Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

"With the Supreme Court due to rule on marriage any day now, Presidential 'candidate' Rick Santorum says he would fight back against a pro-equality ruling. He says that states allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry is a violation of his religious freedom, which is an argument a lot people made about interracial marriage in the 60s. So do couples need to worry about the possibility that Rick Santorum could stop them."

Brian Brown Celebrates North Carolina

"The House of Representatives in North Carolina just voted 69-41 to override Governor Pat McCrory's veto of Senate Bill 2, the critical legislation that will protect marriage and religious liberty. The state Senate previously voted to override McCrory's veto meaning that this important legislation now becomes law! This is a huge victory for supporters of marriage and was brought about because of the efforts of NOM's members and others working in support of allies in North Carolina including the NC Values Coalition. SB 2 allows clerks, magistrates and Registers of Deeds to refuse to participate in a same-sex 'wedding' ceremony if doing so violates their deeply-held beliefs. This protects people of faith from having to choose between keeping their job and upholding their beliefs. It was outrageous that Governor McCrory, a Republican, would veto this legislation and we will work with allies to hold him accountable." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, via press release.

Ryan Anderson Celebrates Hate Bills

Anderson writes for the Heritage Foundation:

Earlier today, the North Carolina House voted to override the veto of S.B. 2, a bill that protects the religious liberty of civil servants in that state. Because the Senate had already voted to override the veto as well, the bill is now law. This is good public policy, and it is a shame that it was vetoed in the first place. The law will now protect magistrates who object to performing solemnizing ceremonies for same-sex marriages and clerks who object to issuing same-sex marriage licenses. It also makes clear that no one can be denied a marriage license, but magistrates or clerks could recuse themselves from the process behind the scenes should they have sincere objections to same-sex marriage. So it’s a win-win for everyone. No one loses anything. After all, government employees have rights, and those rights should be protected. Had this bill not become law, magistrates and clerks who decline to take part in same-sex marriages could have been removed from office, and “shall” be guilty of a crime that is punishable by up to 120 days in jail.

Lambda Legal: Michigan & North Carolina Laws Are Worse Than Indiana's RFRA

Via press release from Lambda Legal:

Today was a discouraging day for equality and justice. Michigan today enacted a law that allows state-funded adoption and foster care agencies to turn people away on religious grounds, and North Carolina enacted a law allowing government magistrates to refuse to perform civil marriage ceremonies for couples whose union they object to on religious grounds. For anyone with delusions that the work for LGBT rights is close to being done, think again. These laws will be used to deny loving homes to Michigan children in need and to subject same-sex couples to the indignity of being turned away by government-funded agencies in Michigan and by government officials in North Carolina. That that discrimination is based on religion is no excuse. Discrimination inspired by religious views is still discrimination. These measures are in some ways worse than what happened in Indiana because Michigan and North Carolina will be using tax dollars to support such discrimination. Good public policy helps people--it shouldn't hurt them. We expect Lambda Legal's Help Desk will light up with calls from those who suffer discrimination imposed by these laws, and we stand ready to help.

Their help desk is here.

BREAKING: North Carolina House Votes To Override Governor's Veto On Magistrates Same-Sex Marriage Refusal Bill

The override passed by a mere three votes.

UPDATE: From the Campaign For Southern Equality.

"Senate Bill 2 is unconstitutional, and will undoubtedly be challenged in court. This bill, which will now become law, is discriminatory and treats gay and lesbian couples as second class citizens. We are more determined than ever to achieve full equality for LGBT people in North Carolina and to ensure that LGBT youth know that they are not alone,” says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality. "This law is nothing more than state sanctioned discrimination. It is a terribly misguided attempt to rewrite what equal protection under the law means. Equality and fairness are not principles that are decided on a case-by-case basis, dependent upon who happens to be working the counter on a particular day. Neither the United States Constitution nor the North Carolina Constitution permit any such thing. It is terribly unfortunate that this many elected officials don’t understand that,” says Jake Sussman of Charlotte-based Tin Fulton Walker & Owen and lead counsel in General Synod of the UCC v. Reisinger, the lawsuit that struck down Amendment One last October.

