This year, Beyonce has taken a stance against police brutality and has uplifted black females with her new album, LEMONADE. Over the last few months, Georgia and North Carolina purposed this anti-gay bill that would allow business owners to discriminate against the LGBT community. Georgia has since gone on to dismiss the bill due to Marvel, Disney and AMC threatening to never film in the state again. North Carolina on the other hand, passed the bill with no hesitation. NBA’s commissioner Adam Silver is threatening to take the NBA’s 2017 All-Star weekend to another state if the North Carolina government doesn’t veto the bill soon.Today, Bey took to her website to address North Carolina’s outlandish House Bill 2, better known as the Anti-Gay Law. Like most of us in the world, Beyonce is all about equality for everybody. And this bill is far from delivering equality to all.
Read her statement, below.
North Carolina has been drawing the attention of the masses for new legislation that blocks cities and local governments from passing anti-discrimination measures that could protect gay and transgender people.
It all began earlier this year when Charlotte passed a decree expanding North Carolina’s anti-discrimination laws allowing LGBT people protection in places of public accommodation. The ordinance, which was set to go into effect on April 1st, would allow transgender people to use the bathrooms of the gender they identify as, amongst other progressive rights.
Rather than accepting the progression in LGBT rights, that same night, legislators returned to the state house to overrule the ordinance that would ban discrimination against LGBT people. At a special session, North Carolina’s General Assembly proposed and passed the House Bill 2 (HB2) — what has now come to be known as the “Bathroom Bill.”
As The Formation World Tour makes its stop in the Tar Heel state in the midst of such a controversial time, we think it is important for us to bring attention to those who are committed to being good and carrying on the message of equality in this core of controversy.
Among the many organizations doing the good work to get this bill overturned, there is Equality NC, a local organization dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) North Carolinians.
To accomplish these goals, Equality NC tirelessly lobbies the North Carolina General Assembly, executive branch, and local governments, broadcast LGBT news, stories and content, and mobilize our communities on issues that matter, including marriage equality, parental rights, inclusive anti-bullying policies, employment discrimination, hate violence, privacy rights, sexuality education, adoption, domestic partnerships, and HIV/AIDS.
Learn more about how you can support Equality NC by donating, volunteering, becoming an ambassador, attending an event, or simply spreading the word!
Learn more about Equality NC on their website, Facebook or Twitter and shop their merch here.
