The North Carolina legislature, in its “infinite wisdom,” passed yet another oppressive and immoral law, continuing a long line of discriminatory legislation attempting to preserve the white, male hegemony that characterizes our history from the founding of this nation. It is consistent with the prejudiced laws that intended to address slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, anti-Civil Rights, perceived voter fraud, and a long list of other threats to a distorted worldview that have dominated our social landscape. It is a cancer on our state that must be removed.

1. House Bill 2 is immoral. It intentionally discriminates against a minority of citizens whose only circumstance is to be born biologically different from those who passed the law. It degrades persons whose physical condition is determined by nature, and not choice. This law is diametrically opposed to and void of love and compassion that are at the heart of the claimed religious tradition of the legislators who passed it. The “culture Christians” in control of the state legislature pervert the language and values of a faith they do not begin to understand or embrace. Through double speak and fear, they incite the public (“religious freedom” and “protect our daughters”) to offer a solution where there was no problem. This bill fails to recognize the integrity and value of all persons by labeling some individuals as “perverts” and an “abomination.” It goes against the fundamental values of all the world’s great religions that affirm the unifying relationship of Creator and creation. It must be repealed.

2. HB2 is unconstitutional, both national and state. We are a secular, civil society, governed by law. Our law, grounded in those Constitutions, guarantees protection against discrimination based on gender, religion, race, etc. This bill, directly and intentionally, targets a gender minority. In addition, it states that local municipalities cannot pass their own anti-discrimination policies. HB2 goes against our history of Civil Rights legislation. Behind the façade of “religious freedom,” it allows so-called legal discrimination, exempting individuals from providing services (e.g. selling wedding cakes to same-sex couples) or performing civil duties (issuing marriage licenses). Falsely claiming that Christianity is under attack, the legislators have enabled anarchy in the name of their religion. It must be repealed.

3. HB2 is economically unsound. People and corporations of conscience, e.g. Bruce Springsteen, Itzhak Perlman, and Hewlett Packard, to mention only three, have refused to perform or engage in activities that would produce monetary benefit to North Carolina. An article in the Asheville Citizen-Times Sunday, June 5, says reports estimate the financial loss to exceed a billion dollars to date, with other losses to come. Businesses are rethinking present and future relationships with our state. Losses in tax revenue negatively impact our budget, reducing services, postponing infrastructure improvements, limiting resources for education already hurt by the narrow minded thinking of the current legislature. It must be repealed.

4. HB2 is socially divisive and destructive. Every action throughout history that separates people, demeans individuals and groups, belittles and demonizes “the other,” only builds barriers and keeps people apart ultimately leading to distrust, violence, and war. Our future, our very existence as a human race requires affirmation of, love for, and unconditional compassion toward others. Our differences are insignificant compared to the infinite similarities we share. HB2 must be repealed.

HB2 must be repealed because it is immoral, unconstitutional, economically unsound, and inhuman. It is an embarrassment to our state. We are better than this.

Harold Littleton lives in Asheville.

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