NORTH CAROLINA: Still No House Vote To Override Veto Of Marriage Refusal Bill

UPDATE: Just in from Brian Brown:

As you may have heard, last week the North Carolina Senate overrode Governor Pat McCrory's incredibly uninformed veto of critically important legislation to protect marriage and religious liberty. That was a great victory, but we are not done yet because now the House in North Carolina also needs to override McCrory's veto. Please click here to take action today to urge legislators to vote to override the veto of this legislation. Senate Bill 2 was originally passed with overwhelming support in both houses of the state legislature. It protects clerks, magistrates and registers of deeds who have deeply-held religious objections from personally having to participate in same-sex 'marriage' ceremonies. Without this legislation, government officials would be put in the terrible position of having to choose between keeping their job or being true to their religious convictions. Nobody should be forced to participate in a same-sex 'wedding' in violation of their deeply held beliefs. Please act immediately to defend marriage and uphold religious liberty by urging the North Carolina House to override Governor McCrory's veto of Senate Bill 2.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Clip recap:

A bill to allow North Carolina officials to refuse to serve any couple they don't like is several steps closer to passing, even after the governor vetoed it. Texas is coming up with new excuses for refusing to issue marriage licenses. And with a federal ruling on marriage due any day now, Judge Roy Moore continues to speak out against the Supreme Court.

NORTH CAROLINA: Vote On Magistrates Marriage Refusal Override Is Delayed

From the Campaign For Southern Equality: "The fact that Senate Bill 2 was not voted on by the House is a testament to the waning support for this discriminatory bill. North Carolina is better than SB2, and the only thing keeping this bill alive is cynical political maneuvering. People all across the state are speaking out against this bill, and we will continue to mobilize until it is defeated."

The last day of the legislative session is Friday.

RELATED: The Charlotte News & Observer today published an op-ed from a woman who was denied a marriage license 40 years ago because her fiance was black. An excerpt:

Thomas and I eventually did get married, and a court later ruled that those two magistrates violated the law when they refused to marry us, but the pain from that day – when government officials used their own religious beliefs to discriminate against us and keep Thomas and I from marrying each other – will never leave us. Whether gay or straight, black or white, Jew or Gentile, nobody has a right to tell anyone who they can love or marry. House representatives must finally stop Senate Bill 2 and sustain the governor’s veto so that no other couple in North Carolina ever has to go through what we did when they want to marry the person they love.

The couple remains "happily married" today.

NORTH CAROLINA: Senate Overrides Gov's Veto Of Magistrates Refusal Bill

Via the Associated Press:

The state Senate voted Monday night to cancel Gov. Pat McCrory's veto of a bill that would allow some North Carolina court officials to refuse to perform gay marriage activities because of religious objections. The 32-16 vote was above the three-fifths threshold necessary to override a veto. The bill still must clear the House again for the veto to be blocked and the law enacted. That vote was scheduled for Wednesday in the House, where the outcome is less certain because 10 lawmakers were absent last week when the bill first passed. The bill says the court officials who disclose a "sincerely held religious objection" must stop performing marriage duties for both gay and heterosexual couples for at least six months. The chief District Court judge or the county register of deeds - both elected officials - would fill in on marriages if needed.

Republicans dominate the North Carolina House by 74-45-1. The initial vote to approve the bill in that chamber was 65-44. The three-fifths override threshold is 72 votes.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Clip recap: "An NBC station in Tennessee is refusing to broadcast footage of a gay soldier who wants to get married. The governor of North Carolina vetoed a bill that would let state officials turn gay couples away from marriage counters -- but the bill's not dead yet. And Alabama is actually going through with a threat to stop issuing marriage licenses state-wide -- but that might not have the effect they want."

BREAKING: NC Gov. Pat McCrory To Veto Magistrates Marriage Refusal Bill

"I recognize that for many North Carolinians, including myself, opinions on same-sex marriage come from sincerely held religious beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, we are a nation and a state of laws. Whether it is the president, governor, mayor, a law enforcement officer, or magistrate, no public official who voluntarily swears to support and defend the Constitution and to discharge all duties of their office should be exempt from upholding that oath; therefore, I will veto Senate Bill 2." - North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, via press release. Now we wait for an override attempt.

NORTH CAROLINA: Magistrates Refusal Bill Passes House In 66-44 Vote

The Campaign For Southern Equality reacts:

"It is shameful that this bill has passed our legislature. It is nothing more than state sanctioned discrimination and a naked attempt to make a political statement without much care for how it hurts and demeans others. To be certain, if this bill becomes law, it will invite a new round of court challenges. Ultimately, like Amendment 1, this law will fail,” says Luke Largess of Charlotte-based Tin Fulton Walker & Owen and lead counsel in General Synod of the UCC v. Reisinger, the lawsuit that struck down Amendment One last October.

