On episode 93 of the Nooze Hounds podcast, I talk to NC Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams of the state’s 73rd district in Cabarrus County.
I spoke to her about her reluctant entrance into politics as a member of the Harrisburg Town Council, her experience during her first term in the North Carolina General Assembly after being elected in 2022, and her thoughts of being targeted by the gerrymandering efforts of conservatives after flipping the 73rd district blue for the first time in more than two decades.
In March, Queen City Nerve published an op-ed that Staton-Williams wrote about her own abortion in 2002 and the role that her faith and church played in that experience, something she had shared on the House floor in May 2023.
OPINION: NC Rep. Staton-Williams Says Her Abortion Wasn’t GOP’s Business
As she referred to on the podcast, Staton-Williams’ Republican colleague Rep. Keith Kidwell quipped to fellow staffers that she must have meant the “Church of Satan” — a thoughtless comment he has yet to apologize for.
In the op-ed, Staton-Williams took aim at another NC Republican who is known for making egregious comments.
“Someone’s ability to get the care they need and to define their own path should never depend on where they live, who they are, how much they earn, or how they are able to start their family,” she wrote. “But too often lawmakers and judges attempt to shame and degrade those of us who exercise our reproductive freedom. Here in North Carolina, Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson has made a host of offensive statements regarding abortions and the women who have them.
“Politicians like Mark Robinson only care about control and their ability to take away our personal freedoms. We must reclaim our freedom to control our lives and safely care for ourselves, our families, and our communities,” she continued. “Believing in the sanctity of life means recognizing our medical professionals as the experts they are and letting them help us in our decision making.”
Remember you can catch us on Spotify and other places where you find podcasts, and be sure to check out Queen City Podcast Network for a slew of other great Charlotte podcasts that aren’t quite as good as ours but pretty damn close. Find past Nooze Hounds episodes here.
