On Monday, Feb. 22, Charlotte city council passed a local ordinance with the goal to prohibit discrimination in public accommodation. It was approved by a vote of 7-to-4, adding “sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status” as attributes protected from discrimination in restaurants, retail stores and other businesses. The ordinance includes an allowance for people to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. They are able to choose the men’s or women’s room depending on which feels most appropriate or safe to them. However, it was not simply about public restrooms. For example, it also prohibits hotels from denying same-sex couples a hotel room, but the bathroom issues have sparked much debate.
There are three main arguments that have been raised in this heated debate. There are those who believe the decision infringes on their religious beliefs, those who raise the issues of public safety issues, and those who support the decision to protect the restroom choices of the transgender community.
Argument against: Infringement on their religious beliefs
Those who argue this urged Charlotte residents to “stand with religious values” Chris Williams, a father of three passed out “No” stickers to the crowd on Monday and said, “"I don't want my kids having to even question, 'Why is there this person in the restroom?'" he said, "I don't think they should even be faced with that question and that concern."
#Don’t do it Charlotte is a message that the NC Values Coalition pushed prior to the vote. Their argument is that the law would threaten the religious liberty of business owners. The arguments posed on their website include, “Should Christian photographers in Charlotte be required to photograph a same-sex wedding ceremony? Should a Christian adoption agency be required to place a child with a same-sex couple?”
Argument against: Threat to public safety
Republican Governor Pat McCrory told the Associated Press “It’s an extreme regulation that changes the basic norms of society.” He argues that the decision denies privacy rights for people who expect to share restrooms or locker rooms only with people with the same anatomy.
Some are worried that sexual predators could potentially abuse the ordinance and gain entry to women’s restrooms for “assault or incidental exposure.”"There are countless deviant men who will pretend to be transgender who will use this to gain access to those they want to exploit,” ordinance opponent Elaina Smith said.
Argument for: To protect the transgender community from discrimination
Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, a democrat, says, “I’m pleased that Charlotte has sent a signal that we will treat people with dignity and respect, even when we disagree.”
“Equality NC” is North Carolina’s oldest and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization that is “proud to stand with Mayor Roberts and members of the Charlotte City Council in this victory for equality. They see the new ordinance as a vital protection for LGBT communities.
Members of this community in the past have had issues off being denied service and experienced disparaging comments in public areas, and they hope that this ordinance is a step in a direction to protecting their right to feel safe in the city they live in.
Shawn Long, a director of operations for Equality NC does not see the problem of passing this law and the rhetoric surrounding fear should not be tolerated. “This exact same ordinance has been passed in cities across the country. There have been zero incidents reported,” he says.
What to Pay Attention to Next
However, The General Assembly has the ability to override local ordinances and lawmakers vow to overturn the law. House Speaker Time Moore said on Tuesday that he and other Republicans will be “exploring legislative intervention to correct this radical course.” The legislature’s next scheduled session begins in late April and we will have to stay tuned then.
