Jul 23, 2015
Equality NC Endorses Federal Equality Act
Historic Legislation Would Protect LGBT Americans From Discrimination
MEDIA CONTACT: Jonah Hermann, Equality NC, (920) 860-1416 -or- jonah@equalitync.org
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Equality NC, North Carolina’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, responded today to the Equality Act, which was introduced today in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC immediately endorsed the legislation during a joint media event held by Equality NC, The Equality Federation Institute and the Human Rights Campaign. The event was held at the annual Summer Meeting, a conference where national LGBT leaders meet on strategy, hosted this year by Equality NC in Charlotte.
The Equality Act enacts protections similar to those that would have been provided by a proposed ordinance in Charlotte, which failed.
“The Equality Act would provide vital protections for all LGBT Americans. As we move forward after winning marriage equality, this is an important next step for our movement toward full lived equality. Today in North Carolina, our gay, lesbian and transgender citizens can be legally discriminated upon in most aspects of their lives. This much needed legislation seeks to prohibit discrimination against our community.” said Sgro.
Sgro added, “Equality NC will not only remain focused on passing state and local protections across the Tar Heel State for LGBT North Carolinians, but we look forward to working with the state’s congressional delegation to urge them to sign on to the Equality Act.”
Bill sponsors in the Senate are Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). House sponsors are Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA). Sponsors announced today that they had secured 155 co-sponsors in the House, and 40 in the Senate.
The Equality Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity to seven protected classes in existing civil rights laws including housing, credit, education, public accommodations, federal funding, jury services, and employment.
Equality NC is calling on its supporters to encourage their Congressional leaders to support The Equality Act ay http://equalitync.org/equalityact.
ABOUT EQUALITY NC: Equality NC is a statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians. For more information, please visit www.equalitync.org