In our March 13-26 print edition, qnotes took an in-depth look at Charlotte’s recently failed LGBT non-discrimination ordinances, delving into their development, who was behind it, how the vote went down at the City Council meeting and steps forward for the community.
The vote, the aftermath and our coverage has resulted in a great deal of community conversation. We want to know where you stand.
Do you believe Charlotte City Council should have passed compromise non-discrimination ordinances that excluded restroom protections for LGBT people?
Vote in our QPoll and let us know, comment to join the conversation, and check out the links below for more coverage of the topic.
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Related coverage
March 13 cover story: Charlotte rejects ordinances. Where do we go from here?
During this debate, I have heard people say “Incremental change never works”. Oh really? First we had domestic partnership registries. We got no rights, but we could register in a few places. Then we got a few DP registries that gave a handful of rights. Later, we got better DPs and civil unions here and there. We eventually got one state that recognized marriage, even though the feds didn’t recognize those marriages. Then we got another state and another. We took what we could get and kept fighting. Sometimes it was two steps forward and one step back, but look where we are now with our “incremental change that never works”. We are on the verge of 50 states with gay marriage, and federal recognition.
We had a chance to get some incremental, trans inclusive ordinance changes in Charlotte. Even the original proposal was only an incremental change. It didn’t include full equality. The choice was always about taking a step or two in the right direction, or standing still. And that will always be the choice, because our struggle for equality is one incremental step at a time, here and there, but it’s a march toward full equality for all LGBT people.
In this instance a fundamental right of TG people was ignored. Waiting for this particular right does not even compare. You can wait to get many equal rights for many other things but this is a basic function that is being denied. This cannot wait!
There is no room for debate on the issue of including all people when it comes to civil rights. We stand together as one in the LGBT community. We will never again leave anyone out. There has never been a case when someone is “left out” that we returned and brought them back in. You start down that road and you’ll be the next one left out. 100% agreement is not required in all areas. However, when it comes to our human rights in the LGBTQ community and other communities there are no half measures or incremental steps. Understand that. Haven’t we learned anything from the battles fought in the 1960s and 1970s, the AIDS crisis, the first bad ENDA bill that left out Transgender people or the last bad ENDA bill that codified religious discrimination specifically against LGBT people into law? We are all in this together. No ands, ifs or buts. What this fight and the fights we see all across the country as we come under attack from the radical and religious right proves beyond a shadow of a doubt is the need for a fully inclusive LGBT Civil Rights Bill. I do understand the inclination of some to view a half step as a step closer. However, that method just does not cut it when it comes to human rights. Half steps will give victories to our enemies-make no mistake they are OUR enemies-and I fear serve to splinter the LGBT community. We are having a hard enough time-at times-getting the LGB(in my opinion and experience mostly the WGM)community to stand up for our transgender brothers and sisters when we are all have a stake in the ordinance. Just proves why we need and must fight for a fully inclusive federal LGBT civil rights bill. It’s 2015 I know we have history on our side and it can be done by going fully forward. No stopping, no baby steps, one great movement for a better and fully equal United States.