Sep 29, 2015
North Carolina General Assembly Could Strip Municipalities of Ability to Pass LGBT Protections
Additions to Senate Bill 279, The Healthy Youth Act, would Prohibit Municipalities from Local Ordinances
MEDIA CONTACT: Jonah Hermann, Equality NC, (920) 860-1416 -or- jonah@equalitync.org
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Equality NC, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, responded today to the North Carolina General Assembly’s last minute proposed changes to Senate Bill 279. This legislation is widely expected to pass both chambers, and would restrict municipalities from passing ordinances in housing and public accommodations.
Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC, immediately condemned the proposed changes, saying “Equality NC is deeply disappointed with the last minute changes to Senate Bill 279. In the middle of the night, our state’s legislators made additions to SB 279 behind closed doors that would greatly impact gay and transgender people. Not only would this take away the ability for North Carolina cities and counties to pass necessary protections for its LGBT citizens, it would automatically undo the eight local ordinances already in place throughout the Tar Heel State.
“Once again, this General Assembly is taking on local governments for making strides to improve the lives of North Carolinians. It is a shame leaders like Skip Stam and Chad Barefoot are spending their final days in this year’s session focusing on attacking the LGBT community and not advancing our state’s education and job creation.”
If SB 279 passes, Equality NC plans to urge Governor Pat McCrory to veto SB 279.
ABOUT EQUALITY NC: Equality NC is a statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians. For more information, please visit www.equalitync.org