Raleigh City Council Unanimously Passes LGBTQ-inclusive Nondiscrimination Ordinance

Today the Raleigh City Council voted unanimously to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance that protects residents and visitors from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, natural hairstyle, and other characteristics in employment and public accommodations.

The vote was unanimous and makes Raleigh the fifteenth jurisdiction in North Carolina to advance a comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinance in 2021. It comes on the heels of Wake County’s unanimous vote in favor of an ordinance yesterday, October 18.

All five of North Carolina’s top 5 cities have now passed LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances – including Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston-Salem.

Kendra R. Johnson, Executive Director of Equality NC, said today:

"We're so pleased to see Raleigh take this historic step to expand nondiscrimination. Nearly 30 percent of the state's population is now covered by LGBTQ inclusive ordinances, and this represents a great change for the city of Raleigh and the state of North Carolina. Raleigh has taken a big step forward to protect LGBTQ people, especially for folks with multiple layers of marginalization, and this only grows momentum for the non-discrimination on the local, state, and federal level."

Raleigh City Council Member Jonathan Melton said today:

"I'm proud to see the Raleigh City Council come together to take action and ensure our city is a place where all people feel protected, respected, and safe. As an LGBTQ person myself, it's so meaningful to know that my city is striving for inclusivity and dignity for everyone, and as an out elected official I'm grateful to work with colleagues committed to doing the right thing."

Polling shows that 67% of people in North Carolina support protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. Studies have shown that 1 in 3 LGBTQ people – including 3 in 5 transgender people – have experienced discrimination in the past year. 

Through the NC is Ready for LGBTQ Protections campaign, led by Equality North Carolina and the Campaign for Southern Equality, a diverse array of voices has spoken out for LGBTQ protections at the local, state, and federal levels. Learn more at www.ncisready.org.