The Charlotte City Council could vote as early as February 8th on a hazardous policy change that would put women, children, and families in the Queen City at great risk. Even if you do not live in the Charlotte area, this could be a precedent setting action that could impact the entire state, so Charlotte leaders need to hear from you NOW!

If adopted, this policy change would make Charlotte the first city in the state to adopt a “public accommodation” ordinance that creates civil-rights-status legal protections based on an individual’s self-determined “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression.” This would place the protected privacy rights of women, men and children at great risk and would put the constitutionally protected religious liberties of small business owners and others at stake. The proposal would:

• Allow men to go into women’s restrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms, and would allow women to go into men’s restrooms, locker rooms, or shower rooms, regardless of the individual’s biological sex. The ordinance would apply to any “public accommodation,” including hotels, motels, restaurants, schools, day care centers, museums, libraries, parks, amusement parks, pools, gyms, theaters, stadiums, convention centers, retail businesses, shopping malls, etc.
• Force small business owners – especially those involved in the wedding industry – to embrace and celebrate same-sex unions or face legal action by the government. Similar “anti-discrimination ordinances” in other states have forced florists, photographers, bakers, bed-and-breakfast owners, and others to decide between violating their sincerely held religious beliefs about sexuality and marriage or paying severe penalties and even shutting down their businesses.
• Authorize the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee, or any “aggrieved person,” to file an action in State Superior Court seeking monetary damages and other penalties against an individual or business for allegedly violating the ordinance. According to the “enforcement/relief” section of the policy, “The court may grant as relief, as it deems appropriate, any permanent or temporary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order, and may award to the plaintiff actual damages, including compensation for humiliation and embarrassment, and punitive damages, together with court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees in the case of a prevailing plaintiff” (emphasis added).

Please contact the following members of the Charlotte City Council and ask them to “OPPOSE” this dangerous proposed policy change:

Jennifer Roberts (Mayor): 704-336-3131; [email protected]

Vi Lyles (Mayor Pro Tem): 704-336-3431; [email protected]

Patsy Kinsey (District 1): 704-336-3432; [email protected]

Al Austin (District 2): 704-336-3185; [email protected]

LaWana Mayfield (District 3): 704-336-3435; [email protected]

Greg Phipps (District 4): 704-336-3436; [email protected]

John Autry (District 5): 704-336-2777; [email protected]

Kenny Smith (District 6): 704-574-7241; [email protected]

Ed Driggs (District 7): 704-432-7077; [email protected]

Julie Eiselt (at large): 704-336-4099; [email protected]

Claire Green Fallon (at large): 704-336-6105; [email protected]

James Mitchell (at large): 704-336-3430; [email protected]

TAKE ACTION! This measure was defeated last year because of the actions of concerned citizens in the Charlotte area and across North Carolina. We need your help again, so please reach out to these local officials. Thank You!

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Reprinted with permission from the North Carolina Family Policy Council.