Three municipalities in North Carolina recently passed protections that ensure equal access to housing, services and employment for LGBTQ people.

Charlotte's mayor and City Council have been largely silent on taking this step, leaving those of us who live and work in this city to ask: Why?

As we see candidates positioning themselves for upcoming primaries, the universal silence on this issue at the City Council's recent retreat was most telling. But the LGBTQ community is watching. Will Charlotte leaders tell LGBTQ people that the Queen City is a welcoming, safe place for everyone to live and raise a family, or will it stand out as unique for continuing to allow discrimination and hatred to fester?