Assembly Speaker, LGBT Caucus Chair Call New North Carolina Law Inadequate, Say California Must Maintain its Travel Ban

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) and Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, strongly condemned North Carolina’s move to repeal only select aspects of HB 2, that state’s law to discriminate against transgender people in public restroom access.

“The new bill is a recognition that most of the country finds anti-LGBT discrimination intolerable,” Rendon said. “But it only cloaks a willingness to allow continued discrimination by preventing local anti-discrimination laws. HB 142 only protects North Carolina’s economic interests, not its residents.”

"Don’t be fooled by the smoke and mirrors. With the passage of HB 142, North Carolina’s discrimination against LGBT people remains in place,” Low said. “Until they are serious about respecting the rights of all Americans, North Carolina will continue to face the economic consequences of their anti-LGBT policies."

California enacted a travel ban on states like North Carolina that have passed laws discriminating against the LGBT community. On March 30, Low and the Legislative LGBT Caucus sent a letter to NCAA officials requesting they refrain from scheduling games in states with anti-LGBT laws.

“Welcoming diversity is the moral thing to do, and celebrating it has helped make California the world’s sixth largest economy,” Rendon added. “The tax revenues from our vibrant economy should not go to aid discrimination.”

Website of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon: speaker.asmdc.org
Website of Assemblymember Evan Low: a28.asmdc.org