United States Navy Takes Backhanded Swipe At Mississippi Discrimination Law In The Perfect Way

[BigBearJohn]

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has refused to travel to Mississippi next month for the commissioning of the United States Navy’s new vessel, the USS Portland. The commissioning, therefore, will be held in Oregon, much to the delight of many Portlanders.

Mayor Hales refuses to travel to Mississippi because of his opposition to that state’s anti-LGBT laws, which permit businesses, churches, and religious charities to discriminate and deny services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

Hales made himself very clear about his refusal. He will not allow a ship in his city’s name to be commissioned in a state that permits such blatant discrimination against the LGBT community. He stated:

‘These kinds of laws are wrong, they’re fundamentally wrong. They’re probably unconstitutional, but until they’re overturned in the courts or repealed by the legislature that wakes up the next day and says that was really a bad idea, we are not going to go there, literally.’

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/04/13/united-states-navy-takes-backhanded-swipe-at-mississippi-discrimination-law-in-the-perfect-way/

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Dear DU: The South is not really just like the West. It really is more conservative.

If Mississippi's alleged good Democrats were filling the streets to object to this law I would play that game for them but the Southern Democrats say nothing and all the push back comes from Oregon and New Jersey and Liverpool....

[Betty Karlson]

7. Claire can kiss my gay ass if these are the values she cherishes.

So can Debbie and the rest of Third Way. They didn't have my back - I won't have theirs.

[arely staircase]

13. Mississippi's Democrats are mostly AAs who have historically had

their asses kicked by the power structure in that state. Watch who you are dissing.

[Trailrider1951]

14. Amen to that ^^^

[rhett o rick]

20. I am sorry. If you had a point I guess I missed it. nm

[sarge43]

2. I can't wait for the stuff to hit the fan when service members are discriminated by these laws.

There's a butt load of military in these states; the troops use civilian facilities. The only thing that keeps some of the towns alive is the post/base/station.

Hand salute for Mayor Hales. May your number increase.

[PeoViejo]

4. Ship building contracts could go to other States

..that don't discriminate.

[JPK]

25. Unfortunately that may not be possible

There are so few shipyards anymore capable of building the kind of ships the Navy needs. Plus they are mostly in southern states.

[JayhawkSD]

9. We were paid once with $2 bills

This was sixty years ago and so may not be relevant to today's military, which is paid a great deal more money than it was in my day, and whose members probably mostly use credit cards.

The town where my Navy base was stationed was becoming increasingly hostile to the Navy as the base stationed more and more ships in the port. So someone came up with the idea of paying us for a while in $2 bills, which were not in general circulation at the time, and letting it be known that only military people were the ones spending money in the form of those $2 bills. Merchants soon had registers full of $2 bills, and suddenly became much more friendly to us sailor types.

[Mbrow]

11. sounds like Norfolk.

been there.

[left-of-center2012]

3. Feds should shut down bases in states that descriminate

Hit them in the wallet.

[JoeyT]

8. You want to see a blind panic?

Start moving federal contracts out of Ingalls and you'll see the official Mississippi State LGBT Pride Parade and Holiday with Alabama kicking in money for the decorations.

[Dustlawyer]

22. True Dat!!!

[2naSalit]

26. Hahahaha!!!

Sounds like incentive!

[malthaussen]

5. They could name her for Portland, Maine instead...

... I'm sure Mr LePage would be happy to endorse Mississippi's laws.

-- Mal

[Augiedog]

6. If the "old South" starts losing military bases due to these kind of laws you will see an abrupt

end to this kind of crap. Without military money the old confederacy is nothing more than a third world swamp of hate, anger and government dependency. They have never been pro America, just pro religious and that to them is sufficiently American without offering any further support to the nation. They keep hoping the South will rise again, but that is kinda like hoping yer toilet will back up and flood yer house.

[A Simple Game]

10. Oh Dear!

They keep hoping the South will rise again, but that is kinda like hoping yer toilet will back up and flood yer house.

You do have a way with analogies don't you.

My vote for analogy of the day.

[litlbilly]

12. Ditto:)

[47of74]

15. LOL

They keep hoping the South will rise again, but that is kinda like hoping yer toilet will back up and flood yer house.

