t understand that concept.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: LGBTQ PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS SO-CALLED “FIX” BEFORE
Mike Pence’s RFRA “Fix”
Mike Pence Signs RFRA “Fix” Even Though State Laws Do Not Protect LGBTQ Hoosiers from Discrimination. “The proposed new language — worked out during private, marathon negotiations on Wednesday between Republican legislative leaders, key business and sports officials and the governor's staff — would alter the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, to ensure it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian customers of Indiana businesses. But it stops short of providing statewide protections against discrimination of gay, lesbian and transgender people.” [IndyStar, 4.1.15]
RFRA’s “Fix” Didn’t Protect LGBTQ Hoosiers from Discrimination. “Threats from business leaders and financial institutions have caused the most worry at the Statehouse, ultimately spurring Republican leaders to reconsider a measure they never believed authorized discrimination… Statehouse Democrats continued to call for a repeal of the law and full statewide protections against discrimination of gays and lesbians. It was not clear Wednesday night if Democrats, who are vastly outnumbered in the Statehouse, would go along with the compromise or if their votes were needed.” [USA Today, 4.2.15]
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