PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n
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North Carolina Considers Similar Legislation to Indiana\u2019s \u201cReligious Freedom\u201d Law<\/p>\n
Asheville, N.C. (March 30, 2015) \u2013 The N.C. Religious Freedom Restoration Act, legislation similar to Indiana\u2019s so-called \u201creligious freedom\u201d law, has been introduced in both the North Carolina state House (HB 348) and state Senate (SB550). The legislation could allow for discrimination against LGBT individuals and other groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope Governor McCrory and elected officials in North Carolina have learned that discrimination is bad for business and that they avoid making the same mistake as Indiana,\u201d says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality and a minister in the United Church of Christ. \u201cReligious freedom is a cornerstone of our country, but discrimination is not. These harmful bills are clearly based on animus and could open the door to discrimination against LGBT people and other groups of individuals. Religious freedoms are already protected by the Constitution and federal law.\u201d<\/p>\n
The full text of the bills can be read at:<\/p>\n
(HB 348) http:\/\/ncleg.net\/sessions\/2015\/Bills\/House\/PDF\/h348v0.pdf<\/p>\n
(SB 550) http:\/\/www.ncga.state.nc.us\/Sessions\/2015\/Bills\/Senate\/PDF\/S550v0.pdf<\/p>\n
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Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Campaign for Southern Equality is a non-profit organization that advocates for the full equality of LGBT individuals and families across the South.<\/p>\n