A telling message from Newton

If there were ever any question about the intentions of Republican lawmakers who scrambled to pass House Bill 2 in special session earlier this year, N.C. Sen. Buck Newton put the matter to rest this week with a speech that concluded with his thoughts on “how hard we must fight to keep our state straight.”

The senator’s words are an embarrassing indictment of where the N.C. General Assembly’s mindset is these days.

Never mind that it flies in the face of decades of struggle for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to finally have the same rights that other Americans have. Never mind that it pushes back against dozens of court decisions at all levels that have codified what lawmakers have too often opposed. And never mind, even, the message that Newton’s words send to businesses and industries that might have been considering locating a plant or facility in North Carolina.

Just consider for a minute the impact of Newton’s statement on our friends, our neighbors and our loved ones who might happen to be gay, lesbian, bi or transgender. Who either have chosen to stay here or even to move to North Carolina to go to school and to work and to raise families because they liked our state and they liked the opportunities it offered.

What is the message Newton is sending to the guy who might work in the cubicle beside you? Or to the couple who might attend the same church as you? Or to anyone else who doesn’t match the criteria for the way Newton thinks this state should be.

What message are our thoughts and actions sending folks who simply want to live their lives the same as the rest of us?

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/Editorials/2016/04/28/Our-View-A-telling-message-from-Newton.html