No Censure for N.C. Commissioner

By Advocate.com Editors

The Mecklenburg County Commission in North Carolina met Tuesday night and instead of censuring Commissioner Bill James, who had called gay people “sexual predators,” the commission issued a bias resolution.

According to The Charlotte Observer, commissioners maintained that censure applied only to behavior and not personal speech. James, who evidences a history of antigay comments, made the latest remark in response to a colleagues’ request to support state officials who supported “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal.

The board did unanimously adopt a resolution in support of diversity, tolerance, and inclusion in the community while opposing inflammatory and hurtful speech, according to the Observer. James said he voted for the resolution because he saw it as meaningless.

“He said he believed the measure was a way to put a ‘nice, glossy, fancy façade’ on the issue as the community bids to bring the Democratic National Convention to town, and said if other commissioners were serious about standing up for sexual rights, they'd try to get state laws changed,” the Observer reported.

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N.C. Commission Weighs James Censure

By Advocate.com Editors

Members of the Mecklenburg County Commission in North Carolina will consider whether to censure their colleague Bill James at a Tuesday night meeting in response to his recent statement that gay people are “sexual predators.”

According to Fox Charlotte, “At Tuesday night's County Commission meeting, commissioners are expected to address his comments, by proposing a resolution against bias.

“Commissioner Harold Cogdell Jr. is quick to point out it's not about censuring James. ‘He has the right to his own philosophy and opinion about things in life. I don't think it's in line with the majority of this Board. What we want to do is make sure public officials speak out in one unified voice regarding community values,’ said Cogdell.”

Last month, in response to an e-mail from a commissioner asking her colleagues to thank state official who supported “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal, James called gay people “sexual predators.” He backed up his comments on his website, billjames.org, and he also demonstrates a history of other antigay remarks.

The website change.org called for a censure of James and drew more than 3200 signatures. Speakers at Tuesday night’s meeting are expected to include MeckPac, the area’s gay rights group.



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N.C. Pol Sticks to "Predators" Remark

By Advocate.com Editors

A North Carolina politician says he’s standing by his statement that gay people are “sexual predators.”

“People are entitled to their opinion, and that includes me,” Mecklenburg County commissioner Bill James (pictured) told The Charlotte Observer Thursday. His remarks came in an e-mail earlier this week to fellow commissioner Jennifer Roberts, who proposed that county officials send a letter to members of the North Carolina congressional delegation who voted to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the US military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining US military readiness and effectiveness not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”

There have been calls, including a petition on Change.org, for a formal reprimand of James, who in the past has made offensive statements about African-Americans and illegal immigrants as well as gays. Said Roberts, however: “I just don’t know if it helps or hurts the end goal by making any kind of formal statement.”

Roberts added that since other commissioners have raised questions about a joint letter on DADT repeal, she will send one on her own. James, meanwhile, said he’s contacted police because of threats he’s received.

Read more here.

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Tell NC County Commission to Censure Anti-Gay Politician

Aaron McQuade, GLAAD's Associate Director of National News

Bill James is a Commissioner of Mecklenberg County in North Carolina. A year ago, during a debate about giving benefits to the partners of county workers, he muttered an anti-gay slur towards a fellow commissioner, whose son died of AIDS in the 1990s.

It’s always terrible to see an elected official using his or her office to spread hateful and hurtful rhetoric about LGBT people. We’ve seen it from Oklahoma’s Sally Kern for years. We saw it from Arkansas’ Clint McCance just a few months ago. Now Bill James is at it again.

This week, County Commissioner Chair Jennifer Roberts requested that the board send a letter thanking some members of the Charlotte-area congressional delegation for their “yes” votes on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. James then fired off an e-mail in response, in which he repeated some of the worst anti-gay lies and rhetoric being spread by opponents of LGBT rights. This behavior has rightfully prompted a swift and powerful reaction from the LGBT community and supporters.
 

“Both Senators from North Carolina voted to strengthen our national security last week when they voted to repeal the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian service members,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “Commissioner James’ remarks show the true character of anti-gay activists, willing to defame even those brave gay and lesbian people in uniform who are serving their country. This type of hateful language does nothing more than fuel a climate of intolerance that puts gay and transgender Americans and our families in harm’s way.”

It’s inexcusable to call your colleague’s deceased son an anti-gay slur. It’s even more inexcusable to willfully spread misinformation about the lives of all LGBT people and claim that open military service will do anything but strengthen our national security by allowing all of the best and brightest to serve, regardless of who they are.

Click here to tell James’ colleagues to censure him for his hateful and dangerous rhetoric.

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North Carolina Pol: Gay People Are “Sexual Predators”

By Advocate.com Editors

An antigay commissioner in North Carolina’s Mecklenburg County called gay people “sexual predators” in an e-mail response to a letter from a fellow commissioner asking her colleagues to sign a thank-you note to the state’s officials who voted to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Mecklenburg County commissioner Jennifer Roberts circulated the letter earlier this month, prompting an angry response from Bill James.

“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote in response to the e-mail from Roberts. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the U.S. military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining U.S. military readiness and effectiveness not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”

In 2009, James made headlines for mumbling the word “homo” after a colleague spoke of her son dying of AIDS. A few years earlier, he was quoted as saying people of color "live in a moral sewer."

Change.org is urging people to sign a petition to the Mecklenburg County board urging members to censure James “for repeatedly using his work e-mail to bash LGBT folks.” James was just reelected to his seat.

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