Tony Kiss

tkiss@gannett.com

Brewers across North Carolina including some in the Asheville area are backing a collaboration brew against North Carolina's HB2 legislation which removed discrimination protection for gays, lesbians and transgender people.

Thirty breweries and beer-related businesses have joined the project to brew Don't Be Mean to People: A Golden Rule (Saison). Local supporters were listed as the Thirsty Monk pubs, Wedge Brewing, Innovation Brewing, Heinzelmannchen Brewing, New Belgium, Riverbend Malt House and Land of Sky Mobile Canning. An online fundraising campaign has already generated more than $9,400, way beyond its initial goal of $1,500.

Participating breweries will sell the beer, a farmhouse ale made with 100 percent North Carolina grain and North Carolina sorghum molasses. All the proceeds will go to Equality North Carolina, which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and QORDS which hosts summer camps for gay and lesbian youth or members of their families, with a focus on the South.

The HB2 law, passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory on March 23, has generated a groundswell of reaction in and outside of the state. The law struck down a Charlotte ordinance that would have prohibited discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment and public accommodations and keeps other local governments from passing similar rules.

In response, PayPal announced it would not build a planned expansion in the state. Last weekend, rock legend Bruce Springsteen pulled out of a concert in Greensboro citing HB2 as the reason.

"It seems like such an unnecessary law," said Wedge Brewing owner Tim Schaller. "It is not a friendly statement and not good for business in general. It was foolish and unnecessary."

The Thirsty Monk pubs "are not a particularly political" business, but "we feel that people's rights are of great importance," said vice president Chall Gray. "This law is not fair to everyone." The project "came together quickly," he said.

The project was headed by Erik Lars Myers of Hillsborough’s Mystery Brewing Company and Keil Jansen of Ponysaurus Brewing in Durham, where the beer will be made this weekend. "This is our home, where we're trying to establish roots and grow," said Myers in a statement. "We can't leave. We are left to deal with the consequences created by our General Assembly."

Riverbend Malt House donated the grain used in the beer, said co-owner Brian Simpson.; "We want to support the diversity that craft brewing brings to our area," he said.

New Belgium will support the beer with a donation of T-shirts and other items, spokeswoman Suzanne Hackett said. In a statement, the company said it was :"deeply disappointed" by the bill's passage and the company will "continue to work with like-minded partners in North Carolina" for inclusiveness.





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