RALEIGH – The North Carolina House approved House Bill 808 on Wednesday, a measure that bans gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people under the age of 18. The measure passed in a 74-44 veto-proof vote, with all Republicans in support and two Democrats — Reps. Garland Pierce y and Michael Wray.

The bill, originally filed as an outright ban on all gender-affirming care (including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgery), was substituted in committee yesterday for a ban limited to surgical procedures. The bill follows a dangerous national trend of banning gender affirming health care for transgender youth, defying best practices and recommendations of medical experts.

On the House floor today, an amendment was adopted that prohibits state funding for all transgender-related health procedures for people under 18 – although the language of the bill does not define the term “procedure.” This bill has implications for trans young people whose families are insured by Medicaid or through the NC state employee healthcare plan.

This amendment was passed despite a June 2022 federal court ruling in Kadel v. Folwell finding that North Carolina’s state health plan’s categorical exclusion of transgender-related healthcare is unlawful. The lawsuit was brought by Lambda Legal and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Having made the crossover deadline, the bill now advances to the State Senate. Several other bills targeting LGBTQ+ youth, and specifically transgender young people, have also cleared the crossover deadline and will continue being considered this session.

Allison Scott, Director of Impact & Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, released a statement saying:

“Let me be as clear as possible: this bill is wrong, it is cruel and it is unconstitutional. We will fight this bill with every tool and resource we have. Transgender youth deserve support, love, and access to life-affirming medical care. Medical decisions are private matters for families and trusted doctors – not for politicians who are intruding on our private lives to score political points. To transgender youth reading the news of this political attack, please know that you are loved, you are supported, and an entire community is here to help you access the care and support you need to thrive.”

“Gender-affirming care bans and abortion bans cut off people’ s access to essential healthcare and endanger lives,” Kendra R. Johnson, Executive Director of Equality North Carolina said. “Lawmakers are circumventing democratic processes to fast-track these bans, ignoring the bold opposition expressed by the public and the medical community. Politicians need to stay out of private healthcare decisions and stop trying to enact control over other people’s bodies.”

Earlier this week 630+ medical providers across the state submitted an open letter condemning legislation like HB808 and opposing government overreach in healthcare. They wrote: “As North Carolina health care professionals deeply committed to protecting our patients and preserving the trusting and informed relationship between patient and provider, we adamantly oppose any bans or restrictions on access to and provision of life-saving, gender-affirming care.”

RALEIGH – A proposed bill introduced in North Carolina’s House of Representatives Tuesday would criminalise drag shows that in some cases would be making performances a felony.

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate KRAL reported that House Bill 673 would lump at least some drag performances — what the bill calls “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest” — in with strippers and other adult entertainers in state law.

In addition to the proposed drag show ban, KRAL reported that Republican lawmakers in the legislature have been advancing a number of other bills that critics on the left criticize as anti-LGBTQ, like banning doctors from offering certain types of treatment to transgender children.

Also on Tuesday, a state Senate committee advanced a bill to ban transgender girls from playing girls sports in middle and high school. A GOP sponsor of the bill, Iredell County Sen. Vickie Sawyer, said there are 15 such cases that they’ve heard about statewide. “We made 15 wrong decisions,” she said.

The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce is holding an emergency meeting on Saturday morning, April 22, telling its membership:

“Our community is under attack, and we must stand united against the slate of hate that has been proposed in the North Carolina General Assembly. We will be gathering together to discuss what’s going on and what we can do about it! In this difficult time, we must protect our people and be in the community. Trans youth, especially Black and Brown trans youth, are facing an onslaught of possible laws targeted at banning their rights to education, sports, and healthcare in North Carolina. Join us this Saturday, April 22nd, at 10:30 am, with brunch and mimosas to get involved now!– *This is a non-partisan event*”

Conservatives nationwide have recently galvanized around criticism of drag shows, with armed militia groups sometimes showing up to performances. Drag brunches are popular at some restaurants. https://t.co/XgoUsUHSmU

— WCNC Charlotte (@wcnc) April 18, 2023

SOUTHERN PINES, Nc. – Law enforcement agencies are investigating a wide-spread power outage after intentional vandalism via gunfire was inflicted on the electrical infrastructure network in Moore County located 40 miles Northwest of Fayetteville Saturday night.

