Gov. Pat McCrory (R-NC) (nc.gov, Screengrab)
he North Carolina state legislature is poised to transfer $500,000 from the state’s disaster relief fund to aid in the legal defense of HB2, the heavily-criticized law restricting restroom access, WRAL-TV reported.
“The governor asked for it,” said state Senate Budget Chair Harry Brown (R).
The funding was provided as part of a “technical corrections” bill added to another measure, House Bill 805, on Thursday, following the passage of the $22.34 billion state budget.
This, in the wake of a public statement by The Charlotte Hornets, who are not in favour of HB 2, but it seems there is simply no length to which McCrory is not willing to go to defend his bigotry. What happens if there’s a flood? Those have been happening in the area. What if there’s a fire or other disaster? The people of NC can simply go screw themselves, it seems. Full story here.
Also, North Carolina lawmakers adjourned for the year on Friday night after leaving mostly intact a law restricting transgender bathroom access that has drawn condemnation and jeopardized the state’s efforts to host the NBA All-Star Game, officials said. Full story here.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
The NBA and the Charlotte Hornets announced Thursday night that they will not support the proposed fix by North Carolina lawmakers to House Bill 2, the controversial law that forces transgender people to use public restrooms (in government buildings) that do not correspond with their gender identity.
“We have been engaged in dialogue with numerous groups at the city and state levels, but we do not endorse the version of the bill that we understand is currently before the legislature,” the organizations stated in a press release. “We remain committed to our guiding principles of inclusion, mutual respect and equal protections for all. We continue to believe that constructive engagement with all sides is the right path forward.”
The legislation, forced through during an emergency session of the state’s Congress, was introduced, debated, and passed in a single day. Signed into law March 23, HB 2 has been widely criticized — with over 160 businesses threatening to boycott the state if the bill is not repealed.
North Carolina Republicans had hoped that a compromise bill would quell the backlash. The version of the bill obtained by Charlotte TV station WBTV allows transgender residents to use the public restroom that most closely corresponds with their gender identity as long as they are able to “prove” their gender. Trans people can do so, according to the bill, by furnishing a “certificate of sex reassignment,” one notarized by the physician who performed the surgery. Many transgender people, however, do not have or desire surgery.
In addition, the draft of the bill sent to legislators Wednesday clarified the penalties for using the opposite-sex facilities. “Language in the latest draft of the bill would make it a Class 2 misdemeanor — one level higher than the normal penalty for trespassing — to trespass in a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility,” reports WBTV.
This goes on, as McCrory and his fellow bigots insist on finding some way to legislate open bigotry. What is the final cost of this going to be for the people of North Carolina?
he North Carolina state legislature is poised to transfer $500,000 from the state’s disaster relief fund to aid in the legal defense of HB2
“Hey, taxpayers! Look what I bought you with that money we set aside for floods. Remember hurricanes? Yeah, next time we have one of those, you can subsist on bigotry and hatred, because you’ll have fuck all else.”
I’m surprised there hasn’t been a mass uprising, with people physically carrying McCrory out of office.
How will the Hornets express their displeasure? Apparently moving the big game is in the works; I think they should just go ahead and do that.
Also, seriously, the disaster relief fund? That is how important people peeing is to them? No depths unfathomed and all that related shit.
I’m surprised there hasn’t been a mass uprising, with people physically carrying McCrory out of office.
The US’ domestic tumbril manufacturing industry has been devastated by cheaper products from China. So for the people to rise up and give McCrory a tumbril ride, they’d have to contract to have tumbrils made and imported and that’s just so much work…
I still like my idea of the Commander In Chief of the military announcing that military bases in NC will be closed because of the difficulty NC is presenting in complying with new DoD standards regarding trans acceptance.
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce:
Hey, North Carolinians: stop voting for bad people, or you will regret it. They’re probably already regretting it a bit but they have no idea how bad it could get if they had a president that wasn’t so fucking nice.
What happened in Louisiana after Bu**sh** (at the federal level) and state politicians diverted money from levee maintenance? Victim blaming, to no surprise. You can be sure McCreepy and his cronies will blame transgender people for “forcing” the diversion of money when another disaster occurs.
So trans people can’t leave the house until government’s back in session next year, basically.
Shiv:
It certainly looks that way. I think a special session will have to be forced, there’s just no way they can leave this hanging, but it’s obvious they will do anything to avoid having to repeal. One of the most infuriating things in that article:
I guess they are going to stick to that lie, come what may. Rancid asspimples, all of them.
Per my Rep, Susan Fisher, in response to a petition sent to her office:
[My Name],
House Bill 2 continually proves to be a huge embarrassment to our great state. The discriminatory legislation is harmful to our citizens and harmful to our economy. I will settle for no less than a full repeal, please rest assured that I will do everything I can to ensure that an end is put to this state-sanctioned discrimination.
Please keep me updated on any issues of importance to you.
All the best,
Susan
We’ve some good people here, good people working very hard. But then there’s shit like this to give me pause-- people overwhelmingly dislike HB2, and aren’t particularly fond of McCrory, either, yet the governor’s race between the guy who signed HB2 into law and the guy who wants it repealed (and in fact refused to defend it) is currently tied? Desk for my head, stat.