Explanation
BACKGROUND
This resolution directs all officers and staff of the City of Columbus not to travel to the State of North Carolina for non-essential purposes.
In late March 2016, North Carolina passed a law which City Council believes to be inconsistent with the values and principals of the City of Columbus as they infringe of the rights and dignity of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communities
Emergency action is requested in order to immediately bring City policy in line the intent of the ordinance, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare.
Title
To ban all non-essential travel by City employees or officers to the State of North Carolina, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2016, the State of North Carolina enacted the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, which prohibits cities and other localities in North Carolina from passing anti-discrimination ordinances that protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community; and
WHEREAS, ensuring individuals are free from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a compelling government interest and an important value in the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is committed to equality for all people; and
WHEREAS, the policies of the City of Columbus ought to reflect the values of inclusiveness and equal treatment for all; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus commends and lauds the efforts of the Council of the City of Charlotte in the State of North Carolina for its efforts in passing municipal law allowing transgender people to choose public bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity; and
WHEREAS, in respect to the values of inclusiveness and equal treatment, Columbus City Council has determined it necessary to deny approval for any non-essential travel to the State of North Carolina;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of City Council, in that it is immediately necessary to express that the City of Columbus cannot abide the denial of equal treatment for North Carolina’s LGBTQ communities, now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. To ensure that the policies and actions of the City of Columbus are aligned with the values of inclusiveness and to ensure equal treatment for members of the LGBT communities, no officer or employee of the City of Columbus is authorized to approve any non-essential official travel to the State of North Carolina until such time as the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act is permanently enjoined, repealed or amended to allow local jurisdictions to enact laws protecting the LGBT communities from discrimination.
Section 2. For the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.