As we all know, the most hateful anti-LGBT bill in the nation just passed in my home state of North Carolina. In the State Senate, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue led the other 10 Democrats out in protest, stating they would not be party to stripping people of their civil rights. Four other Senate Democrats were marked as “excused absent.” Three Republicans were also “excused absent” leaving the remaining 32 Republicans to all vote Aye, and pass the bill in the Senate...whereupon Governor Pat McCrory (R-Of Course) signed it. The bill became law within twelve hours of seeing the light of day. Whoever said government couldn’t work fast?

The story is a bit more interesting on the House side, where it passed first before going to the Senate. In that chamber, there were 11 marked as “excused absent” eight of them Democrats, three Republicans. I can’t speak for seven of those Democrats as to how they might have voted, but I am reasonably sure Gale Adcock, NC-41 (Wake) would not have supported HB2 as she was an ally of ours when RFRA came up last year. I remember her.

With Rep Grier Martin’s Amendment to add “sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status” as protected classes in the new bill defeated, and a few other minor Amendments passed, none of which changed the substance of the law, it passed 86-26. The Republican Speaker Pro Tem, Paul Stam (NC-37, Wake) actually questioned the need to include veteran status as a protected class!

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With the exception of those listed below, every Republican voted for the hateful legislation:

Rep Charles Jeter, NC-92 (Mecklenburg) (Charlotte)

Rep Chuck McGrady, NC-117 (Henderson) (western NC)

Rep. Brig. Gen. (Ret) Gary Pendleton, NC-49 (Wake) (Raleigh)

These three were “excused absent.”

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The following Democrats were also “excused absent:”

Rep Gale Adcock, NC-41 (Wake) (Raleigh)

Rep Becky Carney, NC-102 (Mecklenburg) (Charlotte)

Rep Beverly M. Earle, NC-101 (Mecklenburg) (Charlotte)

Rep Susan C. Fisher, NC-114 (Buncombe) (western NC)

Rep Paul Luebke, NC-30 (Durham) (Durham)

Rep Joe Sam Queen, NC-119 (Haywood, Jackson, Swain) (western NC)

Rep Evelyn Terry, NC-71 (Forsyth) (Winston-Salem)

Rep Ken Waddell, NC-46 (Bladen, Columbus, Robeson) (south-southwest of Fayetteville)

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As I mentioned above, I am reasonably sure Adcock would not have supported this hateful legislation. I cannot speak to the other seven, as I have no personal experience with them.

Now we come to the bad Democrats. If you live in North Carolina, and you have a Democratic Representative in the House, then your member voted against this hateful legislation..or was excused absent (see list above) — with the exception of the eleven Democrats who are now listed below, who supported this hateful legislation:

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Rep William D. Brisson, NC-22 (Bladen, Johnston, Sampson) (south of Raleigh, and east/south of Fayetteville)

Rep Elmer Floyd, NC-43 (Cumberland) (Fayetteville)

Rep Charles Graham, NC-47 (Robeson) (Southwest of Fayetteville)

Rep George Graham, NC-12 (Craven, Greene, Lenoir) (Southeast/South of Wilson)

Rep Ken Goodman, NC-66 (Hoke, Montgomery, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland) (east of Charlotte, west of Fayetteville)

Rep Howard J. Hunter III, NC-5 (Bertie, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank) (northeastern NC, NE of Rocky Mount)

Rep Larry M. Bell, NC-21 (Duplin, Sampson, Wayne) (south-southwest of Wilson, east of Fayetteville)

Rep Garland E. Pierce, NC-48 (Hoke, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland) (southwest of Fayetteville)

Rep Brad Salmon, NC-51 (Harnett, Lee) (southwest of Raleigh)

Rep William O. Richardson, NC-44 (Cumberland) (appointed 9/1/2015) (Fayetteville)

Rep Michael H. Wray, NC-27 (Halifax, Northampton) (Rocky Mount area)

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(I should mention here that my Representative is Chris Malone, NC-35 (Wake) (Wake Forest), and a Republican. And yes, he voted for this hateful piece of shit.)

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Also, just for reference, here is a roll call of the Senate vote...note the + signs...these are the Democrats who walked out in protest, led by Dan Blue.

www.ncleg.net/…

I hereby place a call to anyone in NC that lives in the Districts occupied by these bad Democrats: It is too late now to run for 2016. But in 2018 every last eleven of these Democrats must be Primaried!