“This discriminatory bill treats gay and lesbian couples as second-class citizens and distorts the true meaning of religious freedom. We urge Governor McCrory to veto this discriminatory bill. We have the freedom to practice religion in our place of worship and to hold private beliefs. But as Americans, we’ve agreed that we will be governed by the principles of equality and fairness in our public and civic life. Senate Bill 2 is discriminatory and rooted in animus - it must not become law,” says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality.

Equality North Carolina is urging citizens to contact Gov. McCrory.

NORTH CAROLINA: Marriage Refusal Bill For Magistrates Nears Final Approval

Via the Associated Press:

North Carolina legislators neared final approval Wednesday on legislation allowing some North Carolina court officials to opt out of same-sex marriage duties based on "sincerely held religious" objections. The House, in a largely party-line vote of 65-45, gave its tentative support to let magistrates and some registers of deeds employees have the option, but they would have to stop performing all marriage duties — for gay and heterosexual couples. The Senate has already approved the bill, which came from Republicans after gay marriage was legalized in North Carolina last October. The measure now needs just one more House vote scheduled for Thursday before it goes to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's desk. He's expressed opposition to the religious exemption idea but hasn't said whether he would veto it.

Supporters of the bill claim that no gay couples would be turned away because other state employees will step in to issue licenses and officiate weddings. Democrats oppose any inconvenience to applicants. The final vote is today.

NORTH CAROLINA: House To Vote Today On Same-Sex Marriage Refusal Bill

Follow along at this hashtag.

NORTH CAROLINA: RFRA Is Dead

Via the Associated Press:

The leader of the North Carolina House says his chamber won't debate a "religious freedom" bill this year that supporters promoted as protecting religious liberties but others criticized as legalizing discrimination against gays and lesbians. House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters Thursday the proposal or anything similar to it won't move during this session, which is expected to end sometime this summer. Moore says the bill sponsors have good intentions but the issue has been politically mischaracterized based on reaction to a similar Indiana law.

From Equality North Carolina:

"Today, true North Carolina values of fairness and justice prevailed with the announcement that the state's so-called 'Religious Freedom Restoration Act" (or RFRA) would no longer be considered in the General Assembly's 2015-2016 session, said Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro. "This decision is a testament to the actions of thousands of North Carolinians--from business leaders to faith communities to a majority of North Carolina voters--who made their voices heard over the past several months through emails, letters, calls and in-person meetings and who pushed back on the notion that religion should ever be used to discriminate against North Carolinians."

Neo-Nazi Murderer Of Gay Boss: I Hate Gay People And I Have Killed Before

Via Talking Points Memo:

Neo-Nazi Kenneth Morgan Stancil III admitted in an interview on Wednesday to killing his gay boss at a North Carolina college and said he hated gay people "with a passion." During the interview with WRAL reporter Mikaya Thurmond from a Florida jail, Stancil, 20, accused his victim, Ron Lane, of being a child molester and said he felt no remorse for killing Lane and in fact had done "the world a favor." When asked whether he hated gay people, Stancil said: "Yes, I do -- with a passion." He said the fact that Lane was gay was one of the reasons he shot him but not the main reason. Stancil also claimed he'd killed three other people and said he was never caught because he knew the law and knew how to "evade it." Pressed on details, however, he gave vague responses to the reporter. The sheriff's department told WRAL there weren't any unsolved homicides that matched Stancil's descriptions, the Associated Press reported.

Stancil claims that he killed Lane because he'd made a sexual advance on a relative, a claim that was denied by Stancil's own mother, who added that he "needs mental help."

NORTH CAROLINA: AG Roy Cooper Says He Would Veto RFRA Bill If Governor

Via the Associated Press: 

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper says he rejects a proposal allowing public officials to cite religion for declining to serve same-sex couples. Cooper is preparing a run for governor in 2016 and spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press. He says if he was governor he’d veto two Republican legislative proposals related to same-sex marriage. One would allow magistrates and court officials to refuse to carry out civil same-sex marriages due to religious beliefs. Supporters say the other measure protects businesses from government interference, which is similar Indiana’s religious freedom law that sparked furor.

Cooper is a Democrat and is considered next year's front-runner.

NORTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers Seek To Place Billy Graham Statue In US Capitol

Yesterday we learned that California is seeking to place a statue of lesbian astronaut Sally Ride in the US Capitol Building. Ride's statue would replace the statue of 18th century Spanish missionary Junipero Serra, who is about to be canonized by Pope Francis. Now North Carolina lawmakers want to make a switch of their own.

