Sponsor of SC anti-transgender bill taking hits from both parties

Sen. Lee Bright is catching flack from all sides for his transphobic bill.

In reading the following news report from news channel WYFF4 NBC I think it would be safe to assume the anti-transgender bill proposed in South Carolina by Sen. Lee Bright is very unpopular.

Are you sitting down? If so, then proceed to read:

The three Republican candidates who are vying for Sen. Lee Bright's state senate seat in District 12 are using Bright's recently introduced "Bathroom Bill" as ammunition against him.

 "I do not believe the bill is needed here in South Carolina," businessman and Senate candidate David McCraw said during a news conference. "I agree with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce when they said, 'Sen. Bright is trying to create a political crisis that doesn't exist to save his political career.'"
Bright's bill, S. 1203, would assign the use of bathrooms according to "biological sex" instead of gender identification. It would prevent local governments from creating ordinances that allow transgender people to use the bathrooms of their choice.

Other candidates who are running for Bright's seat also oppose his bill.

"The transgender bathroom ordinance being pushed by special interests has no place in South Carolina," Republican Senate candidate Scott Talley said. "While I agree with Senator Bright in opposing a transgender bathroom ordinance, his proposed law is redundant and unnecessary."

"We don't want to do anything to jeopardize economic development in South Carolina," Republican Senate candidate Lisa Cooley Scott said. "(Bright) is jumping on the bandwagon to grab headlines, because he has done nothing in the Senate."

A Senate committee hearing on the bill is Wednesday morning and according to ABC News Channel 6, a Democrat Senator, Joel Lourie, said that he will do everything in his power to block it.

That should be interesting, seeing that the chair of the committee, Sen. Kevin Bryant, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that he intends to advance the bill forward even if the subcommittee doesn't approve.

The irony of that is all of this bickering could be moot. Gov. Nikki Haley has already said that the bill is not needed in South Carolina and the speculation is that if the bill is passed, she may veto it.

Nevertheless, regardless of the reasons why (and many of them definitely aren't noble), I never thought I would EVER live to see the day when Republicans in South Carolina attack another Republican for being unnecessarily mean to the lgbt community.

Related post -  Opponents of SC anti-transgender bill outnumbered, outflanked supporters

'SC legislator determined to push anti-trans bill through committee in spite of unpopularity' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Sen. Kevin Bryant is determined to push an unpopular bill through

Bryant says transgender bill to advance regardless - So in spite of tomorrow's hearing on that awful anti-transgender bill in South Carolina, Sen. Kevin Bryant, chairman of the Senate General Committee, is determined to push it through EVEN IF the subcommittee does not approve it. It means two things - this bill is not popular with hardly anyone including Gov. Haley and such an action would shift the public perception that the bill is needed for safety. If the bill needed for safety, then why would there be a need to force it through. 

Hearing puts spotlight on SC transgender bathroom bill - And speaking of tomorrow morning's hearing, forget the hype about Superman vs. Batman because THIS is going to be the event. Those opposing the bill will include Steve Benjamin, the mayor of Columbia. And who are supporting the anti-transgender bill have acknowledged hat there have been no reports of women's safety being jeopardized. That's probably why Sen Bryant going to attempt to force it through.

 N.C. Rep. Billy Richardson: I was wrong to vote for HB2 - A bit too late for North Carolina, don't you think?  

Deutsche Bank Won’t Expand In North Carolina Because Of Anti-LGBT Law - A bit too late.  

Tennessee Passes Anti-LGBT Counseling Bill - If the Gov signs this bill, medical health professionals will be able to reject lgbt patients because of "religious beliefs." This is why the religious right won't tell where the line has to be drawn with these so-called "religious liberty" laws. They want to get away with as much as they can. One wonders how they are going to spin this one.

The Conservative Argument Against Same-Sex Parenting Just Fell Apart - Meanwhile . . .

How Fox News contributed to Mississippi's anti-lgbt law

The above video from Media Matters reminds us of an important factor in the passage of that awful anti-lgbt law in Mississippi - A propaganda network with no accountability which peddled in the false "Christian are being persecuted" argument while simultaneously featuring anti-gay talking heads and giving them the ability to spout lies without challenge or debate.

Or as we call it, Fox News:

 Fox News has long touted the stories of a handful of anti-gay photographers, bakers, and florists who refused to provide services to same-sex couples and were then sued for violating nondiscrimination ordinances. In regular segments that Fox dubs the “Fight for Faith,” the network often sides with for-profit businesses -- like an Idaho wedding chapel -- to claim that the Christian business owners are being persecuted by the government or LGBT activists . . .

Fox News employees have even written books devoted to the anti-LGBT Christian persecution myth. In 2014,Fox News’ anti-gay mouthpiece and serial misinformer Todd Starnes went on a publicity tour for his book God Less America, which details “real stories from the frontlines of the attack on traditional values.” This February, Fox News contributor and prominent conservative media figure Erick Erickson released a book You Will Be Made To Care, The War on Faith, Family And Your Freedom To Believe, which explores how the "leftist-homosexual mafia" is waging a "war on Christians.” Conservative media’s misinformation campaign framing Christians as “victims” of discrimination is part of a larger effort by anti-LGBT activists seeking to pass “religious freedom” laws. With Fox News providing the “Fight for Faith” stories to lay the groundwork for laws like Mississippi’s, anti-LGBT organizations can continue their national push for laws that protect anti-LGBT discrimination. 

