The death of the religious freedom bill signals new political realities

Published April 25, 2015

by Thomas Mills, Politics North Carolina, April 24, 2015.

The religious freedom bill in North Carolina is dead for this session. It’s demise is a testament to how far and how fast views have changed on LGBT rights. We also saw three trends that will play out in North Carolina in coming years.

First, the LGBT community has proven itself to be well organized, focused and effective.  Equality North Carolina and its allies like the Campaign for Southern Equality put together a powerful coalition and seized opportunities, controlling the message of the debate when the issue blew up nationally. Second, the business community in North Carolina clearly values its LGBT employees and is willing to use political muscle to call out and discourage discrimination. Finally, House Speaker Tim Moore is showed that he’s found his political footing.

Just three years ago, North Carolina voted overwhelmingly to add an unconstitutional amendment to its constitution. The loss could have led to demoralization and infighting. Instead, the LGBT community stayed focus and cohesive, strengthening its resolve. It paid off yesterday and will in future battles. 

The reaction by business leaders to the religious freedom bills in Indiana and Arkansas caught Republicans off guard. Corporate America has clearly decided that the battle for equality is settled and they are ready to move forward. Businesses and CEOs aren’t going to sit idly by while some of their best employees are treated as second class citizens. More importantly, though, they’re sending a signal to the GOP that it’s time to end the culture wars and get back issues that matter to them, like lower taxes and less regulation.

Speaker Tim Moore proved that he’s no Thom Tillis. Tillis quite likely would have pandered to his right flank or got rolled by some Senate bill. Not Moore. He outflanked his Senate counterparts by declaring the bill dead before the Senate even had a chance to pass anything. On the same day he declared the religious freedom bill dead, social conservatives were celebrating a victory that extended the waiting period for abortions. He adroitly kept both the business Republicans and social conservatives mollified. 

It’s a new day in North Carolina. The LGBT community has proven that it is organized and has real clout. The business community is not going tolerate regressive policies that harm their employees or economic development efforts. And Tim Moore is proving that he can run with the big dogs.