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You are here: Home / Civil Rights / LGBTQ Rights / Gay Rights are Human Rights / This’ll Hurt

This’ll Hurt

by | 160 Comments

This post is in: ,

First — thanks again to Anne Laurie and the whole crowd for all the kind thoughts thrown my way on my Guggenheim news.  I’ll post on the sweet/bittersweet backstory to that when I get back to the computer that has the photograph I need.  Here, I’ll just say that yup: it’s been a good week, and that there is no gift I value more right now than that of time.

Antonio_de_Pereda_y_Salgado_-_Allegory_-_WGA17166

That said, on to the fun stuff:  cheering the discomfiture of our foes (while regretting the collateral damage) — and hoping against hope that this kind of news will, in not-too-long-a-time, have the right effect.

What news, you ask?

This:

Bruce Springsteen on Friday canceled a scheduled North Carolina concert over the recent passage of a sweeping anti-LGBT law by the Republican legislature.

The Boss took no prisoners in explaining his decision:
To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them.

It does suck for NC Springsteen fans — many-t0-most of whom I’d bet loathe this law as much as Bruuuuuuuuce does.  But public and bitter consequences are the only way I see of driving the point home.  The legislative assault on civil rights led by Republicans all over the country is exactly the kind of crap up with which we will not put.

So, to celebrate Mr. Springsteen — and to give just a little salve to our North Carolina pro-E-Street-anti-bigotry cohort, here’s a little something from 1978:

 

Image:  Antonio de Pereda, Allegory, c. 1654

Reader Interactions

160Comments

  1. 1.

    Mike J

    Stevie Van ZandtVerified account @StevieVanZandt Stevie Van Zandt
    Proud to be in the E Street Band.

  4. 4.

    Gimlet

    May want to rethink that trip to New Orleans or the Gulf Coast.

    http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/08/new-orleans-public-defense-funding-crisis-criminal-justice

    A judge in New Orleans on Friday ordered that seven inmates charged with crimes ranging from murder to aggravated rape be released from jail because there isn’t adequate funding for their legal representation, the most drastic sign of a growing public defense crisis in the city and throughout Louisiana.

  7. 7.

    chopper

    i was a guggenheim fellow. in that i’m a fellow who once went to the guggenheim. same thing!

  8. 8.

    singfoom

    @Gimlet: I don’t get it, what was she IDed for, it’s not clear from the post. Even if it was under the new law, it was a single occupancy bathroom.

    You don’t have to supply your ID to officers for no reason. Sure, he probably would have gotten pissed off and arrested her for “resisting arrest” after she refused to comply. But dammit, that’s infuriating.

    What say you, BJ lawyer jackals? Are you required to provide identification to officers at their request for no reason? What’s the best best legally?

  14. 14.

    scav

    @schrodinger’s cat: Other kittahs went fully celebratory at even a half a feral rating. Always room for improvement.
    ETA: Where the wild things reign, being the desired destination, bien súr

  15. 15.

    Roger Moore

    @Gimlet:

    A judge in New Orleans on Friday ordered that seven inmates charged with crimes ranging from murder to aggravated rape be released from jail because there isn’t adequate funding for their legal representation, the most drastic sign of a growing public defense crisis in the city and throughout Louisiana.

    I’m not surprised by this. They can’t get a fair trial without representation, so if the state refuses to provide it the only constitutional thing to do is to let them go. If the state really wants to put them on trial, it needs to find money for their legal representation. Maybe they could prioritize by abandoning prosecution of some people accused of petty crimes so there’s more money for public defenders for those accused of more serious ones.

  19. 19.

    tastytone

    @Gimlet:
    Was just down there last week to visit a friend who, until last year, was a public defender in NOLA (absolutely one of the most difficult jobs I can imagine). The situation down there has been dire, and has only gotten worse since the extent of the Jindal admin’s cock-ups have come to light. Thank you for sharing this.

