North Carolina is ground zero on the debate over transgender rights. The state, after passing H.B. 2 in response to a city ordinance in Charlotte that mandated transgender persons be allowed to use publicly accessible restrooms, showers and changing rooms of the gender they identified with, came under attack. The state has experienced boycotts. The NBA moved its all-star game from North Carolina. The NCAA yanked championship venues from North Carolina.
There has been a literal firestorm over this bill that is turning the Governor’s race into a referendum on HB 2. Currently Governor Pat McCrory (R-NC) trails his Democratic challenger Roy Cooper by a Real Politics average of four points.
HB 2 however is not about discrimination. It is about protecting the privacy rights of individuals, as well as, the safety of women and children.
The Institute for Faith and Family released an excellent ad that is meant to remind North Carolina voters of this fact. It features a high school junior from Greenville, NC named Chloe who makes a plea to what should be common sense.
Watch for yourself.
“I am worried about the Charlotte bathroom ordinance. Just changing in front of girls my own age is intimidating. Now they want boys to shower and change beside me? It is not just about privacy, it’s safety too. Charlotte’s ordinance gives men access to what should be a very private place. HB 2 is a fix. It protects my privacy and safety,” she says in the ad.
This is great messaging, but it is great because it is true. Social conservative groups should pelt the state with teenage girls speaking out, women speaking out, and share testimonies from those who has already experience the humiliation policies like this has caused. I think they could probably find a few volunteers in Iowa.
HT: The Pulse 2016