LGBT Groups Call for Asheville to Pass Non-Discrimination Ordinance that Creates Local Protections for LGBT Community
Asheville, N.C. (February 25, 2016) – On Monday, Charlotte’s City Council passed an ordinance to advance its city-wide non-discrimination policy based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, vehicles for hire and in government contracting. Now the Campaign for Southern Equality and Equality NC are calling on the Asheville City Council to pass similar protections for LGBT individuals.
“We call on Asheville City Council to pass an ordinance ensuring that LGBT people are protected from discrimination in public accommodations, following the lead of Charlotte. This is a natural next step for Asheville, which has long been a champion of equality and has worked proactively to ensure that our LGBT community is treated with dignity and respect,” says Ivy Hill, LGBT Rights Toolkit Coordinator of the Campaign for Southern Equality.
“There is a strong, diverse LGBT community in Asheville and we are part of every community. We are seeing more and more local business take proactive steps to be inclusive and welcoming, such as having all-gender restrooms. We invite more local businesses to do the same – these are simple changes that communicate that all are welcome and will be treated with respect,” continues Hill.
“We’re encouraged to see Charlotte City Council bring its policies up to date, joining over 17 municipalities in North Carolina with similar protections and 200 municipalities nationwide with the same protections. More than 200 cities across the nation have passed these simple, but crucial protections for all of its residents and visitors,” said Matt Hirschy, Director of Advancement of Equality North Carolina. “We certainly hope other municipal governments in our state will continue to pass these type of protections in the face of threats from Raleigh of even more government overreach.”
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Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Campaign for Southern Equality is a non-profit organization that advocates for the full equality of LGBT individuals and families across the South.
Equality NC is the statewide civil rights nonprofit working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender North Carolinians. For more information, please visit www.equalitync.org
