On June 26, 2015, Americans witnessed one of the biggest victories for the LGBTQIA community when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that states could no longer ban same-sex marriage. That day, the White House was illuminated in rainbow colors, social media feeds exploded in pride and media outlets across the nation declared this as an enormously positive step for the country.
Since this decision, it seems as though issues within the LGBTQIA community have been discussed less and less. To many people, the Supreme Court’s decision was believed to signify the success of the movement and the end of a long fight for justice.
The Supreme Court’s decision was, in fact, monumental, but it was by no means the end of the fight. Discrimination, hate and fear still exist widely throughout our country, and nothing makes this more obvious than the recent passage of House Bill 2 in North Carolina.
The bill Gov. Pat McCory signed into law March 23 is perhaps one of the most discriminatory laws passed in recent years, showing us that the movement is still relevant and we have much further to go.
The bill is primarily a response to Charlotte’s ordinance banning the discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This primarily affects transgender people’s choice of restroom, making it illegal for individuals to use a restroom that does not align with their assigned biological sex. It also prevents children over the age of seven from entering the restroom with their parents if they are of the opposite sex.
But it doesn’t stop there. The bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin and biological sex. By saying biological sex and not gender, it excludes transgender people entirely from its anti-discrimination statement.
In addition, by not including sexual orientation, it excludes all members of the LGBTQIA community, thus making it legal to discriminate against them, overturning many local ordinances within the state. This means that a person can be fired from their job, denied housing or even turned away at a restaurant simply because of their sexual orientation.
Finally, it goes on to make it illegal to sue the state for instances of discrimination, causing victims to have to sue federally, which is more timely, tedious and costly. It also includes other random pieces of legislation in Part 2 of the bill, such as preventing local governments from establishing a minimum wage and regulating hours and benefits, both of which all have nothing to do with the discrimination and women’s privacy which is what the bill is supposed to be all about.
It is commendable that Elon reaffirmed its stance on anti-discrimination in a statement, and The Pendulum fully supports the denouncement of the bill. To deny anyone their rights based solely on whom they love or the gender with which they identify goes against the standards of equality upon which this country was founded.
While Elon is a private institution and the bill does not directly affect us, it is crucial that Elon students recognize the importance of the law and the potential harm it can cause for the greater community. No one should fall victim of discrimination in any sense, and we must continue to fight against this bill and towards justice for the LGBTQIA community.