The following statement was released by Charlotte Pride following yesterday’s veto override in the North Carolina General Assembly:

Yesterday, North Carolina lawmakers voted to override Governor Cooper’s vetoes of HB 808 (gender-affirming care ban for youth), SB 49 (NC’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill), and HB 574 (trans sports ban). These bills will now become law and Charlotte Pride condemns these egregious attacks against our community.

Bills like these are nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to censor the existence of the LGBTQ+ community in public spaces and deny young people the right to safe and affirming healthcare. This country proclaims “liberty and justice for all,” yet North Carolina lawmakers have denied LGBTQ+ citizens those rights. It’s certainly not lost on our community that this vote took place just days before the largest Pride festival and parade in North Carolina.

Pride started as a protest. The LGBTQ+ community is all too familiar with discrimination and Charlotte Pride will not stop being vocal about equal rights for all. We invite everyone to join us in speaking out against these discriminatory policies and hold our lawmakers accountable. At the Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade this weekend, we are partnering with Democracy NC and the Freedom Center for Social Justice to bring social justice dialogue to the forefront. More information can be found at charlottepride.org.

To everyone in the LGBTQ+ community: Know that this isn’t over. Charlotte Pride stands with you now and always.