So after we defeat the laws like the one in Mississippi - and we will - what are we going to about Fox News? And wistful thoughts of their male personalities being caught on their knees in public restrooms is not an option. So please don't introduce that as some type of solution.

'Franklin Graham willing to deceive to legislate morality' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Graham willing to lie to legislate morality

'Nation Embracing Sin': Franklin Graham Goes on Twitter Rant to Defend North Carolina Anti-LGBT Law - Franklin Graham is a demagogue and a dangerous fool, but he has just done the lgbt community a favor with his egotistical tweets. Here is the question and it will be addressed in court - if you feel that something is a sin (in this case being an lgbt), is it right to create a false moral panic, lies, and laws to suppress said "sin?" Graham seems to think yes. With no proof that women and girls would be harmed by transgender folks using bathrooms and locker rooms of the gender identity they define for themselves and with no way of explaining why should lgbts be denied anti-discrimination protection, that should be the question we need to demand from the courts. 

Bryan Adams Follows In Springsteen’s Footsteps, Cancels Mississippi Gig - First Bruce Springsteen. Now Bryan Adams. Some may not agree with their cancellations, but they are very necessary.  

Anti-LGBT group from U.S. holds Barbados conference - Reason why have to start taking these folks seriously. If you are, then educate others. Worldwide groups with many connections and lots of money whose goal is the suppression of lgbt equality. Would be a James Bond movie if it weren't true.  

Ted Cruz Is 'Honored' To Have The Support Of Colorado's Demon-Hunting, Anti-Gay Exorcist State Legislator Gordon Klingenschmitt - Another reason Ted Cruz shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the White House. Not even to use the toilet.  

A Trans Woman’s Coworkers Threw Her A Party After She Came Out To Them - A reminder about the power of good in the world.

'Transgender children speak out against 'bathroom bills'' & other Fri. midday news briefs

The ONLY good thing about these bathroom bills is that it gives transgender folks, particularly our kids, a chance to speak out and educate.  
 

How Our Complacency Led Mississippi to Pass An Anti-LGBT Hate Law on Steroids - Before you get defensive, let me ask you something. How many of you know that there are so-called pro-family groups in over 40 states? The point is every victory we get is no time to stop because with every loss the other side receives, they are already planning payback.

 The Laughable Incompetence Of Mississippi’s Anti-LGBT Lawmakers - Yep. They screwed up royally.

 10 Things You Wanted To Know About HIV But Were Too Afraid To Ask - Education never hurts.

SC Senator verbally eviscerates colleague for proposing anti-lgbt bill

Kimpson

Yesterday I posted about the plans of SC Republican State Senator Lee Bright  to introduce an anti-lgbt bill similar to the one passed recently in North Carolina. For now, it doesn't look like the bill is very popular. Gov. Nikki Haley (a Republican) has already voiced her disapproval of it. And today, Bright's bill was practically eviscerated on the Senate floor by Democrat Sen. Marlon Kimpson.

Kimpson didn't hold a thing back:

Kimpson, a Democrat, took to the floor of the Senate Thursday to complain about gun reform bills not getting a hearing but then directed his frustration at a bill introduced by Sen. Lee Bright, a Spartanburg County Republican.

"Yesterday South Carolina sank to a new low," he told the Senate. "We're going to have the Lee Bright genitalia patrol for bathrooms in South Carolina. That is the most blatant form of intrusion, of discrimination of sexual orientation.  Now we are becoming the laughing stock in the nation because we are joining North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi."

 . . . Kimpson said Bright's bill has generated a hashtag, #peewithlee  which is making "a mockery of the state."

"A transgender person should use the restroom that corresponds to his or her gender identity," he said. "Under peewithlee's Bright's bill, we're now going to have the genitalia bill now checking birth certificates at the restroom door. I can't imagine a more ridiculous bill."

According to GreenvilleOnline, the bill has a dim chance of passing. Let's cross our fingers.

'Family Research Council wants you to boycott Paypal except for when . . .' other Thur. midday news briefs

Tennessee Lawmakers Just Passed a Bill That Would Allow Therapists to Refuse to Treat Gay Clients - NOT a good thing for us but mostly not them. I once said that the other side will not say how far should "religious liberty" should go because they want to get away with as much discrimination as they can. This should prove it. 

Will South Carolina follow? Not likely with Haley in charge - More on SC's attempt to follow North Carolina's lead in passing an awful anti-lgbt bill. Further prediction that Republican Gov. Nikki Haley may be a stumbling block on the bill because of the negative economic blow back NC has been receiving. 

 Anti-gay group tells supporters to boycott PayPal… can you guess what they use to take donations? - Angry at Paypal eliminating an expansion in NC because of the state's new anti-lgbt law, the Family Research Council urges a boycott of Paypal . . . that is unless you are using the service to give the Family Research Council a donation. 

 Charles Barkley Urges NBA To Move All-Star Game From North Carolina Due To Anti-LGBT Law - Sweeet!  

Anti-LGBT Activists Mobilize To Protest 'Satanic' Day Of Silence - Ah yes, pivot the "they want your children" message. 

Even More Executives Come Forward To Defend LGBT Rights - As nauseous as this backlash is, it could actually work in the favor of the lgbt community. We are able to create a dialogue on our issues, particularly issues involving our transgender brothers and sisters. Plus, the false mask of piety is slowly slipping off of the face of our opposition, revealing their base nastiness.