Bringing The World Home To You

© 2024 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
120 Friday Center Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919.445.9150 | 800.962.9862
91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines 89.9 Chadbourn
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Pastors Praise HB2, Criticize Civil Rights Comparisons

Faith leaders voiced their support of House Bill 2. The clergy also denounces comparisons between Civil Rights struggles and LGBT equality efforts.
Jeff Tiberii
/
WUNC
Faith leaders joined in Raleigh to voice their support of House Bill 2 and denounces comparisons between Civil Rights struggles and LGBT equality efforts.

A group of clergy convened in front of the State Capitol Building to stand in solidarity and support House Bill 2 on Tuesday morning.

The group of about 40 pastors - both black and white from across the state - spoke for more than an hour in the foreground of a George Washington statue.

The religious leaders criticized the federal government for its denouncement of HB2, the controversial state law that prevents cities from expanding rights for gay and transgender people.

The religious leaders also condemned President Obama for comparing LGBT issues to the Jim Crow South.

"African-Americans are a legitimate minority, who have legitimate minority status - to my knowledge the LGBT community has not been given legitimate minority status," said Patrick Wooden, Pastor at the Upper Room Church of Christ in Raleigh.

Patrick Wooden, pastor at Upper Room Church of God in Christ
Credit Jeff Tiberii / WUNC
/
WUNC
Patrick Wooden, pastor at Upper Room Church of God in Christ

Supporters of HB2 say this debate is not about civil rights, but rather "special rights." Speaking before a crowd of about 75 people, some of the clergy contended that changing gender is a fallacy.

"HB2 is a threat to no one," Wooden said. "It does not violate Title IX, and it certainly doesn't violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It is good solid, common sense legislation that will protect everyone."

"Despite what the President says, despite what Loretta Lynch says, it's simply not like being black," he said.

However, the Obama administration has disagreed with that interpretation. They contend court rulings have established protections for the LGBT community.

Multiple lawsuits have been filed in the wake of the controversial state law. It has been two months since state lawmakers pushed through the bill.

Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
Related Stories
More Stories