Charlotte City Council Votes YES to Allowing Men in Women's Bathrooms Starting April 1st | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    CHARLOTTE, NC     More than 700 gathered outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Complex Building in cold, sideways-rain for two hours in protest and opposition of the Charlotte City Council's transgender bathroom ordinance voted upon this evening. The #DontDoItCharlotte coalition rally started around 445PM with a line-up of community, business, and faith leaders urging Mayor Roberts and the Charlotte City Council to vote "NO" to allowing men to enter women's bathrooms and locker rooms at any time, for any reason.

Speakers at the #DontDoItCharlotte rally included:

David and Jason Benham, Benham Companies
Dr. Gabe Rogers, Senior Pastor of Kingdom Christian Church
Jeanette Wilson, Charlotte mother
Dr. Mark Harris, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church Charlotte
Dr. Michael Brown, Host of nationally syndicated radio show, Line of Fire
Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the North Carolina Values Coalition
Bishop Harry Jackson, the Reconciled Church Movement
Heather Garafalo, Business owner and ADF Ambassador
Rep. Dan Bishop, NC House of Rep Dis. 104, Candidate for NC Senate Dis. 39
Nate Atwood, Pastor of St. Giles Presbyterian Church
Jason Jimenez, Stand Strong Ministries
Sheri Miller, NC Director for Concerned Women for America
Dr. Ron Baity, Founding pastor of Berean Baptist Church
John Rustin, Executive Director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council
    Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Charlotte, Dr. Mark Harris shared to the crowd, "I issued a challenge to the Mayor and to the City Council two weeks ago that I will reiterate today in preparation for their vote. Just like the people of Houston, Texas voiced their opinion by way of referendum...we, in Charlotte, are united together as citizens, faith leaders, business owners, mothers and fathers, to let you know that your voice will not be the last one standing. You have received nearly 250,000 emails urging you to vote "NO" to allowing men to enter women's bathrooms and locker rooms. Should you choose to ignore this resounding voice of the people by passing this extreme ordinance, it is not us that will lose today...it will be the women and children of this city that you have willingly and knowingly placed in harm's way. We will not stop until they are protected and safe once more."

    Over the past two weeks, the #DontDoItCharlotte coalition has been accepting petition signatures on their website. As of 8:30 PM, over 21,000 petitions had been received and over 250,000 emails were sent to Mayor Roberts and the Charlotte City Council. Prior to their vote, Mayor Roberts and every Council Member knew the resounding opposition to their transgender bathroom ordinance.

    After hearing over two and a half hours of public testimony from citizens on the Charlotte City Council meeting room floor, Mayor Roberts brought the transgender bathroom ordinance to a vote. This ordinance, allowing men to enter women's restrooms whenever they want passed with a 7-4 vote. "NO" votes came from Council Members Driggs, Fallon, Phipps, and Smith.

    #DontDoItCharlotte Spokeswoman Kami Mueller stated, "The Charlotte City Council members who voted 'NO' tonight and took the outcry of over 250,000 emails from concerned citizens seriously, should be applauded. Thank you to Council Members Driggs, Fallon, Phipps, and Smith for being true and fair representatives of the people. The seven others who voted 'YES' to this ordinance did so because they valued their own extreme agenda over protecting women and children in Charlotte. This is both shameful and extremely sad. Charlotte deserves better."

    Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the North Carolina Values Coalition shares, "This City Council has lost all sanity. A government mandate that says men can enter women's bathrooms and locker rooms at any time for any reason is absurd! Instead of finding a logical solution for a handful of people who claim to be harmed, the City has chosen to spit in the face of the vast majority of citizens they are supposed to be serving. Governor McCrory has indicated that swift action is expected should this ordinance pass, and now that it has, we look forward to the overturning of this ordinance by the General Assembly and proactive legislation that will prevent this from happening anywhere in North Carolina again."

    Visit this link to access an extensive downloadable press packet and materials from the #DontDoItCharlotte community coalition.

    Contact: Kami Mueller
          kami.Mueller@me.com   •  (765) 215-1334.