Civil Rights

FEDERAL D-DAY: Co-Sponsor Of North Carolina’s Hate Bill Says Law Is Reasonable, Opposes Repeal [VIDEO]

Today is the federal deadline for North Carolina to repeal or rescind the anti-trans portion of its anti-LGBT hate law. This morning state Rep. Don Bishop, one of the law’s co-sponsors, appeared on CNN where he told host Chris Cuomo that HB2 is a “very common sense and reasonable law.” Bishop did allow for the possibility of “tweaking” the law, …

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CNN POLL: Whopping 75% Support Transgender Rights, Majority Oppose North Carolina’s Hate Law

Let’s see Tony Perkins spin THIS: Americans broadly oppose laws that would require transgender people to use facilities that correspond with their gender at birth rather than their gender identity, according to a new CNN/ORC Poll, and three-quarters favor laws guaranteeing equal protection for transgender individuals. Overall, 57% say they oppose laws requiring transgender individuals to use facilities that do …

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North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory Denounces “Unrealistic Federal Bullies” For HB2 Repeal Demand [VIDEO]

To his credit, host Chris Wallace points out that there are no cases of trans people assaulting people in restrooms. Fox News reports: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Sunday that he will comply with the Justice Department’s Monday deadline to either scrap its transgender bathroom law or face legal action and risk losing federal funds. “I’ll make a decision …

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Dan Savage Schools Coulter On Trans Rights [VIDEO]

Last night Dan Savage and Ann Coulter battled over transgender rights on Bill Maher’s HBO show, with Coulter making the familiar and widely-debunked claim that predators will use so-called “bathroom laws” to assault women and children. Andy Towle has Savage’s best line: “They couldn’t demagogue anymore about gays and lesbians because too many of us are out and too many …

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OREGON: State Issues New Guidelines Granting Sweeping Protections For Transgender Students

Oregon Live reports: Transgender students across Oregon should be able to use the bathrooms, names and pronouns they want, according to unprecedented guidelines released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education. In a sweeping 15-page document the department issued what are likely to be controversial suggestions for Oregon educators — directing them to allow transgender females to play girls sports, …

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NORTH CAROLINA: State To Defy Justice Department, Will Not Comply With Order On Anti-LGBT Hate Law

The Charlotte Observer reports: House Speaker Tim Moore said Thursday that legislators won’t meet the U.S. Department of Justice’s Monday deadline to repeal or stop enforcing House Bill 2. The department sent state leaders a letter Wednesday saying that the law violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act and Title IX – a finding that could jeopardize billions in federal education …

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PepsiCo CEO Stands Firm After Right Wing Activists Warn That Company Will Become “The Next Target”

Activists from the right wing National Center for Public Policy Research ambushed PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi at the company’s shareholder meeting in North Carolina yesterday, warning her that PepsiCo would be made “another Target” unless she backs off from her call to repeal the state’s anti-LGBT hate law. Nooyi, apparently, wasn’t having it. From the group’s press release, here’s an …

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NORTH CAROLINA: GOP Leaders Denounce Justice Department’s “Radical Left Agenda” On Trans Rights

From the Associated Press: Giving no indication of yielding to pressure, North Carolina’s Republican leaders called a federal warning about the legality of the state’s new law limiting LGBT anti-discrimination rules a broad overreach by the government. Gov. Pat McCrory and top state legislators were determining what steps to take after the U.S. Justice Department said in a letter Wednesday …

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ILLINOIS: Alliance Defending Freedom Sues School District & Feds Over Transgender Restroom Policy

Reuters reports: Dozens of families on Wednesday sued two federal agencies and a suburban Chicago school district over a policy they said disregards student privacy and safety by allowing transgender students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. Fifty-one families in the Palatine, Illinois, area sued the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Justice Department and Township High …

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ALABAMA: Small Town Repeals Anti-Transgender Bathroom Law After Threats From ACLU And SPLC

AL.com reports: The Oxford City Council today voted 3-2 to rescind its controversial public restroom ordinance, a little more than a week after it was passed. Councilmembers Charlotte Hubbard, Phil Gardner and Mike Henderson voted to rescind the ordinance, while Council President Steven Waits and Councilman Chris Spurlin voted to keep it. The council was able to reconsider the ordinance, …

