The Carrboro Board of Aldermen spoke out against NC House Bill 2 in an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon.

“We want to be out front as a municipality, as a county, with our outrage at House Bill 2,” said mayor Lydia Lavelle. “And lead the way for other counties and municipalities to follow.”

The aldermen unanimously approved condemning the governor and every member of the state legislature that voted for House Bill 2.

They also unanimously passed a resolution that among other things, called for the General Assembly to repeal the bill.

Alderman Sammy Slade called the bill “hate legislation.”

The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2 Wednesday, which would prevent cities from passing laws allowing transgender people to use public restrooms for the gender they identify with.

“One of the most troubling parts of this legislation is the part that appears to make it impossible to bring civil action in North Carolina courts on the basis of racial discrimination,” alderman Damon Seils said. “And other categories, disability, age, sex, all of the ones we’re very familiar with.”

After passing both resolutions, the board opened the floor to public that wished to speak.

The crowd in the Carrboro Town Hall was brought to their feet when Amanda Ashley, a transgender woman and a former candidate for mayor of Carrboro, addressed the board.

“This Carrboro government is the best of us, it represents what North Carolina is and who we are,” she said. “As a person of color, as a U.S. veteran, as a trans-lesbian, I do not feel appreciated in this state. Much effort has gone into hate. Words, resolutions and votes are simply not enough.

A number of local politicians were also in attendance, including five members of the Chapel Hill Town Council, three members of the Board of County Commissioners, as well as state legislators Valerie Foushee, Mike Woodward and Graig Meyer.

“This is not about bathrooms,” Chapel Hill councilwoman Jessica Anderson said. “But if we are using bathrooms as a metaphor for this, I will go with you. I know there are other straight white folks who will go with you and as a soon-to-be mother of two, I’m very comfortable with my children being in the bathroom with anybody, except anybody who voted for this bill.”

Commissioner Penny Rich also said the county would be working to provide more inclusive spaces for residents.

“Before this all started (the commissioners) started looking into having gender-neutral bathrooms in all of the county buildings,” Rich said. “I know this is not about bathrooms but that’s where it started so we’re going to fix that.”

She said only two buildings in the county would need to be retrofitted to accommodate these changes.

The Chapel Hill Town Council will be meeting on Monday to pass a similar resolution.

Rich said the county would be joining in any lawsuit filed against House Bill 2.

Related Stories
‹
Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill Honor 50 Years of Cat's Cradle
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen’s chambers were crowded with local musicians and members of the local music community to see the board pass a joint resolution with the Town of Chapel Hill to honor and celebrate the music venue Cat’s Cradle last week. The resolution declared 2019 the ‘Year of the Cradle,’ an idea brought […]
INDY Week Releases Endorsements for Local Elections
The alternative weekly newspaper INDY Week released their endorsements for the Orange County municipal elections on Tuesday evening. In the Chapel Hill mayoral race, the paper endorsed mayoral candidate and incumbent Pam Hemminger, citing her work securing the affordable housing bond in 2018 and her prioritization of combating climate change as main reasons it is […]
Endorsements Continue as Local Elections Approach in Chapel Hill, Carrboro
Candidates in the upcoming Chapel Hill and Carrboro municipal elections received endorsements from the NEXT Chapel Hill & Carrboro advocacy group. NEXT, which describes itself as a group that supports progressive values in the two towns, shared the candidates the group supports in the 2019 election races on Monday. It said it evaluated candidates based […]
Halfway Through 2019 Election Filing Period, Orange County Races Taking Shape
There's still one week left to go in the filing period for this year's municipal elections, but there's already a crowded field of candidates.
Endorsements In From INDY Week, Breakfast Club
They agree on Carrboro, Hillsborough and CHCCS, but disagree on Chapel Hill. (No Breakfast Club endorsement for Chapel Hill Mayor?)
Endorsements Rolling In For OC Candidates
For Chapel Hill Town Council, CHALT rejected the incumbents and the Sierra Club found only three candidates to endorse.
NEXT: New Local Advocacy Group Hosts Candidate Forums
Chapel Hill residents: head to the Varsity this Thursday at 7. Carrboro residents: head to the Looking Glass next Thursday at 7.
Chapel Hill Joins Fight Against House Bill 2
Following Carrboro’s lead, the Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for the repeal of House Bill 2 in an emergency meeting Monday night. They also passed a second resolution condemning governor Pat McCrory and every representative that voted for the bill. “We are going to be the same community we have always been,” […]
Unopposed Carrboro Candidates Use Campaign Season to Promote Voter Turnout
Municipal races will be over in less than a month, and candidates in Carrboro are taking the opportunity to urge voters to make their voice heard. While most eyes in local politics are focusing on the races for Chapel Hill Mayor and Town Council as well as the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City School Board, […]
Local Governments Ending 2014 With Much on Their Plates
This past week was a busy one for people working in local governments all across Orange County.
›