  21. 21.

    scav

    @geg6: Alas, I’m not sure the hard-line law and order crowd gives much of a shit about fair trials. Cost-effective thing in their eyes is probably to just let cops be cops and cut out the whole activist-judge middle-man phase and bust em straight to jail. cost-savings and profit! with a side of voter-suppression as a bonus.

  24. 24.

    Gimlet

    @scav:

    With draconian penalties, you can get them to plea bargain and save public defender as well as court costs.

  26. 26.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I’m a big fan of collective punishment. It forces the good ones to put pressure on the bad ones.

  27. 27.

    James Powell

    @debbie:

    I’m pretty sure Speaker John Boehner, Scott Walker, Rick Scott, Rick Snyder, John Kasich and a host of others have dramatically demonstrated how much can turn on one election.

  28. 28.

    moderateindy

    If you were going to post a Bruce tune about freedom, and human rights, the best option would be his cover of Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom”. One of Dylan’s more poetic set of lyrics, and Bruce really does it justice.
    https://youtu.be/WL87kBq9aiE
    ” Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
    Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
    An’ for each an’ ev’ry underdog soldier in the night
    An’ we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing”

  30. 30.

    Jay C

    Good for Bruce! The only thing I wish he’d done different would have been to give Greensboro more than just two days’ notice. Otherwise a fine gesture (and, I’m guessing, not without cost to himself/his band).

  33. 33.

    A Ghost To Most

    Good on The Boss. The main way to get the attention of Art Pope and his minions is to hit the economy of NC,while noisily telling them why.

  39. 39.

    AkaDad

    It was my lucky day to see Bruce take a point blank shot at those bigots in N. Carolina. He could have been a cautious man and take the easy money by performing there, instead he acted like a real man and basically said this is the price you pay when you take a wrecking ball to the Constitution.

    This has been a long time comin’ for places that cross the line, who want to live in the past instead of living in the future. I’m proud to be born in the USA.

  40. 40.

    Gimlet

    @Immanentize:

    From the way-back machine

    Sarah Palin’s son Track Palin has joined the army to avoid going to prison.Track Palin is not going to Iraq because he is patriotic but because he was arrested,for vandalizing the brakes of a school bus,in order to avoid jail he enlisted himself in the army.

  41. 41.

    Eric U.

    @cleek: I think this will really hurt North Carolina over the long term. I have often thought about moving there, but I’m questioning that now.

    @Immanentize: enlistment forms now ask if you are enlisting to avoid jail. I suppose they want to know, even if they decide to take you.

  42. 42.

    Prescott Cactus

    @efgoldman:

    It’s too bad that no super bowl was scheduled for Charlotte.

    NBA is scheduled to play All Star game there next year. Charles Barkley has been vocal about wanted it moved.

    E-Bay cancelled a 400 employee expansion there. Now Bruce.

    Sooner or later the Chamber of Commerce say, screw the religious right , we mean bussiness

  43. 43.

    Immanentize

    @Gimlet: And so it goes on and on. I did not know that little piece of Americana but it sure explains so much. Thank you.

  46. 46.

    singfoom

    @cleek: That poll doesn’t give me much faith in the humanity of those that live in North Carolina. 51% don’t approve of transgendered people using the bathroom they choose?
    and then 49% think that the law will make NC’s reputation worse?

    I guess it’s better than it could be. I just can’t understand the cognitive dissonance of the “conservatives” here that like small government, yet somehow support overturning local democratic decisions AND want the govt policing the bathroom.

    Considering it gives me a headache.

  47. 47.

    MattF

    @scav: The accused are all presumed to be innocent… so if the local authorities treat them as guilty, I’m guessing there’s the prospect for a lawsuit with significant damages… which would, then, attract high-powered lawyers, I guess. So, i supose the situation is sorta self-correcting…

  59. 59.

    RaflW

    N.C. Senator Burr: ““I don’t think there’s anything we’ve done that will deter people from moving to North Carolina, because this is a great place,” he said.

