Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

June 2016 – North Carolina and Mississippi both passed landmark legislation this spring to protect citizens’ rights. North Carolina House Bill 2, commonly called the “bathroom bill,” overturned a previous ordinance in an effort to prevent individuals from being victimized by people of the opposite gender in public restrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas.

Mississippi HB 1523 seeks to protect business owners’ liberty to decline service based on religious convictions (such as a bakery not being fined by the state for declining to bake a cake for a gay wedding). Both bills have been lambasted by media stars as “anti-LGBTQ.” In addition, they have apparently prompted a number of businesses and entertainers to withdraw performances from the two states.

For example, in North Carolina, PayPal cancelled plans to open a payment center in Charlotte, and singer Bruce Springsteen cancelled a Greensboro concert. Following suit, singer Bryan Adams cancelled a show in Biloxi, Mississippi. In each scenario, the “discriminatory” bills were cited as reason for cancelling.

“Apparently, business can be refused on personal convictions only if those convictions are in line with the left-wing agenda,” observed AFA VP Buddy Smith.

breitbart.com, 4/11/16; theatlantic.com, 4/12/16