Jun 1, 2015

N.C. House Sustains Governor's Veto, Stops Anti-LGBT SB2

MEDIA CONTACT: Jonah Hermann (920) 860.1416, jonah@equalitync.org

RALEIGH - Equality NC, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, responded today to the North Carolina House’s vote to sustain Governor Pat McCrory’s veto of Senate Bill 2, the Magistrates Recusal bill. The bill, which targeted same-sex couples, would have excused North Carolina magistrates and other public officials from performing marriage services for couples with whom they do not agree.

Late Monday evening, the veto was overridden in the Senate by a vote of 32-16.

Equality NC executive director Chris Sgro immediately applauded the vote, saying, “We are thrilled that the House has voted in favor of the governor's veto, and in doing so, has voted for the best interests of our LGBT citizens and of the entire state of North Carolina."

With today's House vote to sustain the governor's veto, xx-xx, the bill is now dead for the entirety of North Carolina's 2015-16 legislative session.

Sgro added, “This is a true victory for LGBT North Carolinians. We are thankful that North Carolina's Gov. McCrory and General Assembly ultimately sided with equality, and to our supporters, allies, business and faith leaders, and other fair-minded North Carolinians who made their voices heard loud and clear to keep our state on the right side of history.”