Cori Schumacher

“There’s something very dangerous happening in states across the country.

A wave of legislation, introduced in more than two dozen states, would allow people to discriminate against their neighbors. Some, such as the bill enacted in Indiana last week that drew a national outcry and one passed in Arkansas, say individuals can cite their personal religious beliefs to refuse service to a customer or resist a state nondiscrimination law.” –Tim Cook, Apple CEO

There are quite a few anti-gay bills being introduced in various states across the US. Indiana’s new law has drawn a firestorm of protest from Indiana residents, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and even the NCAA. This is discriminatory legislation targeting the LGBTQ community thinly disguised as religious freedom.

Some folks, like The First Church of Cannabis, are creatively taking advantage of the new law. Not the first time such hilarious consequences emerge after draconian laws pass.

Next up, North Carolina House Bill 348, which is sponsored by North Carolina Republicans. I am especially interested in this bill, not only because it is functionally worse than the Indiana bill, but also because the CEO of the VF Corporation (parent company of REEF & VANS), Eric Wiseman (one of Forbes 500’s most ideologically conservative CEOs), financially supported the Republican Party of NC last year.

Wiseman also financially supported Republican Thom Tillis, North Carolina’s current US Senator who, when he was a North Carolina House speaker, put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to ban gay marriage.

“[J]ust as Indiana’s law was gaining national infamy, North Carolina lawmakers introduced matching Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills in the state House and Senate — and according to legal scholars, the legislation introduced last week could pose an even greater threat than Indiana’s to civil rights.” (Source)

If you are gay or a gay ally, I strongly suggest spending your dollars somewhere else. No Vans. No Reef. No North Face…

VF Corp is the largest branded apparel manufacturer in the world and they popped up on my radar in 2013 after the Rana Plaza factory disaster.

VF Corp is actively opposed by labor rights groups who are seeing results, as activists have successfully pressured 16 colleges to cancel their contracts with VF owned brands, like Jansport.

VF Corp is quietly driving human rights abuses, both at home and abroad.

The issues continue…