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goqnotes.com/to/news news IHB2 defense tops $1.2 million Court date delayed until SCOTUS decides similar case by Maria Dominguez :: qnotes contributor ^ CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The North Carolina legislature, dominated by Republicans since 2011, has spent a considerable sum legally defending Jts own laws. The Charlotte Observer reported recently that of $10.5 mil lion, $1.2 million has been spent defending HB2 in court. The GOP claims that this use of public funds is the fault of Attorney General Roy Cooper, who hold the lead in a contested election forthe gubernatorial race against incumbent Pat McCrory. Cooper's post as Attorney General obligates him to defend laws passed by the legislative majority. Although he spoke out against many of the controversial laws, he did defend them in court—except for HB2. Cooper spoke out against the law vehemently, and it may be the issue that wins him the governor's seat. "Roy Cooper's refusal to do the job he was elected to do is the main reason the legislature has been forced to hire outside counsel," Senate majority leader Phil Berger's spokeswoman told The Observer. Other sources disagree, citing an unusually large number of active cases. The North Carolina GOP's various laws have been hotly contested in court. "There was no option but to get some outside help," said Sen. Bob Rucho. "They didn't have enough attorneys to meet the challenge." Meanwhile, the federal court date to decide the fate of HB2 has been postponed until the summer of 2017. This decision, matje in October, was influenced by the Supreme Court's announcement that it would hear the case of Gavin Grimm. Grimm, a Virginian transgender high school student, sued for access to the boy's bathroom of his high school. The Supreme Court's decision may establish an important precedent according to National Center for Lesbian Rights legal director Shannon Minter. "[The decision] may ensure that transgender people are accepted and included as equal members of our society, or it may relegate them to outsiders for decades to come," Minter said. However, it isn't just the bathroom provisions that make HB2 contro versial. The law also limits non-discrimination protections and the ability to sue over discrimination at the state level. These less-publicized aspects of the bill may end up as collateral damage even if Cooper's election is secured and his administration prioritizes the HB2 repeal. "We do not have a legislature that will repeal the law," said Amy Bright ECU GLBT executive board member. "The really bad portions of the law that negatively impact everyone in the state, not just the LGBT com munity, are going to stand and that's the tragedy of the whole situation.":: Your marriage will be fine And other questions post-election by Connie J. Vetter, Esq. :: guest contributor LGBT people are understandably worried about what will happen when Donald Trump takes overthe presidency. One concern is about our marriages. I believe they will be fine and so do the national LGBT legal organiza tions. For example. Shannon Minter, a highly respected attorney with National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), said, "There is no realistic possibility that anyone's marriage will be invalidated. The law is very strong that if a marriage is valid when entered, it cannot be invalidated by any subsequent change in the law. So people who are already married should not be concerned that their mar riages can be taken away. To the contrary, it is important that they continue to live their lives as married couples. If you or anyone you know encounters any problem with your marriage being fully respected, contact NCLR or another LGBT legal group immediately. "For individuals who are not currently mar ried but who may wish to marry in the future, it is also highly unlikely that the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry will be chal lenged or that the Supreme Court would revisit its 2015 holding that same-sex couples have that fundamental right," said Minter. Even if our marriages are safe, there are still things LGBT couples should do now. If you are married and have children then the oon-biological or non-adoptive parent needs to Qet a confirmatory adoption for your children. This is because being on your children's birth certificate is a presumption of parentage but the only way to be a fully recognized legal par ent in North Carolina (and most other states) is to be biologically related to your children or to adopt them. In addition, even if you are married you need to do your Will and Health Care legal documents to protect yourself and your loved ones. You especially need to do these legal documents if you are partnered but not married. If you are partnered with someone who is not a U.S. citizen then consult an immigration attorney about marriage and immigration status for your particular situation. For people who are transgender, get your ID documents updated. That includes getting or updating