Gov. McCrory Denies H.B. 2 is Discriminatory; Sues Feds

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/north-carolina-hb2-justice-department-deadline/index.html

He's thrown down the giblet. See you in court, Governor.

Carolyn Marie

[JJ]

I've never seen a better example of someone blinding themselves to reality while desperately shouting it's someone else's fault. I think he is desperate to save his political career and in his blind panic just more certainly ends it with every reaction he takes to the fiasco he himself helped engineer.

A sort of mini Trump when it comes to his ability to grasp and face a situation

[MarcieMarie12]

So the initial bill was $42,000 on day one, how much has this cost the tax payers of NC in terms of resources spent defending it from litigation and enforcing it. We also have not gotten to any lawsuits yet involving the infringement of civil rights by individuals.

[Guest Mia J]

And so he is going to spend millions of taxpayers dollars to try and not have to admit defeat and back down. Is he desperate to save his re-election or is he using this to make sure everyone in the country knows who he is and what he stands for so he can run for a higher office. Maybe he wants a position on trump's cabinet as the official bathroom inspector.

Mia

[Timber Wolf]

Wow! Now he's resorted to attacking his own cities. Hmmm.

It's obvious to us the dangers HR2 puts trans people in while using public restrooms, but as I see it, where there black hearts really show is in the provission preventing any community in there state from passing legislation protecting LGBT people from discrimination. He say's that's his job, and we can see how he would do it!

We need to get people educated about transgender enough so that nut jobs like McRory can never get enough traction to pass farses like HR2.

[Guest]

Or get reelected anything for that matter

[MarcieMarie12]

OH, BTW--DOJ filed their lawsuit as well.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-governor-leads-lawsuit-over-lgbt-rights-141821907.html

[JJ]

The statement that accompanied the DOJ lawsuit is the most validating and reassuring thing I have ever heard.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch

"Let me also speak directly to the transgender community itself. Some of you have lived freely for decades. Others of you are still wondering how you can possibly live the lives you were born to lead. But no matter how isolated or scared you may feel today, the Department of Justice and the entire Obama Administration wants you to know that we see you; we stand with you; and we will do everything we can to protect you going forward. Please know that history is on your side. This country was founded on a promise of equal rights for all, and we have always managed to move closer to that promise, little by little, one day at a time. It may not be easy – but we’ll get there together. "

Johnny

[Guest LesleyAnne]

Ken Paxton...the Attorney General of Texas announced his support of Governor McCrory. Paxton accuses the Obama administration of government overreach. Of course Paxton said the same thing when he got indicted for selling securities without a license.

It has become a full time job stopping these nut jobs, and they are under every rock you look under.

Peace, and Love

LesleyAnne

[JJ]

But the DOJ over rules them. There are really far more reasonable and compassionate men and women in government than these social conservatives. The failure of bill after bill, the refusal of governors to sign them or city councils to even consider them is the norm rather than attitudes shown by these men -and I use the term loosely-who are scrambling to keep a hold on the power the American people gave them by staying home in the last election and letting the organized zealots get a hold on government they otherwise would never have had.

Paxton and McCrory are posturing. The DOJ and Ms Lynch are not. We need to focus on what that means for us. And in the long run these conservatives have actually driven our fight for justice and education and understanding forward at a pace that is remarkable and saved us years if not decades of work to achieve otherwise. I don't like them any better - but I do find it ironic that they are helping ensure the very rights for us that they sought to deny.

Johnny

[Carolyn Marie]

Here is a video of Attorney General Lynch's remarks. They brought me to tears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzdILvImsYo&feature=share

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LesleyAnne]

Awesome!!

Thank you Johnny, and Carloyn!

I needed to hear that today, and thank you to Loretta Lynch, and the Obama administration. Yay!

