This afternoon HB142 was signed into law in North Carolina by Governor Roy Cooper. We strongly oppose this law, which purports to be a HB2 repeal bill but fails to fully repeal HB2 and instead creates new barriers to LGBTQ equality in North Carolina.
From the moment it passed, HB2 has been a disaster for our state. Above all, it has harmed transgender people by attacking their basic rights and dignity. However, HB142 does not fix this disaster. In fact, the bill makes it illegal for cities to pass protections for transgender people and it imposes a moratorium on the passage of non-discrimination ordinances protecting LGBTQ people. Under HB142, our state would continue to single out the LGBTQ community and make us second-class citizens under the law.
HB2 was a direct assault on trans people. And now HB142 puts legal barriers in place to ensure transgender people, and all LGBTQ people, cannot achieve basic protections in our state.
What motivated HB142 was a desire to stop the economic damage caused by HB2 – and a specific desire to retain NCAA and ACC sports events – rather than a commitment to fighting for the full equality of LGBTQ North Carolinians.
Ultimately, HB142 was supported by members of both parties and opposed by members of both parties. It is being framed as a compromise and, in these fractious political times, like a victory for bipartisanship. But it’s not. It’s yet another failure of governance, this time at the expense of LGBTQ people in our state.
We will fight HB142. Just as we are fighting HB1523 in Mississippi, and SB2 in North Carolina, just as we fought Amendment One.
There are trans youth in our state who are fighting each day to be who they are. To simply survive. And at every turn, we want them to know that we have their backs, we will never stop fighting, and ultimately we will win.
Standing with you,
Jasmine
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Campaign for Southern Equality
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