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Why We Need LGBTQ-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Ordinances — Not Resolutions Political Voices
BY Kendra R. Johnson, Equality North Carolina Executive Director | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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t’s been a long road for non-discrimination protections in North Carolina since the passage of House Bill 2 (HB2) almost five years ago, which ignited international outcry, economic backlash and the invalidation of many non-discrimination ordinances previously passed across the state. Since a key prong of House Bill 142 (HB142) — HB2’s problematic successor — expired on Dec. 1, we’ve seen five cities and one county across North Carolina begin to pass long-overdue LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances. We’ve also seen incredible progress on the federal level with the Biden administration issuing several major executive orders advancing LGBTQ rights, including expanding protections from last summer’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision. Last week, we also saw the House of Representatives, again, pass the Equality Act. We have plenty of reasons to celebrate, but not all progress translates to true and meaningful protections for the most vulnerable — particularly at the local level. As Equality NC and the #NCIsReady coalition have worked with local stake-
tion. That’s holders to why it’s pass nonimpordiscrimitant that nation orthese laws dinances actually this year, alleviate we’ve enharm and countered improve a recurring the condiquestion: tions of What peoples’ makes an True equality for LGBTQ+ people has yet to be achieved. lives — effective (Photo Credit: Daniel Jędzura via Adobe Stock) they can’t local nonjust be symbolic. discrimination policy? There are several Because resolutions don’t have teeth different kinds of routes that municipalior an enforcement mechanism, they ties can take, including resolutions, which aren’t really addressing the lived impact symbolically call for LGBTQ inclusion and that LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination an end to discrimination and ordinances; ordinances provide. Employers who which provide methods in enforce nonwant to fire LGBTQ people without just discrimination. However, resolutions, uncause still can. Queer folks can be kicked like ordinances, do not provide the same out of restaurants. Trans folks can still level of opportunity for meaningful change experience discrimination while searchin peoples’ lives. ing for housing. The bottom line is: local LGBTQ protecOrdinances close that gap, because tions need to effectively address the ways they directly address the avenues by in which the most vulnerable members of which so many LGBTQ people are marour communities experience marginaliza-
ginalized — whether it be employment, housing, or public accommodations — they make the lives of LGBTQ people much more secure. Symbolic gestures are great, but even greater is the increase in lived equality which non-discrimination ordinances represent. Equality NC is working hard to ensure that our ordinances here in North Carolina will be effective, but we’re more powerful if we also have support. We all need to stand up for lived equality — and we all need to encourage our elected officials to pass non-discrimination ordinances that actually change the conditions of North Carolinians’ lives and work toward a more equitable state for us all. You can chip in — all you have to do is head to NCisready.org. There you can find the contact information for local elected officials as well as updates about the status of non-discrimination ordinances. You can also read stories of people whose lives would be impacted by non-discrimination and who are standing up for lived equality. Join us and them in standing up for full and meaningful lived equality, and help build a better North Carolina for us all. : :
March 5-18, 2021
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