I am deeply troubled by the recent passing and signing of House Bill 2 by the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Pat McCrory.

House Bill 2 bans local governments from prohibits discrimination by private businesses.  House Bill 2 negates local anti-discrimination laws and creates a statewide law that excludes sexual orientation and gender identity.  House Bill 2 restricts the ability of our local governments to raise wages, protect employees, and ensure basic job standards.

The bill was hurriedly passed through in a less than 12 hour special session of the General Assembly.  A cowardly move by the GOP led group to not include the public in a discourse about these far reaching changes which are a true assault on equality and civil rights.

My Facebook page is replete with heartfelt messages from my fellow North Carolinians stating that they are embarrassed, ashamed, and perplexed by this regressive legislation.

Chapel Hill Joins Fight Against House Bill 2

My reaction is similar and my first question is why.  Why do members of the North Carolina General Assembly want to impede North Carolina’s ability to compete and grow?

With the major issues of public education, food insecurity and poverty, access to healthcare, infrastructure, why are our legislators choosing to spend their time making up ludicrous safety concerns  and crafting laws that are at their very core nasty and unnecessary.

As a North Carolinian born and bred, whose family farmed the land to create opportunity and prosper, I want to know why.  I want to know why because my daily experiences of growing up, going to school, living, and working in North Carolina don’t mirror what our state government is doing.

In North Carolina, including the rural part where I grew up, I’ve always been surrounded by creatives, entrepreneurs, and hard working people who subscribe to the “all boats rise” mentality.

Maybe why is not the right question.

My new question is what.

What am I going to do about this insulting action?  I don’t know the answer to that question, yet.  But, I do know this, I am going to fight.  I am going to fight to get my state back.

My North Carolina.

I promise you.  When a woman born and raised in Johnston County, North Carolina decides to fight, you better watch out.

— Wendy Sease

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