Last night, the Charlotte City Council rejected a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance supported by Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina and their coalition partners. The measures would have added sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics, to already protected classes in four city non-discrimination ordinances. Their action repeats a similar rejection of inclusive non-discrimination protections made by Council in November 1992.

The proposal would have added marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to city ordinances prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations, commercial contracting with the city, passenger vehicles for hire, and regulations for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee. (North Carolina cities lack the authority to regulate the employment practices of private business, so the measure would not have provided employment nondiscrimination protections beyond local government employees, who are already protected.)

The Council defeated the omnibus non-discrimination measure 6-5, following passage of a bad amendment to the proposal which would have excluded LGBT protections in public restrooms, locker rooms, showers, and changing facilities.

The coalition said in a statement, “Charlotte’s decision tonight moves the city backward not forward and shows a continued lack of commitment to fair treatment of all its citizens and residents. This coalition will not stop lobbying Council for these changes and will bring them back to city leaders for future consideration. We thank our Council champions and those who supported the original measure, placing full equality over discrimination.”
Equality NC and their allies remain committed to educating council members and the community about the real harms caused by anti-LGBT discrimination, and the need for these protections, including the need for transgender people to safely use restroom facilities appropriate to their gender.

Read more about the effort to pass an inclusive ordinance at Qnotes.

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