The City of Raleigh needs to stand by their non-discrimination ordinance and uphold their promise of opposing discrimination in all forms. Even if that form comes from state legislatures. What I’m asking you to do is to work on an official statement, from the Raleigh City Council, that condemns the passage of anti-LGBTQ and other discriminatory laws. The queer community in Raleigh needs your support. They need protection from those that sympathize with anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-queer bigotry.
Apparently, it’s only Raleigh that must stay silent out of fear that the politicians on Jones Street might do something to hurt the straight, cis, white residents of Raleigh and we can’t risk that. As long as they are only attacking the LGBTQ+ community, Raleigh’s City Council is good.
There are a lot of attacks on democracy, freedom, and human rights that are coming out of the General Assembly these days. Attacks on reproductive health care (including abortion), trans youth, fair elections, education, etc. What are you as our elected City Council going to do to resist this acceleration into fascism that is happening in the state?
Public meetings can be an unnerving experience for some people as they are appearing in an unfamiliar setting for something that is important to them. It’s important to treat every person with these courtesies: 1. Be welcoming to speakers no matter their point of view. 2. Be an active listener. The respectful thing is to pay attention. 3. Avoid debate and argument with the public. It is never appropriate to challenge a speaker.
These two bills may not pass the legislature. Governor Cooper may ultimately veto them if they do pass. And, the vetoes may withstand Republican attempts to override them. But, in any case, the LGBTQ+ residents of Raleigh and Wake County deserve to hear full-throated support from their elected leaders instead of the timid silence they are being presented.
INDYWeek reminds us in their Daily Mail that Lt Governor Mark Robinson is still a bigot.
But they fail to make the connection to Raleigh City Council.
So, it’s time to update our previous report noting that developer John Kane is a BIG donor to Lt. Governor Mark Robinson and he is also a BIG donor to Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, Councilor Jonathan Melton and several City Council candidates.
Mary-Ann Baldwin, the mayor of Raleigh, has some $500,000 banked for her election campaign. It’s a tribute to how completely she’s owned by Raleigh’s developers – led by mega-spender John Kane, a right-wing Republican known for backing, among other crazies, our very own GOP Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. (And, of course, Trump.)
It is no secret that John Kane donates to anti-LGBT politicians, including our very own Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, who has taken to calling people like myself “filth.” And yet, we have council members and a mayor who refuse to return John Kane’s donations and to call him out on his anti-trans sentiments and funding.
NC Lt. Gov Mark Robinson is an embarrassment to our state. His anti-LGBTQ+ comments and anti-Semitic comments seem designed to fan flames of hatred and sow divisiveness. One of his biggest financial supporters, developer John Kane, is also a favorite of many on...
In the last week three more local governments have enacted LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Ordinances. Joining the ranks are Charlotte, Chatham County and Winston-Salem. But, Raleigh still offers NO PROTECTIONS to their LGBTQ citizens. This despite the fact that two members...