Displaying items by tag: north carolina

The Eastern Band of Cherokee will not recognize same-sex marriages at the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina. The tribe’s decision has disappointed many people who want them to join other tribes and states that legalized marriage equality.

The nondiscrimination ordinance passed by the Charlotte City Council two weeks ago is a major victory for LGBTQ rights in North Carolina and an important step in Charlotte’s continuing effort to make all citizens feel welcome, included, and protected.

The Cherokee Council did not take same-sex marriage seriously, and it shows. The Council had a meeting last week to discuss the idea of legalizing marriage equality on the Qualla Boundary. One LGBTQ member of the Cherokee Nation, Tamara Thompson, wanted to see this happen but when Chairman Adam Wachacha reminded Council they had not deemed Thompson’s ordinance read and tabled, he was met with silence from all other members.

You’ll be pleased to know that a new North Carolina county has just brought protections to LGBTQ people with a nondiscrimination ordinance.

After the bad news from Arkansas where a bunch of anti-LGBTQ laws has been passed, signed into law, or are about to be signed into law, let’s move on to North Carolina where four pro-LGBTQ bills have been introduced by legislators and the group Equality NC.

We had seen that the moratorium that prevented the passage of nondiscrimination legislation in North Carolina ended on December 1, 2021, and we had seen that Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill had decided to protect LGBTQ people by immediately passing ordinances to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

I have more good news today as two new and significant cities, Greensboro and Durham, which are among the largest cities in the state, and Orange County have passed similar ordinances.

On December 1, 2020, the moratorium on nondiscrimination orders expired in North Carolina and people were wondering what the hell was going to happen, but today, I have three good news.

Can’t wait to see what happens in North Carolina after the state’s ban on cities penalizing local businesses that discriminate against LGBTQ people expires.