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Beyonce Denounces North Carolina’s Hate Law

From Beyonce’s website: North Carolina has been drawing the attention of the masses for new legislation that blocks cities and local governments from passing anti-discrimination measures that could protect gay and transgender people. It all began earlier this year when Charlotte passed a decree expanding North Carolina’s anti-discrimination laws allowing LGBT people protection in places of public accommodation. The ordinance, …

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North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory: I Might Be Looking For A New Job Due To Hate Law Backlash [AUDIO]

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has acknowledged that his reelection has been imperiled by the backlash over his state’s anti-LGBT hate law. From the Raleigh News & Observer: McCrory commiserated over House Bill 2 with old friends Tuesday morning when he made a 15-minute appearance on “The Big Show with John Boy and Billy” radio broadcast from Charlotte. Introduced as …

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TEXAS: Indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton Demands Target Issue “Plan to Protect Women And Children”

Todd Starnes writes at Fox News: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also has grave concerns – and he expressed them in a letter to Target’s chief executive officer. “It is possible that allowing men in women’s restrooms could lead to criminal and otherwise unwanted activity,” Paxton wrote in the letter obtained exclusively by Fox News. The attorney general is asking …

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BarbWire: Target Must Be Boycotted Into Bankruptcy

“Target must be destroyed, not just boycotted and humbled into submission regarding their love affair with the LGBT crowd. I support the present boycott of Target; however, it is not a winning strategy. If we hold to the boycott and it grows with intensity until Target’s parking lot is almost empty then Target’s CEO will be forced to back down, …

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Chicago Public School System Issues Guidelines Allowing Trans Students To Use Restroom Of Choice

From the Windy City Times: Chicago Public Schools, on May 3, issued revised guidelines pertaining to its transgender students, staff and volunteers, tackling head-on questions surrounding restroom and locker room use that have been vexing school districts across the country in recent months. The guidelines—which revise policies that CPS issued in 2014—explicitly state that students will be able to use …

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POSTED: My Sixth Column For Pride Life

Back in February, I launched a twice-monthly column for the website of Britain’s Pride Life magazine, a quarterly LGBT rights and lifestyle magazine. Today’s sixth installment is titled Transgender Rights Take Center Stage In US Presidential Race. Hit the link for my status report on Trump, Cruz, Target, and North Carolina. DISCLOSURE: Pride Life is owned by the US company …

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Christian Activists Disrupt Multiple Targets [VIDEOS]

Perhaps upon the instructions of the American Family Association, Christian activists are filming themselves causing disturbances inside Target stores. Included in the several clips below is a protest by anti-LGBT activist “Coach” Dave Daubenmire, whose own son has been convicted on child pornography charges.

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TEXAS: State’s First Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bill Fails To Advance In Small Dallas Suburb [VIDEO]

But a statewide bill is surely coming. ABC News reports: The Rockwall City Council killed a so-called bathroom bill late Monday night without ever voting on it. Mayor Jim Pruitt, the bill’s lone supporter, faced opposition from all five council members present. Most said they originally supported it but realized it was unenforceable. When Mayor Pruitt called for a vote …

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SOUTH CAROLINA: Haters Sing “Yes Jesus Loves Me” To Silence Transgender Rights Supporter [VIDEO]

But there’s a happy ending (for now) below. From Myrtle Beach Online: More than 500 people gathered to protest and support Horry County Schools policy on transgender student bathroom use, and while the board was in executive session a conflict broke out between a policy supporter and protestors. The group occasionally broke out in song to silence the woman who …

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MASSACHUSETTS: Boston Mayor Flies Trans Pride Flag After State Legislature Advances Trans Rights Bill

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh today flew the trans pride flag over city hall after a transgender rights bill advanced in the state legislature. MassLive reports: Massachusetts lawmakers are advancing legislation they say will provide anti-discrimination protections to transgender people in public places. The state Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Friday afternoon approved two bills allowing transgender people to use the public …

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