    People might still move there, but jobs for them? Not so much. Of course as a Republican he has to say this crap, the Christianist base won’t brook dissent (and he may even believe it). But it is on-its-face idiotic. Does he think PayPal is the only company that will think twice about his reprobate “great place”?

  60. 60.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @celticdragonchick: Fuck that shit. If I had the time and coin, I’d be heading to NC (where coincidentally I have a friend in Siler City who’d put me up) and protest this shit in person.
    That shit has got to fcking stop.

  63. 63.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    And Tom, mighty congratulations on your award. And I hope Tikka was suitably appreciative of the mention, however doubtful that might be.

  65. 65.

    RaflW

    @cleek: The economic consequences may not be enough in the short term. Apparently there are a lot of trans-panicking homophobes in N.C., per the poll:

    4. A new state law in North Carolina bans local governments from passing anti-discrimination rules, and overturns the Charlotte ordinance that would have allowed transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity. Was overturning the Charlotte ordinance a good idea or bad idea?

    51% Good Idea
    40% Bad Idea
    9% Not Sure

  66. 66.

    Mnemosyne

    @celticdragonchick:

    Oh, FFS. I want to know why the fuck those assholes were “policing” a single occupancy bathroom. What, they’re going to get cooties if the wrong gender’s ass touches the same toilet seat? How are they able to function at a private home where everyone’s ass touches the same seat?

    I’m sorry, but EVERY WOMAN IN THE US (at a minimum) has at some time used a single-occupancy bathroom marked as “Men.” Every. Single. One. Cis or trans. Every. One. Grow the fuck up, you whiny insecure assholes.

  67. 67.

    Iowa Old Lady

    Someone I know in NC says HB2 also contains some damaging elements about not being able to sue the state and minimum wage. Does anyone know more about that? Because I can see them repealing the LGBT stuff and leaving this.

  68. 68.

    Immanentize

    For those who have not see. It before:

    Ten Miles Square
    September 23, 2011 10:27 AM
    The Rules of the Justice Game
    By Harold Pollack
    FacebookTwitterDiggRedditStumbleUponDelicious

    Georgia killed Troy Davis by lethal injection earlier this week. He might have been innocent; he certainly should not have been executed. One thing seems clear to me regarding the Troy Davis case, the Cameron Todd Willingham case, and others: The fact that judges and others believe the defendant to be guilty allows them to overlook real problems with the way evidence is collected and cases are tried.

    Such botched death penalty cases and wrongful executions bring the American public face-to-face with unpleasant realities of our criminal justice system we would rather not confront—realities that render our legal system utterly unprepared to make the kinds of decisions one needs to make in ending a human life.

    Our federalist system gives local majorities great discretion—I believe too much discretion–to inflict injustices on genuine or merely alleged perpetrators of crime. For that very reason, it provides people with an opportunity to witness these injustices, and thus to learn from them and do better. I am convinced that public support for the death penalty will decline as increasing numbers of Americans perceive this reality.

    The injustices are most pronounced and intolerable in the relative handful of capital cases. Many of these injustices are obviously more common in non-capital cases. Eyewitnesses prove surprisingly fallible. There is the mistreatment (in multiple senses) of mentally-ill and intellectually-disabled people. Tragedies result from incompetent or grossly under-resourced legal counsel. There is the sorry spectacle of elected officials tolerating or upholding visibly unjust outcomes when this seems politically expedient to them.

    Perhaps most pernicious, there are the toxic consequences of he’s-probably-guilty-anyway jurisprudence, whose on-the-ground realities depart from (indeed sometimes invert) the version of due process our children learned in school. It’s hard to understand how an apparently innocent defendant might be railroaded unless you place yourself into the mindset of the police, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, and other human beings who cut some legal corners in the sincere belief that this defendant was probably guilty.

