Governor McCrory Takes Action to Protect Privacy and Equality | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory has signed an Executive Order to protect the privacy and equality of all North Carolinians. Executive Order 93 clarifies existing state law and provides new protections for North Carolina residents.

• Maintains common sense gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities in government buildings and schools
• Affirms the private sector's right to establish its own restroom and locker room policies
• Affirms the private sector and local governments' right to establish non-discrimination employment policies for its own employees
• Expands the state's employment policy for state employees to cover sexual orientation and gender identity
• Seeks legislation to reinstate the right to sue in state court for discrimination

    With this Executive Order, the state of North Carolina is now one of 24 states that have protections for sexual orientation and gender identity for its employees.

    "After listening to people's feedback for the past several weeks on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina," said Governor McCrory. "Based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm and improve the state's commitment to privacy and equality."

    Governor McCrory has posted a video statement on the Executive Order. It is available here.

• Hi, I'm North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
• North Carolina proudly welcomes all people to live, work and visit our great state.
• We didn't become the ninth most populous state in the nation by accident. We have long held traditions of both ensuring equality for all of our citizens and our visitors, while also respecting the privacy of everyone.
• We are also a state that strives to allow our people and businesses to be as independent as possible without overreaching government regulations.
• These North Carolina values of privacy and equality came into conflict recently when the Charlotte City Council passed a new mandate that forced on businesses a city-wide ordinance of bathroom and locker room regulations, something frankly we had never seen or had before in that great city or in North Carolina.
• Simply put, this government overreach was a solution in search of a problem.
• In fact, the Charlotte City Council rejected this proposal less than a year ago.
• In a letter prior to the most recent vote, I notified the Charlotte City Council that this unnecessary and intrusive mandate conflicts with basic expectations of privacy in the most private of settings.
• Therefore, as I expected, the state took action on what was seen as government overreach.
• You know, after listening to people's feedback for the past several weeks on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina.
• But based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm and improve the state's commitment to privacy and equality.
• To that end, today I have signed an executive order with the goal of achieving that fine balance.
• This executive order accomplishes the following:
• First, it maintains common sense gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities in government buildings and in our schools, and when possible, encourages reasonable accomodations for families and those who have unique or special circumstances.
• Second, the private sector can make its own policy with regard to restrooms, locker rooms and/or shower facilities. This is not a government decision. This is your decision in the private sector.
• Third, I have affirmed the private sector and local government's right to establish its own non-discrimination employment policies.
• And fourth, as governor, I have expanded our state equal employment opportunity policy to clarify that sexual orientation and gender identity are included.
• And fifth, I will immediately seek legislation in the upcoming short session to reinstate the right to sue for discrimination in North Carolina state courts.
• Simply put, I have listened to the people of North Carolina, and the people of North Carolina are entitled to both privacy and equality. We can and we must achieve both of these goals.
• Now I know these actions will not totally satisfy everyone, but the vast majority of our citizens want common sense solutions to complex issues.
• This is the North Carolina way.
• Thank you very much, and may God continue to bless the great state of North Carolina.