Journalists, broadcasters, newspapers, senators, representatives, stand with us. Spread the word. Let us know that we are heard.

We demand the immediate repeal of HB2: a bill passed in secrecy within 12 hours. And a bill that the citizens of North Carolina did not vote for, but now must deal with its consequences.

North Carolina has worked hard to become an accepting, diverse state, so why are we, or rather the Governor and State Legislature, willing to throw away all of this progress to pass a bill that has no place in modern society?

Thousands of transgender citizens use restrooms assigned to their identified gender each day, and thousands go unnoticed for doing so, because no matter what your gender is--by birth or by identification--we all need to use public restrooms; and honestly who really wants to spend much time in them anyways? The argument of keeping our heterosexual girls or boys safe from transgender "perverts" is not only absurd, but terribly damaging and insulting to the LGBTQ population. The facts are that 4/5 sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, i.e. friend, relative, acquaintance--not the transgender woman in the next stall. (rainn.org/statistics).  A transgender woman will stand at the restroom mirror checking her makeup just like any other woman. A transgender male will try to avoid eye contact at the urinals just like any other male. These aren't predators; these are human beings who deserve to be acknowledged as a part of the gender in which he or she identifies; and part of that is the ability to freely use the restroom associated with that gender. 

And this doesn't just apply to the LGBTQ Community, think about the following: a cisgender (straight) woman walks into a restroom. Someone reports her to security. Security humiliates the woman by asking her gender. "Woman, of course," she responds. At home in her filing cabinet sits her birth certificate, sex: female. Subjected to a plethora of questions, the woman is humiliated even further. She walks out, eyes glued to the floor, cheeks burning. Now, imagine that same horrifying scene happening in a public high school restroom to any teen, regardless of gender identity: setting forth a bullying spiral, depression, and sadly in many cases--suicide. It is not our right to question others of their sex at birth, or their sex now. North Carolina's growing positive reputation for acceptance and prosperity--a state where growing awareness is building public understanding--lies in shambles with each day this bill remains in effect.

And looking at the economic effects, more and more businesses threaten to leave, or not invest in North Carolina. Hundreds of employees/future employees will deal with the repercussions of an already competitive market. Charlotte has worked hard to establish itself as the nation's second largest financial center. Research Triangle Park is one of the largest research parks in the country with Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill all serving as major hubs, along with the three prominent institutions:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University. Again, it is absurd to risk North Carolina's growing positive reputation of prosperity and acceptance. 

No one has the right to question you in a public restroom in regards to your gender. And thankfully the police have even acknowledged that this bill is unenforceable. Opening this floodgate is only the beginning to the discrimination. This is why we demand the immediate repeal of HB2. We will not be known as a state that hates. ‪#‎WeAreNotThis‬.