    Long ago, Alan Dershowitz noted this last reality in what he called thirteen rules of the justice game. Rule XIII is way too cynical for me. Yet rules I-XII have uncomfortable validity. With Professor Dershowitz’s permission, I’ve reproduced these rules below. The more one ponders the environment that gives rise to these rules, the easier it becomes to understand how tragedies emerge from the normal workings of our justice system.

    There is no silver lining to Troy Davis’s death. There is, however, one potential redemptive element. If his wrongful execution and others lead us to take a long hard look at the real operation of our criminal justice system, some good may come of it.

    Rules of the Justice Game

    I. Almost all criminal defendants are, in fact, guilty.

    II. All criminal defense lawyers, prosecutors and judges understand and believe rule I.

    III. It is easier to convict guilty defendants by violating the constitution than by complying with it, and in some cases it is impossible to convict guilty defendants without violating the constitution.

    IV. Almost all police lie about whether they violated the constitution in order to convict guilty defendants.

    V. All prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys are aware of rule IV.

    VI. Many prosecutors implicitly encourage police to lie about whether they violated the constitution in order to convict guilty defendants.

    VII. All judges are aware of rule VI.

    VIII. Most trial judges pretend to believe police officers who they know are lying

    IX. All appellate judges are aware of rule viii, yet many pretend to believe the trial judges who pretend to believe the police officers.

    X. Most judges disbelieve defendants about whether their constitutional rights have been violated, even if they are telling the truth.

    XI. Most judges and prosecutors would not knowingly convict a defendant who they believe to be innocent of the crime charged (or a closely related crime).

    XII. Rule XI does not apply to members of organized crime, drug dealers, career criminals, or potential informants.

    XIII. Nobody really wants justice

    I agree with — and have experience with — all but #13.

  69. 69.

    Prescott Cactus

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):
    Delayed a day:

    The good vibrations
    From Esto perpetua
    Made even lunch warmer

  71. 71.

    Mike E

    @debbie:

    North Carolina shows just how much can turn on a single election.

    A long time coming, actually… Gov Perdue did some good things in the last year before bowing out, but the calcified, schlerotic Dem party in NC was long finished when McCrory slipped into the void

  72. 72.

    J R in WV

    @MattF:

    On my equipment, your ‘nym looks a tad bigger than the font of the text of comments.

    I’m running Firefox V45 running on Ubuntu on an Acer Aspire E15 laptop. I bet it looks the same for most users. You didn’t tell us what system you’re using – which would be helpful to debug your problem…

  73. 73.

    Gimlet

    @singfoom:

    “Once again, a liberal Dane County judge is trying to legislate from the bench,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in a statement.

    Single judge, state constitution – the Wisconsin SC will overrule the judge and give the final win to Gov Scottie.

  74. 74.

    dogwood

    Good for Springsteen and any individual or business that follows suit. Do so wish some of these people had the same passion when it comes to states enacting voter suppression laws.

  75. 75.

    debbie

    @Mike E:

    A childhood friend has lived there for some time. His FB posts are full of disbelief at what’s gone on. How long ago was it that North Carolina was supposed to be a cool place to move to?

  76. 76.

    RaflW

    @Prescott Cactus:

    Sooner or later the Chamber of Commerce say, screw the religious right, we mean business

    The Chamber of Commerce movement has totally sold its soul to the GOP in hopes of tax cuts. They are useless in terms of social issues. Won’t touch them. Especially the National Chamber. It’s a complete horror show of funneling money & power to the GOP.

  77. 77.

    MattF

    @J R in WV: I’m using the current version of Safari on an iMac. But looking at my old comments, the nym font now looks like the right size– so maybe it was a caching issue of some kind.

    ETA: And now it’s small again. But the older comments are still the right size.

  78. 78.

    El Caganer

    @Gimlet: Jesus. Combine the state’s admission that people who are suspected of serious crimes are being released because they can’t be tried with Louisiana’s SYG law, and you’ve got the ingredients for Old West style vigilantism.

