European Union Declares HB2 In Violation of United Nations Treaty

[JJ]

http://www.advocate.com/world/2016/5/15/european-union-says-hb-2-violates-united-nations-treaty

The implications of this are huge if they file a complaint against us with the UN.

North Carolina's response is beyond belief. Those guys are beyond deluded.

Johnny

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

The response from some select NC people does not surprise me.

'MURICA!

These guys are really headstrong in their beliefs or really want to make it into history books as "people who tried to oppress equality"

[tracy_j]

The response does not surprise me either but at least it does fire a warning shot if anyone were to try to implement similar rules here.

With the issues of the UK leaving the EU I think the federal government will have extra reason for sorting this as quickly as possible as th US will want to show alignment with Europe whatever is felt behind closed doors.

Tracy

[Charlize]

I think North Carolina has done a service to the trans* folks of Europe. Any country likely to discriminate will think twice. Unfortunately the government of NC is unable to think once.

Hugs,

Charlize

[eieio55]

This article says that the NC law "bars residents from suing for discrimination in state court". This is beyond belief. You can't prohibit citizens from seeking relief in the courts. That's part of the basic US system of government. It sounds like something the cup cakes would do, not a US state. It really sounds like the people who created this law know that it will be struck down in federal challenges, but they're trying to create publicity and make prejudiced people everywhere know that here is another bigoted cause for them to jump on.

[Guest LesleyAnne]

LOL.......

"MURICA!

​I think you would have to had lived here in the South to get that one LOL

​I hear it all time here.....and It really cracks me up

[Guest Mia J]

All of these people supporting HB2 are part of the U.N. is a conspiracy to take over the U.S. anyway. They would never listen to anything the U.N. or any other nation said.

Mia

[MaryEllen]

The UN isn't dictating to the US yet but I fear the New World Order isn't too far off.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

This article says that the NC law "bars residents from suing for discrimination in state court". This is beyond belief. You can't prohibit citizens from seeking relief in the courts.

State court is the key phrase there. It would require them to take it to Federal Court which is more costly and time-consuming.

[JJ]

Where this puts the US in a bind is that we have asked the UN to intervene in civil rights violations internationally and been a dominant voice in the UN since it's inception. Now we are the ones who are in violation as far as the EU sees it. Not that they have the right to dictate to us but that they do have a right to complain if we are breaking the same treaty they have signed.

You also have the economic implications if they decide to sanction us as we have sanctioned others who we felt were not in compliance with UN treaties.

It could get ugly. But I think at this point the Obama administration can point to the lawsuit already brought as an expression of good faith with the treaty.

The other thing this does is send a message that it is not just the American liberals who are supporting transgender rights but Europe as well. They can no longer say this is something just the Democrats or Obama administration is pushing.

Johnny

[Ravin]

The practical implications of any declaration that U.S. law violates a U.N. treaty is pretty much just bad press for the U.S. Even in cases where the U.S. has been found to be in violation by an international ruling body connected with a treaty, there aren't any teeth to the possible penalties. International censure, that's about it.

This article says that the NC law "bars residents from suing for discrimination in state court". This is beyond belief. You can't prohibit citizens from seeking relief in the courts. That's part of the basic US system of government. It sounds like something the cup cakes would do, not a US state. It really sounds like the people who created this law know that it will be struck down in federal challenges, but they're trying to create publicity and make prejudiced people everywhere know that here is another bigoted cause for them to jump on.

It abolished the previously existing tort in the state's antidiscrimination law. A state can do that.

It doesn't bar suing under Federal law in Federal court. I'm not sure how it affects suing under Federal law in state court.

[VickySGV]

It doesn't bar suing under Federal law in Federal court. I'm not sure how it affects suing under Federal law in state court.

A friend of mine who is an attorney in NC has told me that the intent here was to totally remove jurisdiction from the state courts to consider discrimination claims without regard to basis of the law, either state or federal. Her friends who are bench officers are looking for ways to allow existing suits to continue. None of them like it a bit.

[Guest Sarah Faith]

Not really sure why anyone thinks that anyone is going to be quaking in their boots over what the UN might think. China violates human and civil rights under UN law all the time and no one barely gives a crap the UN certainly doesnt lift a finger to intervene. When a Country has UN Security Council veto authority, the UN rarely does anything to intervene or sanction those countries. I honestly see nothing coming from this. The people who support this bill will only dig in further because they will see it as further encroachment on states rights.

[JJ]

We are the main supporters of the UN so as far as international diplomacy it hurts us. And hampers us when we start complaining about violations. Though we have been in violation over other things.

More significant would be economic sanctions by the EU which I doubt they are going to actually take.

The most significant thing is the message that Europe supports our rights and it isn't just liberal democrats out to destroy religion in the US.

Johnny

[Ravin]

Of course, it also has implications in Europe, particularly for former Eastern Bloc countries for whom issues like this are a sticking point with nationalists who see it as encroaching on their culture and have an inclination to follow Russia's mindset, and which creates a barrier to them joining the EU.

I have a friend in Serbia who has explained the situation for LGBT folks there and it's not good. Joining the EU would help, because they would have to come in line with EU policies.

So, when the EU comes out and makes such a declaration about the U.S., it is also sending a message to their closer neighbors.