[Guest Mickey]

I had to do a search to find the story from today buried in a related thread. It should be front page news. FRONT PAGE NEWS!! ALL OVER!! It is news like this from our Federal Government speaking directly to US!! The Trans* community!! AND THEY ARE ON OUR SIDE!!! News like this WILL lower the suicide rate. It WILL help many Trans* people to see this. This WILL set a precedent for ALL future cases.This is what so many of us have been waiting for, for so many years.

Please, make this video, of Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch, speaking to us and for us, easily accessible. Easy to find. Please.

[tracy_j]

It brought me to tears as well. After all the recent US politics seen on our TV's this really hit me.

Here's hoping people take heed

Tracy

[Guest Alicia Rose]

Hearing her message from the Department of Justice and the entire Obama Administration, shines much needed light on our community. I am proud and feel safer knowing there are 'higher ups' that understand, care and fight for, and with us.

[Carolyn Marie]

Please, make this video, of Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch, speaking to us and for us, easily accessible. Easy to find. Please.

Your wish is our command.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

It dawned on me earlier today that the DOJ is interpreting sex to include gender identity, whereas Gov McCrory is interpreting sex to mean biological sex only. So I think it's going to come down to if 'sex' includes gender identity or not. Like I told my family, this could go either well or really badly.

After reading too many negative comments on Facebook, I've decided to stop reading comments and only read articles because it was really starting to hurt. Being called all these names people are calling us really takes a toll, especially if it's been happening all your life.

[Guest Mickey]

Please, make this video, of Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch, speaking to us and for us, easily accessible. Easy to find. Please.

Your wish is our command.

Carolyn Marie

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And Lizzie, as our Attorney General stated in her speech, the Federal Appeals court, that has jurisdiction over North Carolina, has already ruled that sex DOES also mean Gender Identity. So that would mean that we ARE protected against discrimination. And she stated the laws that her office will be using. This IS very good news for us.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I don't know how this quote ended up like this. I swear I didn't do it on purpose, officer!

But anyway, so do we have Federal non-discrimination protection yet? Or could this lawsuit lead to that happening?

[Guest Annutty]

I heard this on the radio today and I was almost brought to tears as well... The entire Obama administration is on our side! Historic! Loretta lynch should be on the supreme court

[Guest LesleyAnne]

Lizzie,

To quote my Psychologist at the VA he said "LesleyAnne---Do Not read the Comments"

They get me down too, there is a lot of venom out there, but we know who we are, and it's not the nasty names and comments those snakes in the grass throw at us.

Peace and Love to all....

LesleyAnne

[Guest Mickey]

"... But anyway, so do we have Federal non-discrimination protection yet? Or could this lawsuit lead to that happening?"

We are already protected. In her speech she talked about the Federal Appeals court that has jurisdiction over North Carolina, and how they had ruled that sex, when used in anti discrimination laws like the Violence Against Women Act, also applies to Gender Identity. And when she argues this point in Federal court against North Carolinas HB2, it will set a Federal legal precedent. She said that Transgender people are already protected. And she will go to court to have them confirm our protection. This is what we have been waiting on for so long.

[Carolyn Marie]

The Federal EEOC has obtained favorable rulings in more than one Appeals Court District, and of course, the DOE has done the same regarding Title IX in the Forth District. However, I'm sure there are Appeals Court Districts who will take a more conservative view and rule against the Feds. That will result in the whole issue(s) going to the SCOTUS for a final decision. What will happen there depends in large part on who is sitting on the Bench at that time, and who is sitting in the Oval Office who put them there.

Carolyn Marie

[JJ]

As far a SCOTUS it would be hard to find anyone more opposed to LGBT rights and more conservative than Scalia was so whoever is appointed the court balance will remain the same or get more favorable to us

And this is the court thst upheld gay marriage in spite of Scalia. An appeal to SCOTUS should be favorable to us unless we lose a liberal judge before it is heard.

Johnny

[Guest Mia J]

The issue with the SCOUS at this time is that if an issue goes to them and ends up with a tie the standing goes to the ruling of the district court that filed the case.

Mia