  79. 79.

    dr. luba

    @tinare: Me, too. The song was written by Steven Van Zandt, and Bruce appears prominently in it, along with an interesting mix of hip hop, jazz and rock musicians, Including Lou Reed, Miles, Davis, George Clinton and Hall and Oates.

  80. 80.

    Mike E

    @Iowa Old Lady: Baby this town rips the bones from your back
    It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap
    Heh, really…gotta love the TEAhadis penchant for self destruction! Courts will have a field day with this mess

  81. 81.

    moderateindy

    @Immanentize: Semantics. A song that one didn’t write can still be considered one’s own song. Is Heartbreak Hotel not an Elvis song? It was written by Hoyt Axton’s mother. Many tunes that are considered to be Dead tunes, by deadheads, are actually old traditionals, a fact that most heads know, yet they are considered Dead tunes none the less. In fact, almost none of their tunes lyrics are written by actual performing members of the band, so are they not actually Dead tunes either?
    Pick nits all you want, it is a tune that Bruce has performed passionately in the past, and as they say in the business has made it his own.

  82. 82.

    singfoom

    @Gimlet: Well, that might be. I don’t know the makeup of the Wisconsin SC, but based on your response I’m going to guess they’re conservative. Given the previous Union losses years and years ago in Wisconsin after Walker was first elected, you’re probably right.

    But who knows.

  89. 89.

    Mike E

    @debbie: Been here now most of my life, worked for environmental protection and now it’s all for naught… we’re waiting for the fever to run its course and pick up the pieces, tho this will take another 2 years at the least.

    Gorgeous state…birthplace of my favorite human (she’s related to me :)

  90. 90.

    Mike in NC

    @debbie: My wife’s cousin lives in Charlotte. West Point graduate, retired FBI agent, retired private investigator. Calls himself a lifelong Republican but expresses disbelief at how deranged the Tea Party crowd are.

  92. 92.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Prescott Cactus:

    Sooner or later the Chamber of Commerce say, screw the religious right , we mean bussiness

    The religious right is, at this moment, proving to the Chamber of Commerce that they can and will take their ball and go home if they don’t get their way. Trump is winning, and his wandering positions means he has no loyalty to traditional Republican economics and might do anything. They hate and fear him, and can do fuck all to stop him. Their best hope is Cruz, who was the ‘hold my nose and press the button’ candidate. Bluntly, the 1% have 1% of the vote. There ain’t no Republican Party without the bigots and fundamentalists.

  94. 94.

    Emma

    Congratulations, Tom. I did want to tell you I’ve just started The Hunt for Vulcan. Twice –TWICE — I’ve stayed up until 3 am to keep reading. Fantastic tale, beautifully told.

  95. 95.

    RaflW

    @Iowa Old Lady: The old Vikings stadium was one of the worst for bathrooms. Lines for women could be 40 or 50 long. The men’s rooms were disgusting. Huge room with open trough urinals, and maybe 3 stalls per bathroom, in one corner, for taking a crap.
    And yet, women would just march in and take the stalls. I can’t blame them, but they be some women of strong constitution. I think they’d deck a dude trying to police the lavs.
    All that is in the past, by law the shiny (and ugly!) new US Bank palace of head injuries will have 3:2 W:M potty facilities in place.

  100. 100.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @efgoldman:
    Can that get appealed to a higher court? Because the federal courts are mostly conservative-but-not-insane, and the Supreme Court will leave whatever’s decided there standing. I don’t know if that’s possible for state level constitution questions.

  101. 101.

    RaflW

    @debbie: My partner and I visited Asheville two summers ago and thought it was lovely. Not that we wanted to relocate, but we could see the charms of that place.
    But I used to live in Austin, TX. And friends still do. It can be very strange living in an oasis city in a f’kd up state.

  102. 102.

    scav

    @srv: Well, Kentucky is just concentrating on extending and strenghtening its greatest pre-existing natural resource: Ignorance.

