RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is, and shall remain, a welcoming city for all, espousing the values of tolerance and inclusion, and a commitment to protecting all persons from discrimination regardless of sexuality or gender identity; and
WHEREAS, Chicago has established itself as a national leader in protecting the civil rights and liberties of those in the LGBTQ community, including prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Human Rights Ordinance and Fair Housing Ordinance, and legislation prohibiting the Police Department from profiling based on gender identity; and
WHEREAS, In February of 2016, Charlotte, North Carolina passed an ordinance that expanded protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including allowing transgender individuals to use the public restroom that corresponds to their gender identity; and
WHEREAS, In response, Governor Pat McCrory, a former mayor of Charlotte, characterized the ordinance as a threat to public safety. The North Carolina General Assembly convened a special session for the sole purpose of undoing Charlotte's anti-discrimination ordinance and barring any other North Carolina governmental body from enacting similar protections; and
WHEREAS, With unusual haste, in a single day the North Carolina General Assembly introduced, twice amended, and passed House Bill 2 by an overwhelming majority vote in its House of Representatives and unanimously in its Senate. On the same day, Governor Pat McCrory signed House Bill 2 into law; and
WHEREAS, This newly enacted law overturned Charlotte's anti-discrimination ordinance, prohibited other local government entities from enacting their own similar protections, and imposed unfair restrictions on recognition of gender identity and restroom use; and
WHEREAS, National reaction to North Carolina's regressive and short-sighted new law was swift and substantial, with many businesses, associations, and event organizers refusing to do business in the state, and leading to the loss of thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in business opportunities. Because of this unified action, North Carolina faces a projected economic loss of nearly $4 billion by 2028 according to the Associated Press. The City of Chicago joined in this response, restricting any non-essential City-funded or other travel by an employee representing the City of Chicago to the State of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, In March of 2017, North Carolina's General Assembly partially repealed the discriminatory law, but still failed to account for the rights of the broader LGBTQ community. North Carolina's local governments and municipalities still cannot pass their own anti-discrimination laws, and the new provisions continue to make it difficult for the transgender community to access restrooms consistent with their gender identity; and
WHEREAS, Until North Carolina acknowledges the rights of the LGBTQ community and treats all individuals fairly, Chicago will continue to restrict travel to North Carolina; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the Members of the City Council, assembled this nineteenth day of April, 2017, reaffirm our commitment to preventing discrimination against any and all persons, and will continue to restrict all non-essential City-
funded or other travel by an employee representing the City of Chicago to the State of North Carolina; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City of Chicago encourages the State of North Carolina to embrace the diversity of its residents, including all members of the LGBTQ community, and to adopt laws and policies embracing tolerance and inclusion, rather than oppression and division; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City of Chicago celebrates diversity,'and extends a message to all persons suffering under the negative effects of North Carolina's discriminatory laws and policies that you are welcome here; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the City of Chicago shall transmit suitable copies of this resolution to Governor Roy Cooper; Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest, President of the North Carolina Senate; Representative Tim Moore, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives; S. Lewis Ebert, President and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber; and Chris Sgro, Executive Director of Equality North Carolina.