Bill to Ban Individuals from Using Public Bathrooms is Demeaning and Harmful
Los Angeles – Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur today issued the following statement in response to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory’s signing of House Bill 2, an egregiously anti-LGBT bill that prohibits and overrides municipal non-discrimination ordinances including the one recently passed in Charlotte. It also bans transgender North Carolinians from using restrooms and public facilities that match the gender they live as every day, and even prevents cities from adopting living wage ordinances.
“This is among the worst of the bad anti-LGBT bills that are being considered in states across the country. HB 2 enshrines discrimination in North Carolina’s laws. The state effectively prohibits cities and towns from passing non-discrimination laws that protect LGBT people in their communities. Everyone should be treated fairly by our laws, and no one should be discriminated against simply because of who they are. North Carolina also is wrong to ban transgender people from the bathrooms or other facilities that match their gender identity, especially in schools. Every person has the right to feel and be safe and secure. Ultimately, this is about treating all people – including our transgender friends and neighbors — with respect. Unfortunately, fear and a lack understanding guided this bill, which is a significant step backwards in ensuring that all LGBT people are treated with dignity, fairness and compassion.”
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance, and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org