LGBT News

Reuters reports: Deutsche Bank is freezing plans to create 250 new jobs at its Cary, North Carolina, location after the state passed a controversial law targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens. “We take our commitment to building inclusive work environments seriously,” John Cryan, the chief executive of Germany’s largest lender, said in a statement on Tuesday. North Carolina …

The Associated Press reports: Colorado is not joining at least six states that ban or limit psychotherapy which seeks to change the sexual orientation of minors. The Republican majority on a state Senate panel voted against a bill Monday to limit so-called gay conversion therapy. The bill would have banned its use on people under 18. Research shows conversion therapy …

Variety reports: It’s hard to imagine a more simpatico creative pairing than Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein. Lauper, the award-winning (Grammy, Emmy and Tony) pop icon whose rainbow-colored hair and anthemic “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” single made her a hero among fiery female teens in the 1980s, has long established herself as a staunch humanitarian and leading advocate for …

Via press release: He was born to run all right. Bruce Springsteen is blowing off his tour date in North Carolina Friday because the state is daring to let businesses set their own bathroom policies. What a scandalous idea! Like other liberal extremists, The Boss (or is it Bossy?) is furious that the North Carolina government won’t barge into board …

North Carolina Rep. Bill Richardson was one of the 11 Democrats to vote for his state’s anti-LGBT hate law. In an op-ed published today, Richardson says he is “haunted” by his vote and will now work for the law’s repeal. He writes: By enacting House Bill 2, the legislature did the wrong thing. I made the wrong vote and we …

The right wing group 2nd Vote, whose primary function is to facilitate the boycotts of progressive-minded corporations, has found an alternative to PayPal. They write: In the last few days, our research team has taken a very close look at a payment processing company based in Lehi, Utah called ProPay. This company was of particular interest because, ProPay has made …

From the Facebook page of Mississippi state Rep. Jay Hughes: HB1523 – Repeal? What will it take? Since the constitutional deadline for the introduction of new bills has passed, a “Suspension Resolution” will have to be filed in the House. Then, the Speaker will have to allow it to come up for a vote on the floor. It would then …

From the Huffington Post: There’s a new kink in North Carolina’s LGBT controversy: A popular porn website is banning all computers from “The Tar Heel State.” XHamster.com has been refusing to serve anyone from North Carolina since 12:30 p.m. EDT, Monday. Instead, users with a North Carolina IP address are just seeing a black screen on their computer — no …

Tomorrow the Tennessee House Finance Committee is scheduled to hear a bill that bans public schools and universities from allowing trans students to use restrooms that align with their gender identity. As it turns out, one of the bill’s GOP co-sponsors is an ACTUAL real life danger to women according to his own party.  CBS News reports: A Tennessee lawmaker …

This is same group that posted a billboard in Mississippi last week. From Planting Peace: In response to North Carolina passing of HB2, Planting Peace has constructed a message to North Carolina legislators and the anti-LGBT movement. Our billboard is a reminder that laws such as HB2 move us backwards in the movement for equality and fundamental human rights for …

JMG reader David points us to today’s poll on the front page of the Denver Post, which only tells a portion of North Carolina’s sweeping anti-LGBT law. Weigh in at this link. The poll is slightly down in the right-hand column.

Early this month the American Public Transportation Association, which was founded in 1882 and has 1500 member organizations, said they really wish they could cancel their May convention in Charlotte over North Carolina’s hate law, but are unable to nullify their contract. On Friday, the head of Los Angeles Metro announced that his employees are banned from attending. From his …

Billboard Magazine reports: Bryan Adams has canceled a show in Mississippi in a protest to the state’s passing of what has been described as the most aggressive anti-LGBT law in America. The Canadian rocker has scrapped his April 14 date at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi following the signing into law of the “Religious Liberty” bill 1523, a first-of-its-kind …

Mediaite recaps: Republican presidential candidate John Kasich said this morning that he probably wouldn’t have signed a bill similar to the anti-trans one recently passed in North Carolina. He dismissively said that “we are not having this issue in our state” about religious liberty and talked at great length about balancing religious liberty with respect. Kasich avoided getting into the …

From the Hollywood Reporter: A U.S. congressman who represents portions of Greensboro, N.C., is accusing Bruce Springsteen of being a “bully,” after the rock star canceled a concert there to protest a new law that’s being described as anti-gay. “It’s disappointing he’s not following through on his commitments,” said Rep. Mark Walker, a Republican freshman congressman. “We’ve got other artists …

“Last year well before recent events, I was interviewed and photographed to be on the cover of Mississippi’s official state tourism publication. I’ve often boasted about the beautiful people, delicious food and my picturesque hometown of Pass Christian. My longtime partner, Amber, and I have always felt welcomed in my home state, and it hurts my soul to think of …

Posted this morning to the Facebook page of Equality North Carolina head Chris Sgro: Friends, it is my honor to be appointed to the remainder of Representative Ralph Johnson’s unexpired term. Ralph was a great leader for Greensboro and I have big shoes to fill. Amos Quick will fill the seat after January and have my support, but GCDP stepped …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: N.C. NAACP president William Barber says his group will hold a “mass sit-in” at the legislature if a controversial LGBT law isn’t repealed by April 21. Barber, whose Forward Together Moral Movement has organized numerous Moral Monday protests and acts of civil disobedience, plans to announce more details about the event at a news …

Raw Story reports: A new online campaign is targeting North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) for mockery concerning his state’s new anti-trans legislation. #PeeingForPat, as it’s being called, encourages participants to contact the governor to “confirm your adherence to or disregard of” HB2, which bans trans residents from using public restrooms according to their gender identity, and also rolled back …

WHOA. Bruce Springsteen tweeted out this statement this afternoon: As you, my fans, know I’m scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the “bathroom” law. HB2 — known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act — dictates which bathrooms …