More than 125 elected officials and organizations in North Carolina recently crafted and signed an open letter denouncing violence and hateful rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community.

Just this year, there have been more than one dozen attacks against drag artists and drag performances in the state — as well as countless threats of violence toward LGBTQ+ people. The letter, published on Wednesday in cooperation with the Equality NC nonprofit, stated hateful racist threats were used to instill fear in organizers of story hours and other events hosted by drag queens. At times, the threats caused these events to be canceled or relocated to protect young people planning to attend or be nearby. A group of LGBTQ+ elected officials said they would not let this stand.

“We saw vandalism of venues that hosted drag performances. We saw Pride events canceled or rescheduled due to death threats and security concerns. We saw organized efforts to harass and intimidate drag artists, organizers of LGBTQ+ events, advocates, leaders, and even attendees of these events. We saw municipal officials and state legislators attempt to take away the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ people. And within the last month, we saw a transgender policymaker resign from her position after intense harassment by right-wing groups.”

The statement added across the United States, there was a record number of pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. It stated there were also violent attacks on trans women, especially trans women of color, on transgender and gender-nonconforming youth in schools and on LGBTQ+ gathering spaces. 

“It is outrageous that, while it has been 50 years since Stonewall, we continue to see the policies and attacks that led to those historic protests happening today. LGBTQ+ people are a vital part of the history and beauty of this state and of this country. Our existence, dignity, and rights are not up for debate. LGBTQ+ peoples’ lives and identities are not an opinion or a policy stance or a talking point. We are human beings.”

The letter said over the next few months, officials will work with other policy makers across the state to pass resolutions affirming their support for the LGBTQ+ community and drag artists. They added they encourage the state’s leaders to proactively address the rise in hateful attacks and rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people.

Queer leaders who wrote the statement included Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils, Carrboro Council Member Eliazar Posada, Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Karen Stegman and Hillsborough Mayor Pro Tem Matt Hughes.

Other local LGBTQ+ elected officials who signed the letter were Orange County Board of Education member Sarah Smylie, Orange County Clerk of Superior Court Mark Kleinschmidt and Durham County District Attorney Santana Deberry.

Below is a list of other local leaders from Orange County who signed the statement in solidarity.

Chapel Hill: Mayor Pam Hemminger, Council Member Amy Ryan, Council Member Paris Miller-Foushee

Carrboro: Mayor Pro Tem Susan Romaine, Council Member Barbara Foushee, Council Member Danny Nowell

Hillsborough: Mayor Jennifer Weaver, Commissioner Mark Bell, Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson

Orange County: Board of Commissioners Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Commissioner Sally Greene

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools: Board of Education Chair Rani Dasi, Board of Education Vice Chair George Griffin, Board of Education Member Mike Sharp

Orange County Schools: Board of Education Member Carrie Doyle

State Officials: Senator-Elect Graig Meyer of North Carolina Senate 23, Representative-Elect Renée Price of North Carolina House 50

Nationally, the LGBTQ+ community is celebrating a major benchmark. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act — which passed with bipartisan support in Congress. The act codified law protections for same-sex and interracial couples.

Hughes said he was invited to travel from Hillsborough to Washington D.C. to be present for the signing ceremony.

“As a biracial gay man, this legislation is doubly important to me,” Hughes said on Twitter. “And Democrats got it done in the face of a radical Supreme Court.”

To read the full statement, click here.

 

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