Winston-Salem (NC) City Council Votes to Examine HB2 

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - March 28, 2016 - At the request of local organizers, the Winston-Salem City Council voted tonight to entertain a resolution at an upcoming council meeting to examine the legal and moral authority of HB2 -- the bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly last week that has come under fire from across the state and across the country -- and to consider urging the General Assembly to repeal the bill during the next legislative session.

Supporters from across the city -- including organizers and activists from GetEQUAL NC, El Cambio, North Star LGBT Community Center, many student organizations from Wake Forest University, and the Fight for $15 campaign -- gathered at the City Council meeting earlier tonight to express support for a resolution that recognizes the bill for what it is: an attack on LGBTQ people, people of color, and working people across the state.

During the public forum at the City Council meeting, speakers urged the Council to take public action to register disapproval of the law because of the severe ramifications for so many North Carolinians across the state -- including in the Winston-Salem area.

"While we know that our work must continue to get this resolution passed, the fact that so many transgender and gender non-conforming folks from across the city gathered together, told their stories, and spoke their truth tonight is a victory for Winston-Salem LGBTQ folks, and for all people impacted by HB2," said Wooten Gough, GetEQUAL training director and organizer. "We are looking to the Winston-Salem City Council in the coming weeks to bear witness that Governor McCrory's misguided fight for this bill doesn't reflect the values of real North Carolinians."

Video and photo available at https://www.facebook.com/getequal and under the hashtag #NoConfidence.

Founded in 2010, GetEQUAL is a national grassroots network whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information go to www.getequal.org. You can also follow GetEQUAL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/getequal or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/getequal.