A move is afoot to replace a statue of a racist former governor with one of evangelist Billy Graham in the U.S. Capitol building. General Assembly lawmakers have proposed replacing the statue of Charles Brantley Aycock with one of the Montreat-based preacher, according to joint Senate and House bills filed in the last two weeks in Raleigh. The change would mean North Carolina is represented by two Western North Carolina notables in the National Statuary Hall. The other leader honored is former governor and Buncombe County native Zebulon Vance. Aycock was seen by many as a champion of education and in 1960 Democrats gathering from around the state honored him by naming their annual Asheville gala after Aycock and Vance. But following recent attention drawn to Aycock's role in the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot, Democrats in 2011 changed the gala's name. Aycock was chief spokesman for the White Supremacy Campaign when the bloody riot resulted in the overthrow of the elected local government in the only documented coup d'etat in U.S. history.

Replacing a racist with a homophobe? North Carolina, you are so au courant.

TRAILER: The Runner-Up

Billboard reports:

The political baptism of Clay Aiken will be explored with the premiere of the new docu-series, The Runner-Up, premiering Tuesday night (April 7) on the Esquire Network. From the very first frame, the cameras follow him from his initial days stumping door to door to the nail-biting drama leading to the results of the primary election as the American Idol and Celebrity Apprentice alum campaigns for a North Carolina Congressional seat in 2014. What the cameras did capture was Aiken-a Democrat- unfiltered. He curses like a sailor, micro-manages his staff -- a key example is when he obsesses over the proper way signs are displayed for oncoming traffic -- and says some politically incorrect statements about his Democratic opposition, Keith Crisco, who attacked him in campaign advertisements stating he did not show up for meetings of a presidential committee for people with disabilities. He also takes selfies on the campaign trail with unsuspecting voters who did not even realize he was running for office, records robo-calls with his cell phone, and stews over how publicity for his campaign is being run. All of this -- and the nail biting drama of waiting for primary results -- is captured in four days worth of footage. And that’s just the first episode.

The Esquire Network used to be the Style Network. Find it on your local cable provider here.

NORTH CAROLINA: GOP Governor Blasts Pending RFRA Bill, "Makes No Sense"

Via the Charlotte Observer:

Republican Gov. Pat McCrory on Monday called a GOP proposal to redistribute sales tax revenues “class warfare” that would raise taxes on “millions of people in North Carolina.” And the governor said another Republican bill designed to protect religious freedom “makes no sense.” “What is the problem they’re trying to solve?” McCrory said during a radio interview. “I haven’t seen it at this point in time.” McCrory’s comments on WFAE’s Mike Collins Show again put him at odds with General Assembly Republicans. McCrory compared the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” whose sponsors include two Charlotte lawmakers, to the effort to allow transgendered persons to use the bathroom of their choice. Both are not needed, he said. McCrory also said he opposes a Senate-passed bill to give magistrates the right not to perform same-sex marriages if they say that violates their religious beliefs. “I don’t think you should have an exemption when you took an oath to uphold the constitution of North Carolina,” he said.

McCrory doesn't want to be another Mike Pence.

UPDATE: Equality North Carolina reacts.

Chris Sgro, exec. dir. of Equality NC, responded to the governor's comments by calling on North Carolinians to hold their electeds accountable and encourage more state leaders to vote against any and all legislation that would codify discrimination.

"It is heartening to see that our state's leaders are finally listening to the deafening calls from LGBT advocates, business leaders, faith communities, and North Carolina constituents, from Murphy to Manteo, all in opposition to this type of dangerous and discriminatory legislation." Sgro added, "These religious refusal bills are in no way similar to Charlotte's or any other state or local non-discrimination ordinance. Rather, RFRA essentially allows individuals to use their religious beliefs to harm others, paving the way for challenges to virtually any law designed to protect all of us from various forms of discrimination, in Charlotte and beyond.Therefore, Equality NC and our allies will do everything we can to make sure they never become law, from the committee rooms of our state legislature all the way to the governor's desk at the state capitol."

Equality NC is asking all North Carolinians to encourage their legislators to vote against this latest discriminatory RFRA legislation, as well as contact the governor to encourage him to stand by his comments, and veto any RFRA legislation that passes his desk. "Right now, we must not only protect the LGBT community but also North Carolina’s reputation as a place welcoming to all," said Sgro.