The president of the North Carolina Bar Association faces criticism from some members for how and why he chose to cancel a networking event.
In that email, the president announced his intent to cancel a drag show trivia networking event, slated for June 8. Clayton Morgan said he had shared his decision to cancel the event with the SOGI committee chair. The president also asked for committee members to join a video call May 8 to discuss the decision.
Members of the committee said they felt hurt, disrespected and blindsided by the decision.
Milan Pham is on that committee.
“It’s deeply hurtful. It’s a failure on the part of our leadership. It’s a failure to the community. It’s a failure to the people we represent, and it’s a failure to their LGBTQ+ bar members,” Pham said.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to the NCBA in regards to the canceled event, and Russell Rawlings, director of external affairs and communication, responded with a lengthy statement, saying it “is an inclusive organization.” The NCBA is meant to be a nonpartisan organization, according to Rawlings.
After broadly describing the sexual orientation and gender identity committee’s purpose in a statement, Rawlings goes on to say the NCBA leadership determined the drag show planned for June would be interpreted as a political statement on behalf of the organization by claiming it would impair the effectiveness of the association’s initiatives.
Pham, who represents LGBTQ+ families at her law firm, Nicholson Pham, said hearing Morgan’s explanation on May 8 was disturbing.
“It was a lot worse than we thought it was going to be,” Pham said. Pham said committee members were not allowed to record the meeting for the sake of transparency. Not only were they not allowed a recording, Pham said the president laid out why this event could be seen as the organization taking a stance.
A member of the SOGI committee shared minutes from the special meeting. Morgan said, “This issue is part of a struggle that can become a technique for galvanizing and activating certain groups.” In the next paragraph, he said, “We could have dialogue where there is education on both sides.”
One of the loudest voices was Michael Roessler, who objected to the assertion this event would misalign the NCBA with its members and the people it serves. Roessler accused Morgan of being “afraid” of the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly. Some conservative legislators proposed a ban on performing any drag shows on public property in April.
Roessler submitted his resignation letter to the association this week.
Pham said considering the political climate in the state, this move by Morgan looks like a slap in the face. Pham said they were not given an opportunity to discuss alternatives and other options for the network event during the meeting.
“We were (treated) like a group of people who can be set aside when it is politically convenient,” Pham said. “Our bodies are politicized, and we don’t have any control over that.”
Fellow NCBA member Katie Jennifer said this sends a greater message to youth and others in the LGBTQ+ community, looking for protection from lawmakers.
“Basically saying you as an identity doesn’t matter. We don’t see your humanity and we don’t respect you,” Jennifer said.
The decision comes at a time when there are multiple bills dealing with transgender and LGBTQ+ issues.
“Our existence isn’t up for debate. We aren’t going anywhere. We are your colleagues. We are professionals. Again, if you don’t want to go to a drag show — don’t go to a drag show,” Jennifer said.
Committee members said the event was not mandatory to attend.
Pauli Murray, North Carolina’s version of the LGBTQ+ bar association, will host the drag show trivia event scheduled for June.
The new date and location have not yet been announced.