Moore County Sheriff’s deputies questioned a local woman after she posted on social media that she was aware of why the power was out blaming the outages on a drag show that was being held, which had already caused stirred up considerable controversy in Southern Pines.

Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields told media outlets that Duke Energy and other utility companies found evidence of intentional vandalism that had occurred at multiple sites. Fields added that the outages, which began just after 7 p.m. forced 45,000 people to endure freezing temperatures overnight.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tweeted that he was aware of the outage and the ongoing investigation:

I have spoken with Duke Energy and state law enforcement officials about the power outages in Moore County. They are investigating and working to return electricity to those impacted. The state is providing support as needed. – RC

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) December 4, 2022

Former U.S. Army Captain Emily Grace Rainey, a far right anti-LGBTQ+ conservative activist had publicly attacked a local theatre that was hosting a drag show posted to her social media accounts:

“The power is out in Moore County and I know why.” She also posted a picture of the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines, which was putting on the sold-out drag show, with the caption “God will not be mocked.”

Rainey had previously posted her stance on the drag show. Last month the theatre was also targeted by the anti-LGBTQ+ Twitter account Libs of TikTok.

Rainey, 30, also posted on Facebook that she was visited by Moore County Sheriff’s investigators: “I welcomed them to my home. Sorry they wasted their time.”

Rainey has an established history of far-right activism including anti-COVID pandemic restrictions and vaccinations activity, had resigned her Army officer’s commission after receiving a career-ending letter of reprimand from command staff at nearby Fort Bragg for her far-right activism, including leading service members to Washington D.C. and attending the Capitol insurrection rally.

According to a CBS News report days after the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, Rainey, was reported to be assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg, according to Maj. Daniel Lessard, a spokesman for 1st Special Forces Command.

Known as PSYOPS, the group uses information and misinformation to shape the emotions, decision-making and actions of American adversaries.

She had led 100 members of Moore County Citizens for Freedom, which describes itself online as a nonpartisan network promoting conservative family values, from North Carolina to Washington to “stand against election fraud” and support Trump.  She claimed that that at no time did she or any members of her group illegally enter the Capitol grounds or building.

Previous to the Capitol insurrection according to CBS News correspondent David Martin, Rainey made headlines back in May of 2020 after she posted a video online of her pulling down caution tape at a playground that was closed under North Carolina’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Police investigators had charged her with injury to personal property over the incident. Detectives told WRAL- NBC News Channel 5 in Raleigh at the time that they let her off with warnings twice before after she tore down the tape closing off the playground before finally arresting her.

In the current power grid vandalism attacks, Rainey has not been named a suspect nor a person of interest and was only questioned about her social media posts by law enforcement.

Sheriff Fields, at a Sunday afternoon press conference called the perpetrators “cowards,” announced a Sunday curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The curfew is part of a countywide state of emergency proclamation, effective 4 p.m. Sunday. “No group has stepped up to acknowledge or accept that they’re the ones who’ve done it, so I call them cowards,” the Raleigh News & Observer reported the Sheriff told reporters.

Fields said Sunday that state and federal investigators are looking into protesters of a Saturday drag queen show at Sunrise Theater in downtown Southern Pines, but that so far they have not been able to make that connection.

Without naming Rainey, the Sheriff indicated in the press conference that the information she posted online was “false.” He told reporters he ordered his deputies “to go and interview this young lady and have a word of prayer with her, but it turned out to be nothing.”

He also confirmed that the damage was caused by small arms. State and local law enforcement were called in to provide security at substations overnight

Fields added that all available local law enforcement officers are working on the case, assisted by NC State Bureau of Investigation and FBI agents.

The local Southern Pines newspaper, the Pilot, reported:

Six hours after blocking off downtown Southern Pines for the town’s annual holiday parade, police returned to the blocks surrounding the Sunrise Theater to prepare for a drag performance show that has generated significant protest and controversy in town and on social media. 

