McCrory: State Lawmakers Could Take Action if Council Members Pass LGBT Protections

CHARLOTTE, NC – Governor McCrory says lawmakers in Raleigh could take action if Charlotte City Council members add LGBT protections to Charlotte’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance.

The proposed additions would add legal protections on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity.

“We’re just looking for the same rights and and respects that are afforded to everyone else,” explains South Charlotte resident Erica Lachowitz.

She says Monday’s vote could go a long way towards acceptance for the transgender community.

“When city council shows that message and they say we support this, it lets the people… it’s a legitimacy,” she says.

First Baptist Charlotte Pastor Mark Harris has opposed the additions.

“We already have laws that protect individuals from the communication of threats, protect them from assault, protect them from all kinds of things,” Harris explains.

He’s concerned about the impact on businesses and a provision that would allow transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice.

Governor McCrory’s e-mail that went out to City Council members:

Thank you for your inquiry. Although I have made a point as the former 14 year Mayor and current Governor to stay out of specific issues being voted on by the Charlotte City Council, the item of changing basic long-established values and norms of access to public restrooms is misguided and has major statewide ramifications.

It is not only the citizens of Charlotte that will be impacted by changing basic restroom and locker room norms but also citizens from across our state and nation who visit and work in Charlotte.  This shift in policy could also create major public safety issues by putting citizens in possible danger from deviant actions by individuals taking improper advantage of a bad policy.

Also, this action of allowing a person with male anatomy, for example, to use a female restroom or locker room will most likely cause immediate State legislative intervention which I would support as governor. This action also puts an unneeded strain on the relationship between the City of Charlotte and the State of North Carolina.

I encourage you to convince your colleagues to focus on issues most important to our citizens and this proposed change is not one of them.  In fact, the City of Charlotte is causing more problems by trying to solve a problem that does not exist.