Charlotte-based national LGBTQ organization Campus Pride releases statement calling on Charlotte’s Mayor and City Council to protect LGBT citizens by passing inclusive non-discrimination ordinance

Charlotte, NC – Charlotte-based national LGBT organization Campus Pride joins local community organizations in support of passing a LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance by the Charlotte City Council next Monday, March 2. The amendments in front of the council apply to four non-discrimination ordinances which would add “marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression” to lists of enumerated protected classes already included in the ordinances.

Campus Pride released this statement from its Executive Director Shane Windmeyer who is a national LGBTQ civil rights leader and a long-time resident of Charlotte, NC:

Since 2001, Campus Pride has called Charlotte, NC its home and is one of only a handful of national LGBTQ organizations founded and headquartered with offices in the South.  Passing these new protections to be inclusive of LGBTQ people reflects the diversity of our community and the character of a world-class city. 

Fair and equal treatment without fear of discrimination is the path forward for all of our community.  Young people today understand this and we must take action welcoming all citizens for future generations. 

Do not let fear tactics by those who call this a ‘bathroom bill’ obscure the ‘real’ experiences of harassment toward LGBTQ people. We must consider the facts from other cities with similar nondiscrimination ordinances and not falsify information to suit our pulpit of bigotry.  Campus Pride and our national research shows that LGBTQ young people face disproportionate harassment, fear and violence. When it comes to transgender youth, we have seen the tragic loss of lives and the ‘real’ circumstances of discrimination happening in our own local community – most recently on campuses like UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College.    

Campus Pride cares deeply about bettering our local Charlotte community – to be free of discrimination for all people for future generations.  As part of our hometown community, we call on Charlotte’s Mayor Daniel Clodfelter and the Charlotte City Council to pass the LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance and move our community forward. 

Campus Pride has been engaging Charlotte-area college students to sign the online petition from the local coalition.  On Monday, March 2, Campus Pride encourages individuals to participate in rally and city council meeting by wearing blue in favor of passing the LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance.  Rally demonstration will take place at 4 p.m. outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center at 600 E. Fourth Street. The Charlotte City Council meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. inside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.   Any questions, please call 704-277-6710 ext 1 or email info@campuspride.org

Campus Pride is the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. The organization provides resources and services to thousands of college students and nearly 1400 campuses annually. Learn more online at CampusPride.org