The Downtown Divas drag show, which was scheduled for 7 p.m. but did not begin until 7:40 p.m., was scheduled as a fundraiser for Sandhills Pride, the local nonprofit supporting the LGBTQ community. The show originally allowed for children and teenagers to attend, but following angry protests online, the Sunrise and Sandhills Pride announced that only individuals aged 18 and older would be admitted.

[…] While drag show protesters gathered early, they were eventually outnumbered significantly by counter protesters, a number of whom waved rainbow flags, homemade signs and called out specific individuals who had stoked outrage toward the drag performance on Facebook over the past couple of weeks. Counter protesters chanted out expressions such as “I love you” and “love is love” and “love not hate.”

The Raleigh News & Observer’s journalist Martha Quillin reported that the drag show started at 7 p.m. and was under way when the power went out. Headliner Naomi Dix of Durham kept the show going until almost 9 p.m. “I asked that everyone turn on their phone flashlights to illuminate the room,” Dix said. “I then lead the crowd in singing Beyoncé’s ‘Halo.’”

GASTONIA, Nc. – Gaston County, North Carolina’s County Manager Kim Eagle ordered the staff at the county operated and funded Gaston County Museum in Dallas, to remove a photograph showing two men kissing taken by Charlotte-based photographer Grant Baldwin at the 2019 Charlotte Pride removed.

The Charlotte Observer reported that museum staff ask Baldwin for a replacement “that would be more considerate of differing viewpoints in the community.”

The image shows the moment just after two men in Charlotte got engaged at the 2019 Pride Festival and Parade. https://t.co/mxPPpPbeuc

— The Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) June 16, 2022

The Observer noted that Baldwin’s photograph shows Justin Colasacco and his husband Bren Hipp kissing after Colasacco dropped to one knee and proposed in front of the crowd at the 2019 Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade. They married Oct. 4, 2020.

NC museum removes historic LGBTQ photo without photographer’s approval:

RALEIGH – The chair of the North Carolina State Senate Education Committee introduced legislation Tuesday that prohibits teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s public schools grades kindergarten through third, and would additionally require parental notice when students in any grade question their sexual identity in school.

The legislation, House Bill 755, introduced by State Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga), chair of the Education Committee along with Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) is expected to begin its path through legislative committees in the Republican-controlled General Assembly starting Wednesday.

According to NBC News affiliate WRAL, the requirements are part of a broader bill, are similar to legislation on the move in other states and the law that recently took effect in Florida. Republican lawmakers are labeling the measure as a Parents’ Bill of Rights. Under the proposal, North Carolina schools would have to notify parents if students seek to use a different pronoun to describe themselves, and parents would have to sign off before students could get counseling or other non-emergency health care, WRAL reported.

The new bill’s parental notice section generated concerns among opponents Tuesday that LGBTQ students, afraid of how their parents would react if they find out about their sexual identity, could no longer turn to trusted teachers for guidance.

What if a parent is abusive, state Rep. Allison Dahle, one of the legislature’s few openly LGBTQ members, said after the bill was announced.

“Is the teacher going to be responsible for the child’s beating,” said Dahle, D-Wake. “North Carolina needs to be a safe place for everybody, and this is going to remove that safety net for children.”

Charlotte Pride Board of Directors President Clark Simon said in a statement that the bill would “endanger transgender and gender-nonconforming youth by requiring schools to forcibly out transgender youth to their parents,” and he noted the higher suicide rate for LGTBQ young people.

“This legislation will make this reality worse, not better,” Simon said.

WASHINGTON – Republican U.S. Representative Madison Cawthorn, the 26-year-old freshman from North Carolina, has experienced yet another provocative social media leak. The latest, a video, shows a nude young man strongly resembling Cawthorn on a sofa ‘dry humping’ in a contextually simulated sexual manner another young male. A wheelchair similar to the type used by the congressman is in the foreground.

The roughly 30-second clip shows what appears to be a nude Cawthorn in a bed thrusting with his groin near the head of an unidentified male person. A male voice can be heard saying, “Oh ma yah yah oh” repeatedly. A male voice can also be heard laughing and saying, “stick it in his face.”

