Yesterday, HRC President Chad Griffin joined Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro and NC NAACP President Rev. William Barber in calling out a Republican-led proposal in North Carolina that would double down on the most discriminatory provisions of North Carolina’s notorious HB2.
Writing in the Raleigh News & Observer, they said: “This train wreck of a bill does nothing to alleviate the economic suffering or end the unconscionable discrimination HB2 has rained down on the state. North Carolinians have made it clear that they do not want laws that hurt cities’ ability to govern, that put civil rights on the ballot and that continue to undermine equality for their LGBTQ neighbors, friends and colleagues.”
Among a host of discriminatory and troubling measures, the new proposal would prevent cities from passing meaningful non-discrimination protections—forbidding them from passing ordinances ensuring transgender people have access to restrooms—as well as prevent cities from implementing policies that stop taxpayer funds from being used by contractors to discriminate against LGBTQ people. It would also impose additional new and unnecessary penalties for crimes committed in restrooms, and it would create a mechanism for non-discrimination ordinances to be subject to a burdensome referendum process. Read the full oped from the Raleigh News & Observer.
Additionally, yesterday, in a full-page advertisement in the Raleigh News & Observer, Equality North Carolina and HRC renewed their call for full repeal of the anti-LGBTQ HB2 law and featured the powerful voices of legendary basketball coaches Mike Krzyzewski of Duke and Roy Williams of the University of North Carolina, as well as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and NCAA President Mark Emmert.
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