Civil Rights

New York Times columnist Frank Bruni rips Ted Cruz for this week’s anti-trans ads: “I’m guessing that Cruz hasn’t met or read much about transgender people. ‘Grown adult men’ is precisely how many transgender men appear — with beards, muscles, pants — and exactly how they’d look to little girls in the women’s rooms that the North Carolina law would …

During an appearance today in London, President Obama encouraged an emotional transgender student, saying that he is “incredibly proud” of her work for social reform, but that it’s not possible to overturn laws like North Carolina’s with the current Congress. From the Daily Mail: Maria Munir, a University of York student who is running for a council seat in Watford, …

From the Charlotte Observer: As opposition to North Carolina’s House Bill 2 grows, NASCAR has joined the chorus of companies calling for the law to be overturned. According to Motorsport.com, a site that covers racing news, NASCAR Chairman Brian France made the announcement at a meeting this week with Associated Press sports editors. Jim Utter, a longtime NASCAR writer, reported …

From the American Family Association: In just a little over 24 hours since AFA called for a boycott of Target, more than 200,000 people have signed an online pledge to no longer shop at the retail giant. Target announced earlier this week that men are welcome to enter women’s restrooms and dressing rooms anytime, even if little girls were already …

The Daily Mail reports: President Barack Obama told British travelers that new laws in North Carolina and Mississippi pertaining to the treatment of LGBT individuals are “wrong and should be overturned” but they need not worry about being treated discourteously if they visit. “I want everybody here in the United Kingdom to know that the people of North Carolina and …

From the Human Rights Campaign: On April 5, 2016, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed into law H.B. 1523, “The Religious Liberty Accommodations Act,” which would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, and in their communities. Take …

Politico reports: Sarah Palin sounded off on ESPN’s decision to fire Curt Schilling on Thursday, after the former All-Star pitcher and on-air personality drew a firestorm of criticism for sharing an image mocking transgender people on social media. “ESPN continues to screw up,” Palin wrote in a Facebook post, sharing a link to a Hollywood Reporter article about Schilling’s termination. …

There’s so many great lines in this short clip and I’m not going to give any of them away with a recap. Just watch this. Language warning for those at work.

In the face of international furor over North Carolina’s hate law, the Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee yesterday delayed a vote on SJR39, the anti-LGBT “license to discriminate” bill which last month passed in the state Senate after an epic 39-hour filibuster by Democrats. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports: “A few of them (committee members) have asked for more time, …

Via Jackson’s ABC affiliate: Gov. Phil Bryant is calling out critics of the religious objection law, saying so what if a 1980s rocker doesn’t come to Mississippi? All of a sudden we have one guy from the 1980s that canceled a concert and we all want to talk about that. It is interesting (that) the media says ‘Y’all ought to …

The three main anti-LGBT hate groups that conspired to push through North Carolina’s hate law are demanding that state legislators sign a pledge vowing to oppose the repeal of any portion of the law. The Charlotte News & Observer reports: The Keep N.C. Safe Coalition includes three conservative religious organizations: Tami Fitzgerald’s N.C. Values Coalition, Mark Creech’s Christian Action League …

Posted yesterday to Target’s corporate blog: Recent debate around proposed laws in several states has reignited a national conversation around inclusivity. So earlier this week, we reiterated with our team members where Target stands and how our beliefs are brought to life in how we serve our guests. Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate. We …

Via press release: The North Carolina Democratic Party today launched a website to highlight how Gov. Pat McCrory’s job-killing discrimination law, HB2, is hurting North Carolina’s economy. The site lists the more than 400 businesses and organizations that oppose HB2 and spotlights the many good-paying jobs put at risk by this bill. “Governor McCrory’s decision is costing our state good-paying …

Via Pink News: On the eve of a visit by Barack Obama, the UK government has updated its travel advice for the United States – to warn gay people about new anti-LGBT laws. The Foreign Office updated its guidance this week in the wake of laws passed in North Carolina and Mississippi to permit discrimination based on religious belief. Under …

“This court victory affirms that there is no commonsense reason to bar transgender students from using the restroom that aligns with their gender identity and that doing so is discriminatory and harmful. This ruling sets precedent in five states, including North Carolina, where Republican legislators and the Republican governor have embraced the exact type of discrimination that the court today …

McCrory is very unhappy about this “major, major change in social norms.” NC Capitol reports on Facebook: Gov. Pat McCrory spoke to reporters today after getting word about the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the Virginia transgender student case. The ruling could directly affect North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2. The governor says he will abide by the …

Hate group leader Brian Brown is VERY UPSET that there’s been no action on the so-called First Amendment Defense Act. He writes: It’s been ten months since Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Raul Labrador introduced the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) protecting the right of Christians and people of faith to live out the truth of marriage in their daily …

Lambda Legal says this is a “game changer.” Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the Department of Education’s interpretation of existing federal civil rights laws to protect transgender people against discrimination in education. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, upheld the department’s interpretation of Title IX of the Education Amendments …

Former Go-Go’s lead singer Belinda Carlisle today published an open letter to Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and it’s really something: Governor Bryant, I am scheduled to perform in your great state this Saturday, however given the very recent anti-LGBTQ attacks that your administration has leveled against some of your own citizens I very nearly cancelled my appearance. After discussion with …

Rolling Stone reports: Hours after Pearl Jam announced they were canceling their Raleigh, North Carolina concert to protest the state’s controversial “bathroom bill,” Eddie Vedder delivered a powerful speech in front of Pearl Jam’s Hampton, Virginia crowd Monday explaining the decision. “We thought we could take the money and give it to them and still play the show, but the …