Charlotte’s Nondiscrimination Ordinance, With LGBT Protections, Will Not Be Repealed at Tonight’s City Council Meeting
The New Civil Rights Movement has learned that the Charlotte City Council will not repeal the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance it passed in February (video of that moment, above). Members of the city council were going to propose repealing the measure in exchange for concessions from North Carolina lawmakers on HB2. At tonight’s city council meeting, a vote was expected on the compromise agreement, along with a discussion about the business impacts of HB2. That issue “has been pulled” and a vote will not happen tonight, the Charlotte City Clerk’s office has confirmed.
NCRM has spoken with others familiar with the issue who believe the vote is off the table also.
This development is good news for LGBT equality activists and allies. Repealing the nondiscrimination ordinance would have had no practical effect, and would have given the state government cover for continuing to enforce HB2, which has been deemed both illegal and unconstitutional by legal experts.
The federal government is already suing the State of North Carolina and Gov. Pat McCrory, and that lawsuit, it is expected, will be decided in favor of equality advocates.
UPDATE I: 4:48 PM EDT –
MeckPAC, a Charlotte area LGBT non-profit, also confirms the ordinance will not be repealed:
“Due to lack of consensus and not enough votes among the Charlotte City Council to repeal or modify the Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance, Mayor Jennifer Roberts has pulled the issue from the City Council meeting agenda.”
UPDATE II: 4:52 PM EDT –
The Charlotte Observer also confirms the city council “will not discuss the economic impact of House Bill 2 at its meeting Monday, the city announced Monday afternoon. That means there also will be no vote on repealing the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance that was approved in February.”
Charlotte City Council releases this statement:
 “The Mayor and City Council will continue to work with the General Assembly and with business and community leaders to address the continuing negative impacts of HB2 on the City of Charlotte and North Carolina. Charlotte remains committed to being a welcoming and inclusive community that is free of discrimination.â€
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This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.