Equality NC Honors Equality Hero, Straight Allies Charlotte

By Jen Jones on 07/17/2012 @ 01:12 PM

Charlotte, N.C. - Equality NC asked you to nominate "Equality Heroes"—unsung North Carolinians who worked tirelessly to defeat Amendment One—and you responded with dozens of local leaders who did their best to defeat the discriminatory rewrite. Equality NC is proud to recognize Straight Allies Charlotte.

Straight Allies Charlotte was nominated by Ken Wittenauer, a proud citizen of Charlotte as well as a dedicated board member for Equality NC Foundation. Straight Allies Charlotte did considerable heavy lifting to get out the word about Amendment One to a larger audience, and was incredibly successful at bringing prominent spokespeople to the table.

Straight Allies Charlotte, we salute you!

From Ken Wittenauer:

I would like to nominate Straight Allies Charlotte as an Equality Hero and recognize its founders--Krista Tillman, Chris McLeod, Ed Williams, and Alice Herald--for the notable difference they made in Charlotte in the campaign to oppose Amendment One.

Their own professional credentials and connections were just the building blocks for their many activities which included:

• Starting Straight Allies Charlotte to encourage straight allies to rally behind and support the LGBT community
• Organizing a significant fundraising event which involved many leaders from the Charlotte business and civic community and raised over $25,000
• Creating a grassroots campaign with yard signs and materials to oppose the amendment
• Writing numerous articles and letters that were printed in the Charlotte Observer and other media opposing the amendment
• Speaking publicly and often about support for the LGBT community in Charlotte, including appearances before the Charlotte City Council and Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
• Supporting the Coalition to Protect All NC Families by arranging for many prominent Charlotte business, religious, and political leaders to volunteer and appear in supportive videos

More generally, their efforts have raised the profile of the LGBT community in Charlotte and challenged the business community to take notice and recognize the serious and broad support for inclusiveness. I know many friends and I have all been inspired, energized, and extremely appreciative of the efforts of these four individuals when it would have been much easier for them to stand on the sidelines or simply write checks. Their efforts have made a lasting difference and they continue to seek ways to support the LGBT community in a meaningful way.

We're so proud to continue profiling local heroes for equality who fought the good fight against Amendment One.

Please click here if you'd like to make a donation to Equality NC. If you'd like to nominate your own Equality Hero, please email me at kay@equalitync.org. Describe your hero's selfless work against the amendment and be sure to include a photo!