State-By-State Hate Update From The ACLU

The ACLU is keeping its eye on the LGBT ball while the rest of the country obsesses on the primaries and terrorism. They write:

There are several bills that threaten LGBT equality likely to move this week:

North Carolina: The North Carolina legislature will convene in a special session on Wednesday solely to prevent Charlotte’s LGBT non-discrimination ordinance from taking effect. The rhetoric around it is focused on false claims about transgender people and bathrooms, even though the measure simply provides important protections from discrimination. This special session will cost state taxpayers $42,000 for each day the special session meets.

Tennessee, SB 2387/HB 2414: A bill that targets transgender students passed through a House sub-committee last week and is now expected to be heard in committees in both chambers this week. The bill would force students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match the students’ birth certificates regardless of the student’s gender identity, and would put the state at odds with federal law. Of note, Republican Governor Bill Haslam has concerns that the bill’s passage could cause Tennessee’s public schools to lose substantial federal funding.

Missouri, SJR39: A broad FADA-like religious exemptions constitutional amendment would allow a religiously affiliated organizations receiving state funds to discriminate against LGBT youth, same sex couples, children of same-sex couples and more in adoptions, foster care, and other critical social services. This harmful measure would also allow businesses, regardless of size, to turn away same-sex couples, in defiance of existing local nondiscrimination laws. Business opposition continues to grow across the state and now includes Dow Chemical, Monsanto, MasterCard, and the Chambers of Commerce of St. Louis, Kansas City, and Missouri. In addition, the NCAA called for “fair treatment of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” and asked host cities, like St. Louis in 2016 and Kansas City in 2017, to welcome and respect all people equally. The measure now moves to the House, where timing remains up in the air.

Kentucky, SB 180: A bill that would undermine public accommodation protections that already exist in eight cities across the state and allows businesses to turn LGBT people in the name of religion passed in the Senate late last week and could come to a vote in the House at any time. Diverse voices have spoken out against the harmful measure, including faith leaders and the Kentucky Competitive Workforce Coalition, which represents over 200 businesses statewide including UPS, Humana, Anheuser-Busch and many others.

Georgia, HB 757: The Georgia Legislature passed a broad exemptions bill late last week. Diverse stakeholders are urging Governor Nathan Deal – who came out and said he would reject any bill that “allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith” – to veto the bill. Of note, the NFL, major businesses, and more have come out strongly against this harmful measure.

Visit this page on their website for a comprehensive rundown on LGBT-related bills across the nation.

UPDATE: One of the Tennessee bills has been killed!TNkill