23/04/2016 Reporters

Now on BBC News, it's time for Reporters.

Welcome to Reporters. I'm Phillipa Thomas from the world newsroom, we

sent out correspondence to bring the the best stories from across the

globe. This week, could Libya become the next Bastian for IS? The new

liberty union Government tells us that Islamic State could take over

two thirds of the country. It is the major threat for the Libyan people.

If we don't act today, we can't do anything tomorrow. We report from

North Carolina on the new law against the gay and transgender

community that has sparked anti-discrimination protests and

boycotts from companies and rock stars. Do they never whisper? And

Peter Bowes asks whether the works of Shakespeare could help to address

the lack of diversity in Hollywood? This is Shakespeare with a diverse

cast straight out of Compton, new faces in Hollywood, aspiring actors,

and possibly the Oscar-nominated the future.

After Syria and Iraq, could Libya become the next stronghold for the

so-called Islamic State? After establishing control of the town of

cert on the Mediterranean coast lasted, the militant group is now

extending its reach. The new unity Government has warned that IS could

take over two thirds of the country. Libya has been plagued by

instability since the fall of Colonel Gaddafi five years ago, and,

as all Guerin reports, keeping the extremists at bay is no easy task.

Is Libya finally moving toward stability? Maybe. But many here are

watching and waiting to see if the competing militias and warring

factions can be brought under one roof. A small crowd gathers in

Tripoli's Square, welcoming Libya's new unity government. It arrived a

few weeks ago, backed by the UN. The problem is, there are two

governments here already. And there is another cause for concern. The

so-called Islamic State is now altering the equation here. The

unity government warns the extremists could take over most of

the country. TRANSLATION: Libya does not have the strong figure who could

lead the army to fight this enemy. It will spread quickly, especially

in the south. This area is weak and could be occupied in minutes. If so,

they will control two thirds of the country. Five years after Nato

intervened here against Colonel Gaddafi, this country is divided and

unstable, and once again it is a growing concern for the

international community. There is a great deal at stake, the success or

failure of the new unity government has implications not just for Libya

but also for its neighbours and for the West. The scars of war remain

here, but many want to look beyond the prism of conflict. We visited

Misrata during the revolution, with Gaddafi's snipers still in

residence. Abdul refused to leave his home on the front lines. Two of

his nephews are eyed for the new Libya. Today, he is still there,

ready to forgive their killers and hoping the new Government can

succeed -- two of his nephews tied. We have to look to the future,

forget all about war, guns, violence, enemies. We have to live

in peace. That means the fragile new government must secure streets where

malicious call the shots. There is a growing sense that Libya needs help,

but some in Britain may be gone shy about getting involved here again.

There is a fierce debate going on in the US state of North Carolina over

a new law that affects the gay, lesbian and transgender communities.

It means transgender people can only use public toilets according to the

sex on their birth certificate. It also restricts the protection of

some gay and transgender employees' civil rights. Companies have

threatened boycotts and rock stars, including Bruce Springsteen, have

cancelled their shows in North Carolina in protest.

Luke is 17, he plays in his school band, loves his dog, and have a

supportive family. He was also born female. He never identified as a

girl and is now going through the medical process of gender

transition. But his state has just passed a law that says that he and

others who are transgender have to use public bathrooms for the sex

they were born with, not what they identify as. Dressed like this, I

don't want to go to the girls' bathroom because I will be shunned

by my peers, it'll be like, what are you doing? If I go to guys' bathroom

and somebody knows I am transgender and doesn't like me, they could out

of me very easily and I could get suspension from school temporarily

for having to go to the bathroom. There have been demonstrations

against the new measures, and not just on the streets here. Bruce

Springsteen and Ringo Starr are among those who have cancelled

performances in North Carolina in protest. PayPal and Deutscher by

said they are pulling investment out of the state unless the laws are

returned -- Deutscher. A lot of the focus has been on the

issue of what bathroom can be used by members of the transgender

community but this is about much more than that. The people across

North Carolina, this law takes away protection against discrimination on

the basis of sexual orientation, which had been provided by other

local laws. That affects the many employees here, from LGBT

communities, as we heard quite frankly from one of the politicians

who pushed through the new law. I think that an employer has the right

to choose who the employer wants to work, unless it is a matter of race,

colour, national origin, biological sex, or religion. You think it is OK

for an employer to say, I don't want to hire a gay employee? Yes. There

is no national law in America that explicitly forbids that, but here,

as senior elected officials openly saying discrimination is OK is

something members of the gay community told us that like a huge

step back. It surprised with that people still feel like that. I mean,

being gay is nothing to do with your job. Things have been progressing

for decades now in the right direction. This just goes and shows

us how much more work has to be done. The free court said we could

get married, it seems like this is all retaliation to that. Pressure is

building to repeal the law, with rules on bathrooms and taking away

LGBT writes, politicians here are insisted it is here to stay.

This year's Oscars heralded a call for more diversity in the

entertainment industry, but could a 400-year-old tale of murder,

jealousy and racial bigotry help address that perception of racism in

Hollywood? William Shakespeare's fellow has grabbed the interest of a

teenage inner-city theatre group in downtown Los Angeles. As the world

marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, Peter Bowes has

been asking whether the Bard's work could help Hollywood make films that

are more racially inclusive. The star-studded world of Hollywood,

home of the Oscars and Mecca the tourism, and the epicentre of the

row over diversity. Drive for half an hour and the scenery changes. The

gritty streets of South Los Angeles are a far cry from Tinseltown. This

is Compton, one of the most notorious, most dangerous cities in

America. It was gangster rap music that came straight out of Compton,

but this is an unlikely setting for a performance of Shakespeare. Let me

see your eyes... Look in my face! Doctor Andrews runs the group. A

teacher and actress, she grew up in Compton and knows this troubled

community inside out. Her father was murdered here when she was a

teenager. She started the Shakespeare ensemble 60 years ago.

It is an after-school programme for students and aspiring professional

actors. There is a lot of races that runs through America, it is very

strong and we bend it a little and break it a little but what we are

doing now with Shakespeare, we do our own thing. We are going to kick

your door down. They never whisper? Never, my lord. Nor send you out of

the way? This year's production is a fellow, a play which resonates with

the cast with its themes of racism and jealousy. People back then just

like us, they had the same problems regardless of financial situation.

Class, they all had similar problems, it is just things around

us are slightly different. There have been a lot of issues with the

Oscars, Oscar so white and everything, and other low open

thighs to people. This is Shakespeare with a diverse cast

straight out of Compton and South Central. New faces for Hollywood,

aspiring actors, and possibly the Oscar-nominated of the future.

And that is all from Reporters for this week. From me, and the Thomas,

goodbye for now. -- Phillipa Thomas.