Showdown in NC: Read the ultimatum the DOJ sent NC

By Cristan Williams
@cristanwilliams

 

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has given the State of North Carolina until Monday, May 9, 2016, to cease discriminating against trans people:

Both you and the State of North Carolina (the “State”) are in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964… Specifically, the State is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination against transgender state employees and both you, in your official capacity, and the State are engaging in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of Title VII rights by transgender employees of public agencies.

Read the full DOJ letter here:

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R) reportedly values anti-trans discrimination more than the millions in economic development and billions in federal aid North Carolina relies upon in order to keep functioning.

We will take no action by Monday… That deadline will come and go. We don’t ever want to lose any money, but we’re not going to get bullied… – Tim Moore

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Anti-trans ideologues have often asserted that they are the targets of bullying, alluding to a conspiracy on the part of LGBT organizations who somehow control when and where private corporations choose to invest. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory (R) complained:

Since the North Carolina legislature overturned this far-reaching Charlotte mandate, the Human Rights Campaign has led a coordinated assault and smear campaign. This national special-interest group, which is funded by anonymous donors, is attempting to bully companies, entertainers and anyone else who disagrees with its agenda.

The North Carolina group, Christian Action League’s Mark Creech proclaimed:

Don’t expect these social terrorists like the HRC to let-up on the pressure. There is no meaningful dialogue with them, only total domination. They are an unbending, immovable, aggressive, insistent force that would have every norm and moral turned on its head – every objection to their way vilified, penalized, fined, and criminalized by law.



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Cristan Williams is a trans historian and pioneer in addressing the practical needs of underserved communities. She started the first trans homeless shelter in Texas and co-founded the first federally funded housing-first homeless program, pioneered affordable health care for trans people in the Houston area, won the right for trans people to change their gender on Texas ID prior to surgery, started numerous trans social service programs and founded the Transgender Center as well as the Transgender Archives. She has published short stories, academic chapters and papers, and numerous articles for both print and digital magazines. She received numerous awards for her advocacy and has presented at universities throughout the nation, served on several governmental committees and CBO boards, is the Editor of the TransAdvocate, and is a founding board member of the Transgender Foundation of America and the Bee Busy Wellness Center.