LGBT Military Families Under Attack in North Carolina and Mississippi

With little to no choice where they are stationed, LGBT service members and their families now face even greater discrimination sanctioned by state law in North Carolina and Mississippi

WASHINGTON - April 5, 2016 -- Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military spouses and their families, expressed serious concern over the legislative assaults on LGBT people in North Carolina and Mississippi. The governors of both states have shamefully signed legislation into law attacking LGBT people and their families. 

"These appalling and extreme laws in North Carolina and Mississippi have swung the door wide open for even greater discrimination and harassment against LGBT people and their families," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "Considering many of our families have little to no choice where they are stationed, we are incredibly concerned for our LGBT military families -- especially for those currently stationed in these two states. Our families already have enough to worry about as they sacrifice a tremendous amount serving our country, and the last thing they should have to worry about is facing discrimination here at home. These shameful attacks by anti-equality extremists at the state level are exactly why we need full non-discrimination protections at the federal level." 

According to the Human Rights Campaign, Mississippi's new anti-LGBT law outrageously allows "individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, and in their communities."  The radical new law in North Carolina eliminates "existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. The legislation also forces transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity."

For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military families, please visit our home on the web at www.MilitaryPartners.org.

The American Military Partner Association, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization of the partners, spouses, families, and allies of America's LGBT service members and veterans.  Based in Washington DC, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our "modern military families."