Being Queer, in Some States, Means Fear
Marriage equality may be the law of the land, but the fight for LGBT+ rights is far from over. As a queer person from North Carolina, I am all too aware of this. Over the past year, the phrase “bathroom bill” has become synonymous with North Carolina, after my state passed a bill that discriminated against the rights of LGBT+ Americans. Known as HB2, the bill required North Carolinians to use the bathroom assigned by their birth certificate in public places and banned legal protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.The bill was incredibly harmful and cost the state an estimated $4 billion, as well as the honor of hosting the NBA All-Star game, an event that would have made the city of Charlotte millions of dollars.
After the National Collegiate Athletics Association threatened a 5 year ban on hosting games in the state if there was no repeal, the state essentially did a repeal and replace. Despite the state referring to this new bill as a “compromise”, HB 142 keeps in place the ban of anti-discrimination laws through 2020. It’s not clear yet whether or not the NCAA will be satisfied with the bill that essentially served as a repeal and replace, but human rights organizations definitely aren’t. In the days post HB2, republican state lawmakers introduced House Bill 780. Stating that the Supreme Court overstepped its boundaries, the bill looks to ban same sex marriage in the state of North Carolina. The bill has little to no chance of getting passed, and it’s doubtful that it will ever be heard in court.
North Carolina isn’t the only state to have such laws, it’s just the most publicly known. The fight for transgender rights is taking place across the country. Gavin Grimm, a transgender teen fighting for his right to use the school bathroom of his choice, was set to have his case heard by the supreme court earlier this month. Unfortunately, due to the Trump administration rescinding policy made under the Obama administration on protecting transgender rights in school, Grimm’s case was sent back to the fourth circuit.
Grimm’s case and the repeal of HB2 show that even under an administration detrimental to LGBT rights, victories can still be won.