your Federal documents such as your passport and social security record with your correct name and gender marker (surgery is not required for these Federal documents). Even if you don't plan to travel you can use your passport as identification and again, you don't have to have surgery to get the gender marker changed. Also, update state documents such as your birth certificate and driver's license with your correct name and gender marker (North Carolina law requires a doctor's letter say ing you've had sex reassignment surgery to change a gender marker). Finally, there are actions you can take now to help ensure your rights are respected. Donate to legal and activist organizations fighting for you. Volunteer with one or more of the organizations. Get involved in politics or support local, state, and national candidates who will fight for you. Educate others about your issues. Come out Stand strong with other vulnerable populations. If you have been dis criminated against, fight for your rights. Finally, remember that Hillary Clinton actually received more votes than Donald Trump (he won due to the Electoral College) so know that we LGBT people still have many who support and accept us. Below is a partial list of LGBTQ and advo cacy organizations: •ACLU: ACLU.org • Campaign for Southern Equality: SouthernEquality.org • Connie J. Vetter, Attorney aRaw: CJVLaw.com • Equality North Carolina: EqualityNC.org • Family Equality Council: FamilyEquality.org • Lambda Legal: LambdaLegal.org • National Center for Lesbian Rights: NCLRights.org • National Center for Transgender Equality: TransEquality.org •National LGBTQ Task Force: TheTaskForce.org • Southern Poverty Law Center: SPLCenter.org • Transgender Law Center: TransgenderLawCenter.org •Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund: TransgenderLegal.org —Attorney Connie J. Vetter bas over 22 years' experience in LGBT legal issues. She practices in the Charlotte, N.C, area and accepts clients from across North Carolina. She can be contacted at 704-333-4000 or CJVLaw.com. Ir we want your opinions and feedback Whether it's letters to the editor, web comments, general suggestions, comments or ideas, qnotes staff welcomes your input. See, without you we'd really have no reason to be here. So, we delight in hearing what our readers have to say. Be sure to send in your thoughts, praises, criticisms and more to editor@goqnotes.com for general feedback or letters@goqnotes.com for letters to the editor. Thank you! * Dec. 2-15,2016 Vol31 No 16 connect goqnotes.com twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas contributors this issue Amanda Brisson Cannavo, Maria Dominquez, Stan Kimer, Jack Kirven, Pamela Roshell, Gregg Shapiro, Jeff Taylor, Lawrence Toppman, Trinity, Dan Van Mourik, Connie J. Vetter Front page Graphic Design by Matt Comer. Photography/Illustration: Adobe Stock. Mission; the focus of ONotes is to serve the IBBT and straight ally communities of the'Charfotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainmerrt, news and views content in priot and online ttiat directly enlight ens, informs and engages the readers about LGBT life and social justice issues. Pride Publishing STypeserting, inc, dba QNotaa P.O. Box 221841, Cherlotte, NC 28222 ph 704.531.9988 fx 704.531.1361 Publisher Jim Varbrough Seles: x201 adsales®goinotes.com Nafl Sales: Rivendell Madia, ph 21Z242J863 * Managing Editor Jim Yarbrough, editor@goqnotes.com Assoc. Editor tainey Millen, specielassignments@goqnotes.com Social Media Editor Jell Taylor, tefl@goqnotes.com Production: Lainey Millen, x205 producfion@goqnotaa.com Printed on recycled paper. Material in gnofes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing S Typesetting ® 2016 and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent of the editor or publisher. Advertisers assume fuN responsibility — end therefore, all liability—for securing reprint permission for copyrighted text, photographs and iustrations or trademarks published in their ads. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers, cartoonists we pubNsh is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or photographs does not indicate the subject's sexual orientation, gnofesnor its publisher assumes liability for typographical error or omission, beyond offering to run a correction. Official editorial positions are expressed in , staff editorials and editorial notafions and are determined by editorial staff. The opinions of contributing writers and guest columnists do not necessarily represent the opinions of qnotes or its staff, gmwesaccepts unsolicited editorial, but cannot take responsibility for its return. Editor reserves the right to accept and reject material as well as edit for claritv, brevity. charlotte NEWSALLIAI^CE charlotteobserver.com/1166/ a local news partner of The Charlotte Observer Upcoming issues: 1Z16.16: LGBTQ Rights Advertising Space Deadline; Dec. 7 1Z30.16: Year in Review . Advertising Space Deadline: Dec. 21 Dec. 2-15. qnotes
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