Update: HB 186 was not voted on yesterday. So, if you have not yet been able to take action, please do so today. HB 186 may come up for a vote as early as Monday.
In yesterday’s e-alert, we wrote why we oppose HB 186 as the compromise for HB2. We stated that it will place harm for women and children not only in bathrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities, but it will invite religious liberty and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) related problems.
Much of the media and supportive legislators are calling it a “compromise.” That is a farce! By excluding “biological sex” in this bill, it gives an activist judge or court an opportunity to interpret law however they see fit. It invites employment issues creating SOGI protected classes which may result in lawsuits and crippling fines. And again, SOGI laws would allow discrimination against religious liberty laws. Our schools could drive the SOGI laws paving the path for LGBT groups and bully those who oppose. We would open the door wide to cases like the one with Barronelle Stutzman in Washington State, which we are currently safeguarded against.
There are a number of Republican legislators who have sponsored this bill and we hear that many others are seriously considering voting for it.
Republican Co-sponsors are:
Chuck McGrady (R-Henderson) 919-733-5956 / Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net
Ted Davis, Jr. (R-New Hanover) 919-733-5786 / Ted.Davis@ncleg.net
Nelson Dollar (R-Wake) 919-715-0795 / Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net
John R. Bradford, III (R-Mecklenburg), 919-733-5828 / John.Bradford@ncleg.net
Andy Dulin (R-Mecklenburg), 919-715-3009 / Andy.Dulin@ncleg.net
John Faircloth (R-Guilford) 919-733-5877 / John.Faircloth@ncleg.net
John A. Fraley (R-Iredell) 919-733-5741 / John.Fraley@ncleg.net
Holly Grange (R-New Hanover) 919-733-5830 / Holly.Grange@ncleg.net
Jon Hardister (R-Guilford) 919-733-5191 / Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net
Craig Horn (R-Union) 919-733-2406 / Craig.Horn@ncleg.net
Linda P. Johnson (R-Cabarrus), 919-733-5861 / Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net
Chris Malone (R-Wake) 919-715-3010 / Chris.Malone@ncleg.net
Greg Murphy, MD (R-Pitt) 919-733-5757 / Gregory.Murphy@ncleg.net
Stephen M. Ross (R-Alamance) 919-733-5820 / Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net
For most, it’s all about bringing the NBA and NCAA back to North Carolina (click here to view coverage). All the while we see that the “NBA’s Adam Silver announcing that ticket sales for the game (which was moved to New Orleans) were in the basement, analysts said before last weekend’s celebration — with nowhere to go but down. On the eve of the event, the cheapest seats at Smoothie King Center in Louisiana were $184 — a 71 percent decrease from last year in Toronto, where fans were shelling out $644 to sit in the rafters. And if history is any indication, the plunge only got worse heading into last weekend.” Click here to view coverage.
We also have learned that there is opposition from state industry that HB2 has crippled North Carolina’s economy, such as the State Chamber of Commerce, the NC Restaurant and Lodging Association, the NC Realtors Association, and Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan speaking out against HB2. Oh really?! Then why does CNBC still rate North Carolina the fifth-best state for business. What’s more, the trade publication Site Selection Magazine ranked North Carolina and Texas as tied for the title of “most competitive state.” And, according to 2016 North Carolina Lodging Report, “Year-end 2016 hotel/motel occupancy (64.9) was up 3.4% statewide from 2015 and represents record level occupancy, topping last year’s record. Occupancy rates statewide have grown sixteen percent in the last five years … while the US occupancy was up 0.1% and South Atlantic states occupancy was up 1.1% from 2015.” Click here to view report.
Take Action. If you haven’t already, please take action on the items below. If you took action already based on yesterday’s e-alert, then only note #4.
Know that just one phone call to a state legislator represents 100 voices. One state representative explained that when he receives just six calls, he takes note!
When calling the representatives’ offices, tell them to ask the representative to oppose HB 186. If you feel comfortable, ask whomever answers the phone how the representative plans to vote. If they plan to support or are undecided, question them. Use some of the points we’ve made in this e-alert and yesterday’s. Consider why they are putting this above the safety of women and girls as well as our religious freedom. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Carolina.
- Please contact House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland County) at 919-733-3451, then follow up with an email at Moore@ncleg.net.
- Please contact your representative. Click here to find out who your representative is and how to contact him/her. Contact via phone first and then follow up with an email.
- Sign the NC Values Coalition petition here.
- Please contact the list of legislators above that have sponsored this bill. Urge them to withdraw their support, especially if one of them is your representative.
Please pray for our legislators.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and He will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for Him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
(Psalm 37:5-8)
For Truth, Liberty, and Righteousness,
Jill Coward
State Director
CWA of North Carolina
nc.cwfa.org