Filing that one away for furture use!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

16. From Madison? Small world.

[2naSalit]

27. !!!

[Glorfindel]

17. Good for Mayor Hales. I live in Mississippi...it's the ultimate welfare state

If not for federal support, it couldn't pave its roads, run its schools, repair its bridges, etc., etc. A dose of harsh reality is overdue here. And there really are a few Democrats here.

[nolabear]

18. I grew up in the town where Ingalls Shipyard is. Many good Democrats there.

Just so's you know while you all are using that broad brush. Gays too. Navy, many people in from all over the country, everyday folks that are supposedly cherished as the 99%.

I agree with the anger and the boycotts but do it with some sadness for those who are suffering needlessly and a little less contempt, please.

[oldandhappy]

19. Wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Well done.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

21. Good for Mayor Hales.

Standing up to bigotry (and that's exactly what this is) is something we should all make time for.

[Ford_Prefect]

23. There are many southern Democrats who have fought against this insanity.

It was perpetrated and financed by the Kochs and those like them who believe in belittling the human spirit as the route to power.

[2naSalit]

28. Excellent point.

So many are not allowed to participate due to voter suppression and other inequalities, they cannot be blamed for what has been done in their stead without having a say about it.

[ladyVet]

29. Exactly, Ford. Many of us are aghast at this law, and we're out in the streets.

But, you wouldn't know it by watching corporate media, and people here should know that. It's the same old, same old.

Don't judge the South by the stupid, corporate-controlled leadership. We aren't a single block. There are many old, ignorant people here, it's true. But there are a lot more who are waking up to the injustices that are being forced upon us.

Rather than paint us with a broad brush, how about supporting us? Give us a voice, rather than shutting us down as being all the same. Racism and bigotry aren't the face of any single part of the country. There is evil in every single state, though it seems some forget it when it comes time to bash the South.

[mnhtnbb]

24. One of the best--and earliest--letters I saw in NC after HB 2 was from a sailor

who went to high school with my youngest son. Here's her letter:

An Open Letter to North Carolina’s General Assembly and Governor McCrory:

I write to you from Okinawa, Japan, where I am currently stationed as a member of the United States Navy. My wife and I are both active duty and have given up many things to serve our country. While I am stationed overseas, I am still a North Carolina resident and I have to say, I am appalled by what has been going on in our amazing state.

You see, I am completely astounded that while my wife and I are serving and protecting our country, our rights as American citizens are being taken away. When we return home, we can be refused jobs, housing, even entrance into establishments. People can post signs that say “No Gays Allowed” and we can be physically assaulted for being gay but it will not be prosecuted as a hate crime.

The way you did it only shows your true colors, giving the floor only five minutes to read it and shuffling it up the ranks in less than a day. It is as if you knew just how wrong it was. To use people’s ignorance and unfounded fear of “transgender people using their bathrooms” shows your cowardice. There was a time in our country when we segregated bathrooms and water fountains out of fear, let's not resort to that kind of ignorance and hatred again. More than anything, I just want to say, how dare you? How dare you take away my rights while I fight for yours?

North Carolinians will no longer stand for the injustices that this legislature continues to pass through the back door. We will not give up until every single one of you is out of office. Until then, you can expect endless protests that cause you nothing but trouble. Unfortunately, I cannot march to your office myself because I am busy fighting for the freedom you are trying so hard to remove. I promise you my friends and family will not let this stand. They will protest this injustice not only for themselves but for my fellow service members and me who cannot make it to your doorstep. I sincerely hope one day your hatred will subside and the gravity of your decision will weigh on your soul.

Until that day, we North Carolinians will not rest because we understand this fantastic country of ours was built on the idea of liberty and justice for all.

Sincerely,
Megan Joan Willingham

*The views expressed in this statement do not represent the DOD or Department of the Navy*

https://www.facebook.com/mjoan2?fref=ts

Eleven Representative Dems (all the Senate Dems walked out) voted for HB 2. One of them--who happens to represent
the area around Ft. Bragg--has walked back his vote and says he will work to repeal it when the Legislature reconvenes here for regular session later this month.

http://www.indyweek.com/news/archives/2016/04/11/rep-billy-richardson-democrat-who-voted-for-hb-2-i-made-the-wrong-vote