Tonight: The nondiscrimination ordinance battle comes to a head

THE CLOG NEWS & CULTURE
Kimberly Lawson
Original Article:  bit.ly/1M3WtYy

This evening, City Council will tackle one of the most divisive issues to hit Charlotte in recent months: bathrooms.

Well, the proposed LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance is about more than that, but that’s the part critics have honed in on.

What’s the issue really about? Keeping all people safe from discrimination. Council is considering updating City Code to add marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the list of characteristics protected under law. If passed, taxis couldn’t refuse to pick up LGBT passengers. Businesses couldn’t refuse to service or sell goods to those who identify LGBT either, and if they did, they could be barred from doing business with the city for up to two years.

Oh, and these protections would extend to public accommodations. Transgender people could use whichever bathroom they feel most comfortable in without being harassed, like one CPCC student was last year.

Full text of article available at link below:  bit.ly/1M3WtYy