The Congressman, who is up for reelection later this month, has drawn scrutiny recently for driving with a revoked license; two attempts to bring a loaded gun through airport security; allegations of sexual harassment; calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “thug;” reportedly denying a staffer leave when two family members passed away within the same week, and another video that leaked with a male friend placing his hand on Cawthorn’s genitals.

The Congressman, who has been confined to a wheelchair since an accident in 2014, has been one of the most vocal proponents to anything resembling equality. He’s posed for photos with other politicians who wants to revoke LGBTQ+ rights, such as Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Green, and Lauren Boebert. All have drawn scorn for their backwards-leaning agendas.

There’s an obvious parallel between Cawthorn and former conservative politician Aaron Schock, who was Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 18th congressional district from 2009 until 2015. Schock was under investigation for extravagant spending and eventually came out as a gay man following the release of very explicit photos. 

Cawthorn is facing a slew of controversies and questions about misconduct. His recent troubles include allegations of an improper relationship with a staffer and after photos surfaced showing Cawthorn wearing women’s lingerie ― images he said were from a “goofy” game on a cruise ― and a video that showed one of his male staff members grabbing his crotch. The latter video has sparked an ethics complaint.

Congressman Cawthorn’s biggest scandals is now in federal court in a suit over his eligibility to run again for reelection.

Cawthorn has seemingly verified the authenticity of the video. In a tweet on Wednesday, he said: A new hit against me just dropped. Years ago, in this video, I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish and joking. That’s it. I’m NOT backing down. I told you there would be a drip drip campaign. Blackmail won’t win. We will.

The Huffington Post reported that he has also made headlines over allegations of insider trading, trying to bring a loaded handgun onto a plane for the second time and having to surrender his driver’s license after driving with a suspended license.

In late March, he also raised some eyebrows when he claimed that the D.C. elite had previously invited him to orgies and done cocaine in front of him.

Editor’s note: These are links to the video. It is graphic and depicts simulated sexual acts. Viewer discretion is advised: YouTube Link: Here Twitter Link: Here

RALEIGH – In a victory for LGBTQ+ equality, the N.C. Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Appeals decision establishing that people in same-sex dating relationships cannot be excluded from domestic violence protections.

The opinion in M.E. v. T.J was issued after the defendant appealed the December 2020 Court of Appeals decision holding that it was unconstitutional to exclude LGBTQ+ couples from domestic violence protections. North Carolina was the last state in the nation to deny certain domestic violence protections to those in same-sex dating relationships. 

The ACLU of North Carolina and attorney Amily McCool of the Scharff Law Firm represent M.E., a survivor of domestic violence who was denied a protective order simply because the person who was verbally and physically threatening to her also happened to be a woman. 

“No matter where we come from or who we love, we should all be able to agree that everyone deserves to have protections from domestic violence,” said M.E. “I appreciate the state Supreme Court being clear that no one who is a victim of domestic violence will be denied their right to have protection.”

“We appreciate the N.C. Supreme Court’s clarification that the Court of Appeals ruling stands undisturbed against meritless, merely technical attacks.  Our state constitution provides robust protections against sex-based discrimination, including discrimination arising from sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Irena Como, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of North Carolina. “In holding that the administration of justice prohibits the elevation of form over function, especially in domestic violence proceedings involving people who have been traumatized, today’s decision ensures that the legal system should conform to the needs of people, not the other way around.”  

People in same-sex relationships are just as likely as people in opposite-sex relationships to be survivors of domestic violence. According to the North Carolina Department of Justice, more than 157,000 North Carolinians were survivors of domestic violence in 2014. 

Attorney General Josh Stein, Governor Roy Cooper, the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the North Carolina Justice Center, the Pauli Murray LGBTQ+ Bar Association, and a group of ten former North Carolina District Court judges submitted amicus briefs in the case urging the court to uphold the Court of Appeals ruling that excluding same-sex dating couples from domestic violence protections is unconstitutional.

The N.C. Supreme Court opinion is available here.

RALEIGH – In a statement posted to its website Friday, the LGBTQ+ center in the North Carolina capital city notified the community that the center’s former executive director had been fired after “unusual financial activity” in the non-profit’s finances were found.

