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Contact: Aaron Sarver, Campaign for Southern Equality, 773.960.2857<\/a> (c), aaron@southernequality.org<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Statement on passage of anti-LGBT bill HB2 by NCGA<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Asheville, N.C. (March 23, 2016) \u2013 Today the North Carolina General Assembly passed HB2, which eliminates LGBT anti-discrimination protections passed by the Charlotte city council and prevents other municipalities from passing similar measures protecting the LGBT community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAs a transgender North Carolinian and a person of faith, I believe discrimination is not a Christian value. Jesus never turned anyone away who sought his company. Under what Christian virtue shall we turn people away seeking access to the bathroom, housing, or hospital care? I urge our elected officials to make North Carolina a state where we are firmly committed to ensuring all God\u2019s children are truly welcome here,\u201d says Alex McNeill, Executive Director of More Light Presbyterians.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTransgender youth and adults live in every town across North Carolina and we are committed to ensuring they are treated with equality, dignity and respect. We especially want to speak to transgender youth today, who are hearing terrible messages from our elected officials in Raleigh<\/p>\n What is true is this: you’re beautiful, you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, you are not alone, and if you need support, there are people here to help,\u201d says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality and a UCC minister.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe condemn HB2, which is based on bias against the transgender community and a distorted and cynical misinformation campaign. North Carolina is better than this. As for next steps – they are already in motion. Our legal team is closely reviewing this bill. When a bill with such overreach is pushed through the legislature, it has rarely been appropriately vetted,\u201d continued Beach-Ferrara.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Campaign for Southern Equality is working with LGBT rights organizations including More Light Presbyterians, Tranzmission and Equality NC to promote full equality in public accommodations in Asheville and to elevate the voices and leadership of transgender community members. Many local businesses, faith communities and non-profits are already taking part in our initiative to install All-Gender restroom signs \u2013 a simple change that provides dignity and respect for our Transgender community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere is a strong, diverse LGBT community in Asheville and we are part of every community. We are seeing more and more local business take proactive steps to be inclusive and welcoming, such as having all-gender restrooms,\u201d says Ivy Hill, LGBT Rights Toolkit Coordinator of the Campaign for Southern Equality.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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