CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on a town hall meeting designed to build opposition to North Carolina’s new law on transgender rights (all times local):
8:20 p.m.
Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts has told a town hall meeting that her city shouldn’t be punished for standing up for LGBT rights through an ordinance that was eventually struck down by a new North Carolina law.
Roberts spoke to a town hall meeting aimed at building a coalition of opposition to the recently passed measure which prohibits local and state governments from mandating protections for LGBT people in the private sector or at stores and restaurants. The mayor said the city wants to be welcoming to all people and that local businesses should be told that Charlotte did the right thing in passing the ordinance.
Around 200 people crowded into a room in an Uptown Charlotte hotel for the first in a series of town hall meetings addressing the controversial legislation.
5 a.m.
A coalition of groups plans a series of town hall meetings across North Carolina to galvanize opposition to the state’s new law on transgender rights.
The group TurnOUT! North Carolina holds the first of its meetings at 7 p.m. Thursday at Le Meridien in Uptown Charlotte. Among those scheduled to speak is Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts.
North Carolina’s recently passed measure prevents local and state governments from mandating protections for LGBT people in the private sector or at stores and restaurants. It was approved after Charlotte City Council adopted an ordinance allowing transgender people to use bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity.
On Tuesday, Gov. Pat McCrory signed an executive order that he says expands the equal employment policy for state employees to include sexual orientation and gender.
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