LEGISLATION
EqualityNC lays plan for legislative session
Group to focus on safe schools
bill, prevent anti-gay marriage
amendment
by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff
CHARLOTTE/RALEIGH — Less than a
month after the start of the 2009-2010
biennial legislative session, the statewide
LGBT advocacy group EqualityNC is
reaching out to local communities as they
lay plans for achieving equality this year.
In a town hall meeting with LGBT
community members in Charlotte, ENG
Executive Director Ian Palmquist and
Grassroots Coordinator Rebecca Mann
outlined their plans to focus on safe
schools legislation, stopping an anti-gay,
anti-family marriage amendment, pass
ing a non-discrimination bill for state
employees, repealing the states Crimes
Against Nature statute and saving
HIV/AIDS prevention funding from
possible cuts in the state budget.
As in the last legislative session, the
group’s main focus will remain on the
School Violence Prevention Act.
Originally introduced to the legislature in
2007, the bill narrowly passed the N.C.
House with protections for LGBT stu
dents. The bill was later stripped of its
enumerated categories in the Senate and after a
conference committee restored the protections,
the Senate failed to re-approve the document.
“We came just so unbelievably close to get
ting it through last yearj’ Palmquist told com
munity members. He said he expects the bill to
be introduced in the next few weeks. It will be
co-sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Julia
Boseman, the state’s only openly LGBT legislator
and Sen. Charlie Albertson.
Palmquist
said their tough
est fight will be in
the Senate, whose
members tradi
tionally shy away
from controver
sial subjects.
“We have to
show the Senate
there is support
and enthusiasm
for this bill,” he
said. According to
a 2008 poll con
ducted by Public
Policy Polling, 72
percent of those
surveyed support
the passage of a
school anti-buUy-
ing bill with pro
visions specifi
cally protecting
students on the basis of sexual orientation.
“It is good to know where legislators stand
and what their particular issues and concerns
EqualityNC Executive Director
Ian Palmquist speaks to com
munity members at the main
branch of the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg, Public Library.
Photo Credit: Matt Comer
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are,” said Mann, who is working with con
stituents and urging themfto speak to their
state senators and representatives.
Palmquist said many elected officials are
concerned over the politics on the issue and
how it might impact them come election time.
“No one who voted in favor of this bill in
2008 lost their election due to this issue,” he said.
“In fact, the bill came up in only one race and it
received no traction and the incumbent won.”
He added, “Some politicians are seeing that
voting for the bill has political consequences.
We want them to see that not supporting the
bill carries consequences, too.”
EqualityNC will also be working to pre
vent the passage of an anti-LGBT, anti-family
marriage amendment. The religious right has
worked harder than ever to organize efforts
to see an amendment pushed through the
legislature.
“Once again the right wing is trying to
amend our constitution to end access to mar
riage and a host of other relationship recogni
tion for same-sex couples including domestic
partner benefits,” Palmquist said. “We’re see
ing a much more organized push from the
right wing this year.”
The coalition NC4Marriage, supported by
groups like the N.C. Family Policy Council and
Christian Action League, is planning a
“Marriage Sunday” on Feb. 22. Churches across
the state will preach on “traditional marriage”
and homosexuality and urge congregants to
attend a March 3 rally at the N.C. Legislative
Building organized by the Winston-Salem-
based Return America. The Rev. Ron Baity of
Berean Baptist Church is the principal organiz
er behind Return America.
Palmquist said his group will work to keep
North Carolina the only state in the Southeastern
U.S. without a constitutional amendment dis
criminating against LGBT citizens. He also hopes
the state can make history by passing the School
Violence Prevention Act; if it passes, it will be the
first time a bill inclusive of protections based on
sexual orientation and gender-identity is
approved by the General Assembly. I
info: www.equalitync.org
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FEBRUARY 21 .2009 • QNotes 7