Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has signed an
order prohibiting city workers from traveling to North Carolina over
a recently approved anti-gay bill.
“As a result of Governor Pat
McCrory’s decision to sign discriminatory and unnecessary
legislation into law, effective today I am directing all City
departments to stop non-essential, publicly-funded employee travel to
the State of North Carolina,” Reed said in a statement.
“I extend my support to Charlotte
Mayor Jennifer Roberts, who worked to enhance protections for the
city’s LGBT population, as well as to the LGBT residents of North
Carolina. Every person, regardless of their gender, gender expression
or sexuality is a valued member of our community,” he added.
North Carolina's House Bill 2 prohibits
any city, town or municipality from enacting measures that prohibit
discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and
bars students attending public institutions from using the bathroom
that does not conform to their gender at birth. It effectively
nullified an LGBT protections ordinance set to take effect last week
in Charlotte.
Georgia lawmakers approved a similar
bill, but Governor Nathan Deal vetoed it. Supporters have promised
to return next year.
Reed joins DC Mayor Muriel Bowser,
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Seattle
Mayor Ed Murray and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio in
implementing a ban on non-essential travel to the state. The
Portland City Council also approved a similar ban.
Several states, including Oregon,
Washington, Connecticut and Vermont, have either banned travel or
condemned the bill's passage.