RALEIGH, N.C., March 30, 2017—North Carolina has signed into law HB142, a bill that allows for continued discrimination against LGBTQ people under previously enacted legislation (HB2). HB2, passed by the Republican-led state legislature and signed into law  by then Republican Governor Pat McCrory, removed vital anti-discrimination protections from LGBTQ people and other groups, such as veterans. McCrory lost his reelection last November to Governor Cooper, who ran under the campaign promise of fully repealing HB2.
 
“This new law is not a repeal of HB2—it’s a sham. North Carolinians deserve a real repeal. We are deeply disappointed by Governor Cooper’s decision to sign this bill into law. HB142 continues to prohibit municipalities from providing non-discrimination  protections for LGBTQ people and fair wage laws. The law also continues  to dehumanize transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex  people by undercutting any local efforts to grant protections in restrooms and other facilities. Additionally, it could make it difficult for caretakers to provide support for disabled people in restrooms. Everyone, regardless of who they are, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. HB142 does just the opposite and we will be urging our members to push state law makers and Governor Cooper to swiftly repeal HB2 once and for all,” said Stacey Long Simmons, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.
 
Since the passage of HB2, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund (The Task Force) mobilized it’s 200,000 members to take action against the bill through the “Nix It Now” campaign. In North Carolina, The Task Force has been on the ground organizing faith-based  organizations and LGBTQ advocates working to repeal the cruel law. The organization has held trainings, developed resources for faith-leaders, participated in petition drives, provided organizing support to state partners, and joined the NAACP and the Moral  Monday Movement’s actions at the state Capitol. Last November, The Task Force led an  Election Day action and talked to over 1,000 voters in Charlotte about their support for LGBTQ non-discrimination protections, reproductive rights, and racial justice. In February, the organization co-hosted a one-day summit in Greensboro with over 100 people of faith from across the state.

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CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org

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