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U.S. NEWSThursday 31 March 2016
American Living:
Two GOP governors, two different calculations on LGBT rights
BILL BARROW Gov. Pat McCrory speaks on the campus of High Point University, in N.C. North Carolina Gov. Mc- tary on same-sex marriage
Associated Press Crory signed a new law limiting LGBT protections in his state by overriding local anti-discrimination and LGBT rights.
ATLANTA (AP) — Two Re- laws. He faces voters this fall in a re-election effort against the state’s Democratic attorney gen- “If indeed our religious liber-
publican governors. Two eral. ty is conferred by God and
proposals at the heart of not by man-made govern-
LGBT rights. One rejection. (Laura Greene/The Enterprise via AP) ment, we should heed the
One new law. ‘hands-off’ admonition of
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal the U.S. Supreme Court le- “There was no escape tainly won’t face Georgia the First Amendment to our
said he has prevented dis- galized same-sex marriage hatch,” former Deal aide voters again; McCrory is 59, Constitution,” he said.
crimination and protected last year. Brian Robinson said. “He and suddenly has a wedge The veto disappointed
the economy by vetoing a The conflict is particularly was getting torn between issue smoldering in his lap some religious conserva-
measure that would have fierce in statehouses like two factions ... both of in the midst of a tough re- tives and enraged others;
allowed certain individu- those in Atlanta and Ra- which have supported him election campaign. all promised to keep trying.
als, businesses and faith leigh, where the GOP’s strongly for years.” Deal’s situation left him free But Deal stood his ground,
organizations to deny ser- overwhelming majorities Raw political calculations to wax eloquent about alluding to his own lifelong
vices to others based on give both sides of the fault also apply: Deal is 74, un- constitutional freedoms in Southern Baptist affiliation.
“sincerely held religious line expectations of real able to seek a third consec- his veto message, largely “I do not think we have to
beliefs.” power. utive term and almost cer- avoiding explicit commen- discriminate against any-
In North Carolina, Gov. one,” he said, “to protect
Pat McCrory said he has the faith-based commu-
protected his citizens’ pri- nity.”
vacy and used “common McCrory is in a more dif-
sense” by signing into law ficult spot, trying to frame
a bill that, among other the new North Carolina law
things, prohibits local anti- in his favor while his Demo-
discrimination ordinances cratic general election
and obligates transgender opponent, state Attorney
people to use restrooms General Roy Cooper, does
matching the gender on the same. Both rivals must
their birth certificates. placate their party bases
Their moves highlight a — gay-rights supporting
familiar GOP fault line be- liberals for Cooper, social
tween business conserva- conservatives for McCrory
tives, led by large corpora- — while appealing to the
tions that have embraced independents who hold
LGBT rights, and social sway in the closely divided
conservatives, who have state.
sought more of their own The law was the product
legal protections since of a special session Repub-
licans called to override a
New abortion drug label could undo several state laws city of Charlotte ordinance
allowing transgender indi-
SEAN MURPHY of the drug Mifeprex in a label” uses of the drug be taken by a woman at viduals to use bathrooms
letter on Tuesday that the and mandated abortion home and not be required matching their gender
Associated Press drug is safe and effective for providers adhere to the to be administered at a identity. McCrory and
terminating a pregnancy older protocol approved in clinic. his aides focus on provi-
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A in accordance with the 2000. Similar laws in Arizona, “The FDA’s approval of sions requiring people
new label. Also known as Arkansas and Oklahoma a label reflecting a more to use multi-stall bathrooms
federal agency approved mifepristone, the drug is have been on hold updated, evidence-based of the sex matching their
used in combination with pending legal challenges. protocol for medication birth certificates at state
a new label for a common another drug, misoprostol, Under the new label, a abortion has the potential agencies, schools and uni-
to end a pregnancy. smaller dose of mifepristone to expand women’s versities.
abortion-inducing drug While abortion providers can be used up to 70 days options for safely ending a Chris LaCivita, McCrory’s
in most states already are after the beginning of pregnancy in the earliest chief campaign strategist,
that will undermine using the protocol outlined the last menstrual period weeks,” said Nancy said it’s a simple question:
in the new label, laws in instead of the 49-day limit in Northup, the president “Can a male use a female
restrictions on medication effect in Ohio, North Dakota effect under the old label. and CEO of the Center for bathroom and a female
and Texas prohibited “off- Also, the second drug can Reproductive Rights. locker room?
abortions passed by several
states, allowing women
to take the drug later in a
pregnancy and with fewer
required office visits.
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
notified the manufacturer
