You may have noticed the sudden proliferation of anti-LGBT legislation in recent months, with many of the most highly publicized happening in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The one in North Carolina, which was signed by Governor Pat McCrory, has already cost that state millions of dollars in business and investment.
But the larger question is this: Why did these piece of legislation suddenly become so prevalent? Who is responsible? Would you believe it’s the same group that gladly supported and defended our favorite homophobic court clerk, Kim Davis? It is indeed.
An investigation by CBS News has found that the ultra conservative group Liberty Counsel placed their attorneys in all 50 states to draft legislation and then advise lawmakers how they could best violate the civil rights of LGBT people as a way of attempting to legally circumvent the Supreme Court ruling which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.
When contacted, Mat Staver, who was Kim Davis’ pro bono attorney as she violated one court order after another, commented:
“Well I certainly want to push back against that [same-sex marriage] ruling. It was a wrong ruling. It has no basis in the constitution.
“The Supreme Court in the 5-4 opinion on marriage in 2015 lit the house on fire. All we’re trying to do is control the fire at this point in time.”
Speaking of fire, Counselor, have you checked your pants lately? Staver even had the nerve to say the anti-LGBT legislation was “about being free to pursue your faith,” and that Liberty Counsel has absolutely “no interest in discriminating against anyone.”
While he was at it, Staver also declared that businesses saying they will leave states which pass such legislation are not serious when they issue such statements:
“They’re not gonna follow through. It’s a bluff. They’re not leaving.”
If it’s a bluff, then why did PayPal cancel a planned expansion in North Carolina which cost the state 500 new jobs? Just a bluff, huh? That’s one hell of a bluff.
Featured Image Via Fox News Screengrab
