Facing federal prosecution, the homophobic state government of North Carolina continues to support its oppressive legislation. The Department of Justice has informed Governor Pat McCrory and his administration that they are in violation of Title 9 of the Civil Rights Act, and have given them a deadline of Monday to suspend or repeal this offensive and prejudicial legislation.

“We will take no action by Monday,” said Tim Moore, the speaker of the State House of Representatives, referring to the deadline the Justice Department gave the state to tell federal officials whether the law would stand. “That deadline will come and go.”

North Carolina is risking the loss of $4.8 billion dollars in federal aid.

There are indicators that the state legislature will eventually repeal the law which prevents transgendered Americans from using the restrooms in which they feel most comfortable. Revoking the legislation will not be in support of the rights of the LGBT community, but in response to multiple revenue losses for the state’s cities and businesses. Several companies have decided not to do business in North Carolina. Companies outside of the state have forbidden their employees to travel to North Carolina. The NBA may cancel a future All-Star Game planned for the state.

Sometimes homophobic acts mask what should be a discussion about this illness. There is no logical reason to fear the LGBT community. They have no agenda which would affect the lives of others; they are very rarely violent; all they are asking is to be happy and treated fairly in a nation which professes itself to be the “land of the free, and the home of the brave.”

Homophobes are the creation of religious extremists. These men and women who claim to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ have falsely claimed that same-sex relationships are forbidden, and those who practice homosexuality are damned. The reality is that Christ ordered His followers to refuse judgement of others; an act which belongs to His Father alone.

I agree with the majority of millennials who fail to understand any form of prejudice; it’s illogical. My alignment with younger Americans is based on the fact that, like most of them, I do not believe in organized religion. I fail to see the need of seeking the advice of another man standing behind a pulpit. I support free thought; no one should tell another man or woman what to think or believe. Those who follow these ‘religious leaders’ are in reality members of a cult.

Red states offer no reason for the majority of Americans to seek employment or residence within their borders. They proffer racism, bigotry, and misogyny. North Carolina has enormous physical beauty, but it fades as you understand the attitudes of many of its people; they do not believe in my America.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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