This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

When I said this:

" ... For Utah politicians, who are often heard to say that they are all about good management and economic growth, that was a really bad round of publicity.

"Our leaders have to remember, when they pull stupid stunts like this, that the whole world is watching."

[From: Utah, they're talking about you, and it's not all good — George Pyle | The Salt Lake Tribune, April 3]

I meant this:

PayPal cancels N. Carolina expansion over law — Emery P. Dalesio | The Associated Press | The Salt Lake Tribune

"Raleigh, N.C. • PayPal says it's canceling plans to bring 400 jobs to North Carolina after lawmakers passed a law that restricts protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"The San Jose, Calif.-based company said Tuesday it was canceling its planned expansion in Charlotte because of the law, which was signed March 23. Gov. Pat McCrory was on hand to celebrate days earlier when PayPal announced plans to hire about 400 people at a new operation center in Charlotte. ..."

UPDATE:

Vermont governor invites PayPal to expand there — The Associated Press | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... In a statement issued Tuesday, Gov. Peter Shumlin said he had written to PayPal CEO Dan Schulman pointing out that Vermont has a 'proud history of non-discrimination and protecting the rights of all citizens.' ..."

And this:

Furniture buyers may boycott famed North Carolina expo — Jorge Valencia | Marketplace

"For a long time, North Carolina was at the center of furniture manufacturing, so it made sense that in 1909, the Southern Furniture Exposition opened there. Now re-branded the High Point Market, after the city that hosts it, the trade show is like the fashion week of luxury furniture, attracts more than 70,000 visitors and has an estimated economic impact of more than $5 billion on the region.

" This spring, organizers say the market, scheduled to run from April 16 to April 20, has received dozens of cancellations from out-of-state customers who want to boycott the state because of controversial new anti-discrimination law approved last month. The law, known informally as HB 2, prohibits cities and counties from including LGBT people in its anti-discrimination ordinances, and requires transgender people to use public restrooms that match the gender on their birth certificate. ..."

And this:

Corporations No Longer Sit Idly By on Discrimination — James B. Stewart | The New York Times

"When North Carolina voters were considering a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in 2012, the silence from North Carolina companies was deafening. ...

" ... Four years later, that corporate silence has turned into a roar. ..."

And this:

Three cheers for capitalism, foe of homophobia — Dick Polman | The National Interest

"Who says the news is always bad? The corporate revolt against state-sanctioned homophobia is our feel-good story of the week.

"Put your hands together for American Airlines, Apple, Bank of America, Citibank, Coca Cola, Comcast, Delta, Disney, Facebook, Google, Home Depot, Levi Strauss, Marriott, Microsoft, the NBA, Netflix, PayPal, Pfizer, Time Warner, UPS, Yahoo...and dozens more. Heck, even the NFL, of concussion scandal fame, has weighed in as a good corporate citizen.

"These disparate firms have one thing in common: They all believe that discriminating against gay people is bad for business. They do business across state lines, and they're increasingly loath to do business with states that practice statutory bigotry. Most of their customers - in other words, most Americans - oppose homophobia, and the corporations want to be in sync with their customers. It's the free market, baby.

"Nathan Deal, the Republican governor of Georgia, got the message.

"Earlier this week, he foiled the state's right-wing lawmakers by vetoing a noxious bigotry bill. ..."

And, kind of, this:

"Indiana Governor Mike Pence recently signed bill HEA 1337 into law, making it one of the most intrusive and extreme laws governing women's health in the United States ...

" ... Indiana women aren't taking this new attack on their healthcare lightly. A group called 'Periods for Pence' recently sprang up. They decided that if the governor was so interested in what is happening with their bodies, he deserved more frequent updates. The ladies of Indiana have been busy calling the governor's office with details. A sampling of their call reports:

"Me: 'Good morning. I just wanted to call and let the good Governor know that I am still not pregnant, since he seems to be so worried about women's reproductive rights.' ..."

But not this:

Tears, shock from fans on Chapel Hill's Franklin Street — Jessika Morgan | Raleigh News and Observer

"Chapel Hill — The UNC basketball fans on Franklin Street were hoping for another chance.

"Marcus Paige buried a 3-pointer against Villanova in Monday's national championship game, tying the game with a little under five seconds left in regulation.

"The historic downtown street erupted when he did it, but the scores of fans dressed in Carolina blue were deflated when No. 2 Villanova's Kris Jenkins sank the game-winning 3-pointer.

"The stretch of bars, shops and restaurants were flooded with dejected and shocked fans who had prepared to celebrate a Tar Heels victory. ..."