Following Victories in Winston-Salem and Chatham County, 20% of North Carolinians Live in Communities with LGBTQ-inclusive Nondiscrimination Protections
Winston-Salem and Chatham County became the eleventh and twelfth local governments to pass LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections today, building statewide momentum in North Carolina.
Today local governments in the City of Winston-Salem and Chatham County voted to approve LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances, becoming the eleventh and twelfth North Carolina communities to approve similar ordinances this year. The ordinances ensure protections in private employment and places of public accommodations – such as restaurants and businesses – from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and natural hairstyle. Studies have shown that 1 in 3 LGBTQ people – including 3 in 5 transgender people – have experienced discrimination in the past year.
The votes come just a week after Charlotte, the largest city in NC, passed its own ordinance in a unanimous, bipartisan decision. The new ordinances also mean that 20.95% of the NC population live in communities with LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections. Polling shows that 67% of people in North Carolina support protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.
Kendra R. Johnson, Executive Director of Equality North Carolina, said:
“The passage of two amazing ordinances, in Winston-Salem and Chatham County, sends a strong message: North Carolina cities and counties care deeply about racial and social justice. Momentum is building for protections on the local level, and we encourage more cities and counties to follow suit.”
Allison Scott, Director of Impact & Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, said today:
“Last week’s unanimous and bipartisan vote to protect LGBTQ people and others from discrimination in Charlotte is clearly having ripple effects for other communities in North Carolina, illuminating a path toward dignity and respect for all people. We applaud leaders in Winston-Salem and Chatham County for their consequential votes, which are further evidence of the growing consensus in North Carolina that we must be a state where everyone can live free from discrimination.”
Karen Howard, Chatham County Commissioner, said:
“I am proud to have been an advocate and early collaborator in the crafting of Chatham's Nondiscrimination Ordinance. This is a step forward for the County, and although there is still much heavy lifting ahead of us in the areas of equity and inclusion, the adoption of this ordinance is a demonstration of our commitment to creating a community that is welcoming, safe and supportive of all of its residents.”
Equality North Carolina and the Campaign for Southern Equality, NC-based organizations that work toward LGBTQ equality, urge local elected officials to pass LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances through NC is Ready for LGBTQ Protections (www.ncisready.org).