CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Members of a local LGBT advocacy group say this week’s elections for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners gives them hope for future advances. The Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee, or MeckPAC, endorsed nine candidates running for the county board. Five of those candidates were victorious on Tuesday.
“The Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) is very pleased with the results of the 2012 election for Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners,” the group said in a written statement. “We look forward to working with the new Board over the next two years to further advance equality and fairness for Mecklenburg County’s LGBT citizens and employees.”
Two of the group’s endorsees are incumbents. Three are Democratic newcomers who swept the at-large races.
“All these candidates and elected officials have indicated either through demonstrated actions or in their returned questionnaires that they are willing to work with MeckPAC on matters of equality and fairness for Mecklenburg County’s LGBT citizens and employees,” the group said.
Mecklenburg County commissioners adopted a non-discrimination policy in 2005 protecting county workers on the basis of sexual orientation. MeckPAC has said previously it wants to expand protections for transgender workers, as well. In 2009, they adopted domestic partner benefits for employees’ same-sex partners and families.
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[Ed. Note — This writer served a brief term as a volunteer member of the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee’s steering committee during his hiatus from the newspaper this past spring. He no longer serves on the organization’s committee and had no special or prior knowledge of the organization’s general election endorsements or endorsement process.]