News Bites From Across South Carolina And The Nation

**Human Rights Campaign Condemns Governor McMaster For Signing South Carolina Anti-Transgender Sports Ban Into Law**

COLUMBIA – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — condemned Governor Henry McMaster for signing into law South Carolina HB 4608, which bans transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

HB 4608 is a discriminatory attack on transgender students that are just trying to fit in and play sports with their peers. Transgender kids have said themselves they play sports for the same reasons all kids do: to be part of a team, to learn discipline, and above all, to have fun with their friends. By passing this bill, Governor McMaster is blatantly ignoring his duty to stand up for all of his constituents, including transgender students.

Governor McMaster’s action comes on the heels of vetoes by Republican governors who have taken a very different approach: a similar bill in Utah was vetoed by Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who wrote that “Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few. I don’t understand what they are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live.” In Indiana, Republican Governor Eric Holcomb also vetoed a bill discriminating against transgender kids playing sports, citing a lack of evidence to justify the bill and costly litigation that could result from such a law.

In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed an anti-trans sports ban, stating that “Both Republican and Democratic Governors have joined me in vetoing similar divisive bills for the same reasons: it’s harmful to students and their families and it’s bad for business.”

Unfortunately, Governor McMaster and the South Carolina legislature have failed the people of South Carolina.

**Reichenbach Takes Oath in SC Senate**

Surrounded by his family, Senator Mike Reichenbach became the South Carolina Senates newest member a week after he won a special election for his Florence County district with 90% of the vote. Reichenbach is a political newcomer and a car dealership owner in Florence. Reichenbach is filling out the last two-and-a-half years of the term of Sen. Hugh Leatherman, who died last year after serving more than 40 years serving the State and representing Pee Dee in Columbia.

Reichenbach served as The Greater Florence Chamber’s Board Chairman last year and worked with the organization to bring a regional mentorship program to the Florence area. He still serves on the chamber board as Past-Chairman.

**Officials Release Names of Those Killed In Racist Buffalo Massacre**

The victims of the racist massacre at a Buffalo, New York supermarket have been identified and their ages range from 32 to 86.

Avowed white racist Payton Gendron allegedly put together a 180-page manifesto that revealed his hatred for Black and Jewish people and the “replacement theory” ideology that Fox News often speaks of, notably hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham.

Additionally, several Republican politicians have spouted the racist “theory,” saying that Democrats’ immigration policies would “replace” GOP voters with individuals of color.

New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Ohio GOP hopeful JD Vance recently have been outspoken in supporting “replacement theory.”

Stefanik used the concept in her 2021 campaign ads saying, “radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a permanent election insurrection.”

Vance, a Donald Trump-endorsed candidate, recently ratcheted up the rhetoric.

“You’re talking about a shift in the democratic makeup of this country that would mean we never win, meaning Republicans would never win a national election in this country ever again,” he claimed at a campaign event last month.

Vance’s defeated opponent, Josh Mandel, also ran on “replacement theory.”

“This is about changing the face of America, figuratively and literally,” Mandel stated in a published interview.

“They are trying to change our culture, change our demographics and change our electorate. This is all about power,” he said.

So far, the only Republican politician of note to call out the racist rhetoric is Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

**How Black Barbershops Across America Are Becoming A Sacred Place For Men To Open Up About Mental Health**

The barbershop has always been a sacred place in the Black community, and now they’re helping reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

“The haircut’s gonna be the one way to make you feel good, but we’ve gotta go deeper than that,” Willis the Barber tells NY1.

Willis is the owner of the Well Connected barbershop located at 66 Rivington St in New York’s Lower Eastside. The establishment’s name can be connected to A$AP Rocky lyrics from the song that put him on the map, “Peso.”

Well Connected was just a spot to get a fresh cut, but with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became essential to go beyond skin deep and focus on the local community’s mental health to break past that tough exterior. Willis was with the movement and connected with The Confess Project –the nation’s first mental health barbershop movement– to make it easier for shopgoers to open up.

“That idea was to train barbers to become mental health advocates. Utilizing some of the same skills that counselors use, and while it’s not counseling, we believe these skills can ultimately change our community and extend the lives of Black and brown men,” says Dontay Williams, CEO of The Confess Project.

Willis explains that the deeper conversations can start with the typical small talk once you hop in the chair and listen to the tone of their voices when discussing topics like work-life, kids, or plans for the week.

But the importance of mental health amid the pandemic didn’t only affect New York, so The Confess Project also works with barbershops in Little Rock, Arkansas to Atlanta, New Orleans, Louisville, and Indianapolis. 9 states in total.

“We support boys, men of color, and their families,” Lorenzo P. Lewis, The Confess Project founder and Project Director, told TODAY. “Barbers can be great listeners, a great advocate for themselves and their loved ones, which would be their clients in the community.”

Lewis understands how hard it can be for African Americans to get the help they seek and how important it is to destroy or reshape the stigma between black men and mental health.

The post How Black Barbershops Across America Are Becoming A Sacred Place For Men To Open Up About Mental Health appeared first on Cassius | born unapologetic | News, Style, Culture.

How Black Barbershops Across America Are Becoming A Sacred Place For Men To Open Up About Mental Health was originally published on cassiuslife.com

**Steve Harvey Finally Breaks His Silence On The Slap & It's Blunt**

Steve Harvey was speaking at an event at Georgia State University College of Law when he brought up the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap. The host was talking about how hard life can be and the tenacity and fight you have to have, as seen on YouTube. The "Family Feud" personality said, "You can't keep walking past people when they['re] snapping at you." That led into him bringing up Smith's actions at the Oscars, saying if it had been him in Rock's place, "It's no way you slapping me [then] turn around button your jacket and walk off that stage." He did also note that he considers himself a Christian, but not at a "high level." "On a scale of one to 10, I'm like a two," he said. A "high level" Christian might turn the other cheek, but that's not where it sounds like Harvey's at.