The details of the termination last summer of former executive director Lindsey Lughes, who had became executive director of the center in 2019, had not been previously publicly disclosed, until a request came last week from local media outlet WRAL News inquiring as to the reason for her being let go.

The center’s interim director Dolph Goldenburg wrote in the statement;

In April 2019, we announced that Lindsey Lughes would join the Center as our new Executive Director, following a national search conducted by our board. Lindsey had an impressive background in LGBTQ+ non-profit work. We were excited to have her lead our organization, which is one of the few in North Carolina — and the only in Raleigh — to provide life-saving resources and programming to the LGBTQ+ community.

However, last summer we discovered some unusual financial activity in our books. After consulting with our accounting contractor and enlisting a law firm to investigate, Lindsey was placed on an immediate suspension. After a more thorough investigation, her employment was terminated. All of us at the Center were devastated and felt betrayed by Lindsey’s actions.

Nonprofits are particularly vulnerable to fraud for a variety of reasons, and unfortunately are less likely to report fraud to law enforcement for fear of reputation damage. We, however, made the intentional decision to quickly refer this to law enforcement and a criminal investigation is underway by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

We had planned to publicly share information about the fraud after charges had been filed because we do not want to interfere with the investigation. As the result of a recent media request, we are disclosing the fraud but not sharing information about how the fraud was perpetrated or the investigation itself.

While the SBI has been conducting this investigation, our Board and the Center have mobilized over the last 7 months to ensure something like this never happens again.

We implemented stricter internal controls and a wider separation of duties and have formed a finance committee of four people — including two board members. A CPA is reviewing a 3-year period (fiscal year 2019, 2020, and 2021).

We are also grateful that our institutional funders have been extremely supportive and stand by us as we commit to this financial overhaul.

Additionally, the Center’s Board of Directors has enlisted Kevin Chase Search Group to recruit the Center’s next Executive Director. We will seek a diverse and representative pool of candidates with deep LGBTQIA expertise, as well as candidates with an understanding of intersectionality, marginalized communities, and experience engaging with people of different socioeconomic backgrounds.

In the interim, Dolph Goldenburg — an experienced non-profit director and LGBTQ+ advocate — has been serving as the Interim Executive Director, and our staff continue providing programs and services.

It’s never easy to convey this news. But we must be driven by our north star: how this Center can provide thousands of LGBTQ+ people in Raleigh and North Carolina with support and community. In a state that has an unfortunate history of homophobia and transphobia, our work could not be more critical.”

WRAL noted that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation does not comment on investigations in progress, so WRAL News was unable to independently confirm the allegation. A search of court records showed no charges filed against Lughes as of Friday.

The outlet also reached out to Lughes for comment, but she did not immediately respond.

DURHAM N.C. — A local craft brewery in North Carolina has launched a cheeky campaign fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ community in the name of the state’s homo/transphobic Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.

Raleigh NBC-affiliate WRAL 5 reported that Ponysaurus Brewing Company in Durham has launched “The Lieutenant Governor Fund for the Fabulous,” with a portion of profits from each pint of its “Don’t Be Mean to People” beer being donated to the the LGBTQ community.

Citing Robinson’s public tirades against the LGBTQ+ community which included comments in June at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove; “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth,” Robinson said. “Yes, I called it filth. And if you don’t like it that I called it filth, come see me and I’ll explain it to you.” The campaign hopes to raise awareness and funds for the LGBTQ+ community.

Announcing the launch of the ” Don’t Be Mean to People ” campaign, the brewery noted on the campaign’s webpage; “The Lt. Governor said some not very nice things. But Don’t Be Mean to People believes in the goodness of everyone. So we know in his heart he doesn’t believe other North Carolinians are “filth.” We’re so sure of it, we’re helping to fund the good work that could be his greatest act in public office.”

“That’s right — a portion of profits from every pint of Don’t Be Mean To People will go to help the LGBTQ community grow, thrive, and find acceptance. All in the name of his illustrious title,” the campaign added.

His categorizing the LGBTQ+ community as ‘filth’ brought swift condemnation from local, state, and national politicians, progressive groups and LGBTQ+ organizations including the White House. Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates said that the Biden Administration condemned the remarks made by Robinson.