  104. 104.

    RaflW

    @singfoom: The WI Supreme Court had been OK until recently, but Walker installed a total r.w. hack, and she just got elected to a 10 year term. The state is going down the toilet, but fast.

    And how f’kd up that WI elects its Supreme Court justices at the primary election date. I’m sure that had to have been a GOP voter-advantage decision, rammed thru their r.w. legislature.

    I just marvel at our neighbor state (where my partner has close family, who are livid and frustrated and badly outnumbered, it seems).

  105. 105.

    Djchefron

    You really want to drive the point home? All basketball players being recruited by the Universities N.C should not accept any scholarship offers. The players wont be hurt because if they are being recruited they have multiple offers to attend any school in the nation. That goes for the football programs for any state that passes hate laws. Then we will see the true religion of these states

  106. 106.

    WaterGirl

    @J R in WV: I sent alain an email earlier today with a copy & paste of two adjacent comments with different size nyms. My nym was one of them. I don’t know if he’s looked into it yet.

  107. 107.

    eemom

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    SCOTUS will not review questions of state law. A state supreme court decision as to a federal constitutional issue can certainly be appealed to them, though. I don’t know anything about the specifics of this case.

  110. 110.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Mnemosyne: Helzbelz–my mother (RIP) something over 50 years ago made use if a much-more-than-single-occupancy men’s room under the U.S. House of Representatives chamber. We were in DC touristing with fambly, she had to go & we couldn’t find the ladies’ room, so I & one of my cousins went in, established that it was empty (slow time on the House floor), & stood guard at the door until she emerged. Dogonlynose if that loo even exists anymore…

    (Not that it pertains all that much, but you reminded me of the story…:D)

  112. 112.

    bmoak

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    It’s pretty filthy. The bill blocks any local government from enacting any anti-discrimination law or policy that is more expansive than state law. Just for good measure, the bill throws in the same restrictions for minimum wage, workplace safety, and so on.

  115. 115.

    debbie

    @Mike E:
    @Mike in NC:

    My friend has a photography business and also does stuff with solar (which I guess will be tanking now). The pictures he takes on his many hikes shows North Carolina to be a very beautiful place.

    We need a united national boycott against these states and against the businesses practicing discrimination.

  116. 116.

    debbie

    @bmoak:

    So, the federal government can’t be the boss of the states, but the states can be the boss of the cities? That’s not fair; who made these rules?

  117. 117.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    Yup, here too. I’ve been both a blockader and a blockadee* in my time.

    *(By which I mean I was the beneficiary of the blockade, not the person blockaded from using the men’s room.)

  118. 118.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @srv:

    “I would be looking for degrees that would land a job,” Hampton said. “I would not be studying history.”

    So much fail. FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL.

  120. 120.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @rikyrah:
    The bill is a whole conservative dream list, beyond TG issues or letting businesses screw their employees. For example, while it doesn’t make racial discrimination legal, it does say that you can’t sue if you’re racially descriminated against in any way!

  121. 121.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @WaterGirl:

    No worries. I was going to delete my post once I saw that Singfoom had answered you directly, but didn’t get there in time to edit.

  122. 122.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Immanentize: Cameron Todd Wilingham’s case still give me nightmares. And the piece that makes me most homicidal about it is how much effort the government of Texas took to be sure the evidentiary problems were not properly reviewed. Like by legitimate scientists. ::stifles a scream so as not to upset the dog::

  125. 125.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Frankensteinbeck: What do you mean by you can’t sue if you’re racially discriminated against in any way? That would go against Supreme Court and federal law which prohibit discrimination based on race (sex, national origin, religion, disability, etc.).

  127. 127.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    a luncheon honoring women veteran’s.

    one of the wildest apostrophes ever sighted in the wild.

  128. 128.

    Roger Moore

    @srv:

    Hampton pointed to her experiences as a student, adding that she worked while in college and paid her own way.

