X-RATED WEBSITE PULLS THE PLUG ON TAR HEEL STATE
One of the nation’s largest purveyors of web-based pornography will no longer permit users with North Carolina internet protocol (IP) addresses to access its online content.
The website – XHamster.com – is pulling the plug on the Tar Heel State in response to controversial legislation banning municipalities from setting their own restroom policies (similar legislation has been sponsored in South Carolina).
“We have spent the last 50 years fighting for equality for everyone and these laws are discriminatory which XHamster.com does not tolerate,” the company said in a statement. “Judging by the stats of what you North Carolinians watch, we feel this punishment is a severe one. We will not standby and pump revenue into a system that promotes this type of garbage. We respect all sexualities and embrace them.”
As XHamster and other companies reacted to the North Carolina ruling, the state’s governor – Pat McCrory – signed an executive order amending the law.
“After listening to people’s feedback for the past several weeks on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina,” McCrory said. “Based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm and improve the state’s commitment to privacy and equality.”
McCrory said his order upholds the state’s new gender-specific restroom and locker room rule, but permits private firms to establish their own bathroom and locker room policies. He also said he was expanding the state’s equal employment policies to include sexual orientation and gender identity – and told lawmakers he wanted to restore the right of transgenders to sue for discrimination.