SEATTLE — Seattle may be 2,700 miles away from North Carolina, but the city’s mayor wants to make it clear, discriminating against the LGBT community has far-reaching consequences.
In an executive order, Mayor Ed Murray prohibits the "use of City funds for travel by all City employees on City business to the State of North Carolina." after he says the state “revoked civil rights protections.”
Mayor signs Exec. Order banning official City travel to NC in response to passage of #HB2 → https://t.co/aI8EvqAoTa pic.twitter.com/B7frJCXUXa
— SEA Mayor's Office (@OfficeofMayor) March 28, 2016
The decision comes after the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2, which prohibits local governments from passing new anti-discrimination laws against gays, lesbians and transgender citizens.
The mayor's executive order is the second time he has enacted a travel ban. The first came a year ago, when Indiana passed a law that permitted discrimination against gays and lesbians.
"We have a very comprehensive non-discrimination law here in our city that we fought very hard for and so we try to uphold that across the board," said Danni Askini of the Gender Justice League.
While Seattle became an early leader in discrimination protections, the reality outside Washington is a wave of anti-LGBT laws.
"This is also certainly a reaction to the Supreme Court's decision last June to allow marriage equality for same-sex couples," said Columbia University law professor Suzanne Goldberg.
The move in North Carolina comes after Charlotte passed a city ordinance barring discrimination and creating transgender accommodations for bathrooms. "I'm appalled," said Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts of the new state law.
While Charlotte's mayor and many in North Carolina are embarrassed, the fallout is mounting, with condemnation from fellow mayors in Seattle and San Francisco and major tech companies like Google, Facebook and Apple.
In a statement to KIRO 7, Amazon said, "Amazon has a long history of supporting equality and we're opposed to laws that discriminate or encourage discrimination."
The NBA is considering moving the 2017 All-Star Game, which is scheduled to be played in Charlotte.
"Last year, Indiana reversed a very discriminatory law similar to the one passed in North Carolina because of the strong business response. So I think it's really important that businesses step forward for the values of their shareholders and their employees," said Askini.
Cox Media Group
