North Carolina, Georgia And LGBT Anti-Discrimination

47:15

March 28, 2016

North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law. Other states are debating similar laws. We'll look at what's going on.

People protest outside the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, March 24, 2016. North Carolina legislators decided to rein in local governments by approving a bill Wednesday that prevents cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory later signed the legislation, which dealt a blow to the LGBT movement after success with protections in cities across the country. (AP Photo/Emery P. Dalesio) — People protest outside the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, March 24, 2016. North Carolina legislators decided to rein in local governments by approving a bill Wednesday that prevents cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules. (AP Photo/Emery P. Dalesio)

The U.S. Supreme Court green light on gay marriage last summer looked so bright and big that you might have thought the fight for and against gay, LGBT, rights was over. Nope. Now it’s state by state, and legislatures in a lot of states are pushing back. Limiting, carving out, rejecting. The latest are North Carolina and Georgia. Talking about religious liberty and gender clarity. A “rush to bigotry,” says the Washington Post. This hour On Point, we’ll look at new state laws pushing back on LGBT rights.
-- Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Dominic Holden, national LGBT reporter at BuzzFeed News. (@dominicholden)

Simone Bell, Southern regional director for Lambda Legal, an LGBT legal advocacy organization. (@SimoneLoves)

Sen. Josh McKoon (R-GA), Republican state senator from Georgia's 29th Senate District. Lead sponsor of SB 129, the Georgia "Religious Freedom" Bill. (@JoshMcKoon)

Robin Wilson, professor in the University of Illinois College of Law, where directs the Family Law and Policy Program.

From Tom’s Reading List

BuzzFeed News: North Carolina Sued Over Anti-LGBT Law — "Three individuals and two LGBT advocacy groups early Monday morning filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the recently passed North Carolina law that nullified local LGBT rights ordinances and restricted transgender people’s access to restrooms."

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Nathan Deal will veto Georgia’s ‘religious liberty’ bill -- "Gov. Nathan Deal said he will veto the “religious liberty” bill that triggered a wave of criticism from gay rights groups and business leaders and presented him with one of the most consequential challenges he’s faced since his election to Georgia’s top office. The measure 'doesn’t reflect the character of our state or the character of its people,' the governor said Monday in prepared remarks. He said state legislators should leave freedom of religion and freedom of speech to the U.S. Constitution."

Charlotte Observer: McCrory joins a dark list of Southern governors — "This legislation, and these 12 hours, was about a governor who decided his state will sanction discrimination against not only transgender people, but all homosexuals. It was about a governor who thinks it’s acceptable to make it harder for black men and women to sue for employment discrimination. It was, in the end, about a 21st century governor who joined a short, tragic list of 20th century governors. You know at least some of these names, probably: Wallace, Faubus, Barnett. They were men who fed our worst impulses, men who rallied citizens against citizens, instead of leading their states forward."

This program aired on March 28, 2016.

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