“These words are repugnant and offensive,” said Bates, who is a native of North Carolina. “The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone; not to spread hate and undermine their own office.”

Last month, speaking to parishioners at the Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem on Sunday, November 14,  Robinson questioned the “purpose” of being gay; said heterosexual couples are “superior” to gay couples; and that he didn’t want to explain to his grandchildren why two men are kissing if they see that on television the Charlotte Observer reported.

The state’s Republican Lt. Governor then went on to compare being gay to “what the cows leave behind” as well as maggots and flies.

Ponysaurus owners Nick Hawthorne-Johnson and David Baldwin posted a video on Instagram saying they would like to speak with Robinson about his comments.

“Stop by Ponysaurus anytime and let’s talk about it over a beer,” Hawthorne-Johnson says.

RALEIGH – In a heated tirade in the hallways of the North Carolina capitol building captured on a mobile phone Monday, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the state’s highest elected Black official launched into an attack on Democratic State Senator Julie Mayfield.

The tirade was witnessed by a dozen people including lawmakers, staff, and visitors. State Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Davidson), who witnessed the confrontation and caught part of the tirade on her mobile told the Charlotte News-Observer; ““It was a rant. He berated her, and he yelled as loudly as he could.” 

The lieutenant governor, who presides over the state Senate, approached Senator Mayfield in the hallway outside the Senate chamber after lawmakers adjourned and “wagged” his finger in her face, Marcus said.

Mayfield had addressed the Senate earlier Monday, after a vote where she highlighted the increasing deadly violence against Black people and ongoing discrimination against LGBTQ people.

In her remarks to her colleagues she said; “It is convenient fiction that we can say something in a particular forum and not expect to be held accountable for those words in another,” Mayfield said. “We are elected officials. And if we can’t respect our constituents rather than viciously attack some of them, then maybe we’re in the wrong job.”

The Senator was referencing Robinson’s anti-LGBTQ+, homophobic and transphobic public statements over the past several months.

Speaking to parishioners at the Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem on Sunday, November 14, Robinson attacked the LGBTQ+ community, captured on the church’s YouTube livestream.

Robinson said in his sermon that he questioned the “purpose” of being gay; said heterosexual couples are “superior” to gay couples; and that he didn’t want to explain to his grandchildren why two men are kissing if they see that on television the Charlotte Observer reported.

The state’s Republican Lt. Governor then went on to compare being gay to “what the cows leave behind” as well as maggots and flies, who he said all serve a purpose in God’s creation. “If homosexuality is of God, what purpose does it serve? What does it make? What does it create? It creates nothing,” Robinson said.

In a speaking engagement in June at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove, Robinson called LGBTQ people “filth.”  “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth,” Robinson says. “Yes, I called it filth. And if you don’t like it that I called it filth, come see me and I’ll explain it to you.”

In a statement released in October by Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates, the Biden Administration condemned the remarks made last June by Robinson. “These words are repugnant and offensive,” said Bates, who is a native of North Carolina. “The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone; not to spread hate and undermine their own office.”

“Sen. Mayfield’s remarks speak what’s in the hearts of most North Carolinians, and the fact that it set the lieutenant governor off that much is shocking to me,” Sen. Marcus told the News-Observer. “He said ‘You know where I am and where to find me,’” Marcus said, paraphrasing. “’If you have something to say to me you should come and say it to my face.’”

My colleague @MayfieldforNC made statements in support of #LGBTQ Equality during session tonight. The Lt Gov was so mad that he berated Sen Mayfield outside the chamber. I caught the tail end of his rant on video. pic.twitter.com/8EuCPYkhwz

— Senator Natasha Marcus (@NatashaMarcusNC) November 29, 2021

For the record, Sen Mayfield’s floor remarks were full of compassion for all people. She believes, as I do, that elected reps should not speak in hateful terms about our constituents. The struggle for civil rights is ongoing. Here is what she said that enraged the bully Lt Gov: pic.twitter.com/IGeXWBcTbS

— Senator Natasha Marcus (@NatashaMarcusNC) November 30, 2021