    Yeah, back when state universities were subsidized much more heavily. It’s a completely ridiculous comparison.

  130. 130.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @debbie: I did, and as I said: nightmares. My recollection is that the article also recounted the extraordinary measures Texas took to ensure that his ridiculous view was not adequately challenged at review.

    Fury was, and remains, my reaction. Along with horror and sorrow. And shame, for having practiced. (Not in TX)

  131. 131.

    Corner Stone

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    Remember the unisex bathroom Ally McBeal? How long ago was that? We seem to be moving backward.

    I never understood why anyone thought that was a desirable thing.

  132. 132.

    Iowa Old Lady

    @Corner Stone: I don’t know that I ever thought it was exactly desirable, though in public places it would introduce some parity for waiting in lines. It did seem sort of adult to me, a sign that people don’t need to be weird about bodily functions (see Trump, DJ, saying it was “disgusting” that HRC used the bathroom).

    I’ve seen unisex bathrooms in Europe with no urinals and stall doors that go right to the floor.

  135. 135.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Corner Stone: Better demand balancing; less awkwardness for parents of young children, caregivers and assistants of the opposite sex; and it completely solves the problem of accommodating people with unconventional gender identities.

  136. 136.

    Roger Moore

    @debbie:

    So, the federal government can’t be the boss of the states, but the states can be the boss of the cities?

    Pretty much. The basic idea at the time the Constitution was adopted was that the states were the basic entities of government. The federal government was created by the states and had only the powers that the states chose to grant it in the Constitution, though those powers are quite substantial. Meanwhile, the local governments are also created by the states. Cities have to incorporate under state law before they can set up city governments, and that gives the state power to control what city governments can do.

  137. 137.

    amygdala

    Today a Guggenheim, tomorrow a MacArthur! Congratulations. In addition to being a fan of your writing, I have long admired the program you run at MIT. Science communication is essential for improving the sad state of science education in the US.

    Since my first Springsteen shows were during the original release of The River, this tour resonated much for me. When I saw the tweet about the canceled show, I wondered if it had to do with the law and came across his statement. Like the lyrics of The Promised Land (and his aforementioned recording of Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom), it brought me to tears.

    I’ve done my best to live the right way
    I get up every morning and go to work each day
    But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
    Sometimes I feel so weak I just want to explode
    Explode and tear this whole town apart
    Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
    Find somebody itching for something to start

    The dogs on Main Street howl
    ‘Cause they understand
    If I could take one moment into my hands
    Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
    And I believe in a promised land

    There’s a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
    I packed my bags and I’m heading straight into the storm
    Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
    That ain’t got the faith to stand its ground
    Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
    Blow away the dreams that break your heart
    Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

  138. 138.

    Chip Daniels

    @Roger Moore:
    Well, yes, EXCEPT for the county sheriff, who as the Bundy gang pointed out, trumps everybody, including the President.

    Unless the President is wearing a lapel pin with gold fringe, or something, dunno I didn’t really get that far.

  142. 142.

    Carolina Dave

    Congrats Tom! As a life long resident of NC, I continually amazed and horrified by the actions of the not so recently elected state government. The economic fallout from the latest “dirty bomb” set off by the legislature and signed by the governor in a 9 hour obscenity of a session will largely fall on the progressive NC cities like Charlotte, which passed the original non-discrimination bill and Greensboro, which loses an appearance by the Boss and perhaps the NCAAs next year.
    Sadly, the response I’ve seen from local Republican friends is to dig in their heels (not Heels), cancel their PayPal accounts and double down. Since most of the state legislators don’t represent progressive cities, I’ll be surprised if there is any change in the law. These folks aren’t ashamed of their actions and won’t feel the economic backlash. Worse, they are determined to show “backbone” and not allow outside “liberals” to influence their actions.
    North Carolina is indeed a beautiful state filled with wonderful people. Some of whom are Republicans who rally around a tribal identity based in no small part on ignorance and fear. I hope they will be swayed by the national backlash. My fear is that they won’t and the image and reality of my great state will decline until the elections after the next census can redistrict an unassailable gerrymandered electoral advantage for the Republicans in North Carolina.
    Until then, I ask for some small compassion from the Balloon Juice community during this occupation. I salute Bruce for taking this stand. Locals in Greensboro asked why can’t he just make a statement at the show? Republicans scoff that ticket sales were low. As if 15,000 tickets already sold is low.The only way to make a national and very public statement was for Bruce to put his money where his mouth is and speak out and cancel the show. From the artist who asked Ronald Reagan to quit using “Born in the USA” in his 1984 campaign, I applaud his consistency and ethics. While decrying the lost opportunity of his concert. Come back soon, Bruce!

  144. 144.

    shomi

    Oh yea,

    Bruce Sprinsteen cancelling a concert is so so much more effective then…you know….voting. That is the 1 and ONLY reason for this. NOTHING ELSE!

    People are too apathetic….ESPECIALLY ON THE LEFT……to get up off their asses and vote!

  146. 146.

    Mike J

    @RaflW: T

    he WI Supreme Court had been OK until recently, but Walker installed a total r.w. hack, and she just got elected to a 10 year term.

    If the Dems who voted in the primary had voted in downticket races, she wouldn’t have won. It’s the result of a one man revolution.

  148. 148.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @Patricia Kayden:

    What do you mean by you can’t sue if you’re racially discriminated against in any way? That would go against Supreme Court and federal law which prohibit discrimination based on race (sex, national origin, religion, disability, etc.).

    You can’t sue in state court. Federal court has a lot more procedural hoops to jump through. A big one: you can’t file the suit until the EEOC investigation has been completed.

  149. 149.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    My bosses Granddaughter has just been cast in a movie set to film in NC, and he is planning on going to Merlefest at the end of April. This bullshit is pissing him off, not only could the filming of his granddaughter’s movie be cancelled but it could mean that half of the artists set to appear at Merlefest might not show up.

  151. 151.

    Xboxershorts

    I’m waiting for corporate folks to start doing this for the steady erosion of voting rights (which are civil rights) and for labor organizing rights (which are also civil rights).

    I’m pulling for our LGBT neighbors, but we got a hella lot more work to do.

  155. 155.

    Wag

    Best pair of she’s I ever saw were Bruce at Red Ricks at the tail end of The River tour in the summer of ’81. First night ( third row) he opened the show is a driving rain storm with Who’ll Stop the Rain. Middle of the second song (Prove it All Night) Bruce was out from under the roof in the tai with us playing his guitar with a solo that should never have ended. By the third song Miami Steve, Clarence and Gary were all out in the rain as well. A few songs later the rain stopped and a full
    Moon was rising behind the stage. Bruce and the Band played for 4 hours that night.

    The next night was almost as good, but without the rain couldn’t match it.

  158. 158.

    PaulWartenberg2016

    My take on the Boss’ boycott of the haters:

    http://noticeatrend.blogspot.com/2016/04/bruce-springsteen-defends-tunnel-of-love.html

    It’s insane and insulting that most of the twitterverse angry at the boycott are accusing Springsteen of wanting “little girls to share bathrooms with scary/ugly men”. Seriously, I’m asking this to any of the statistics people here, anyone with the crime numbers on hand, HAS THERE been a wave of attacks in bathrooms committed by transgender or cross-dressing people? I honestly cannot recall a single case being in the news, being on the Internet. You would think an incident like that would show up in FARK or NewsMax or Snopes on a regular basis. It’s just the grossest form of fearmongering I’ve yet seen out of the Hater factions of the Far Right.

  160. 160.

    Brendan in Charlotte

    @singfoom: You have to remember – this is part of the Bible belt. And, despite the large metropolitan areas like Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, and the research Triangle, this state is filled with “salt of the earth” folks…you know, morons.

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