Concerned Citizen Christians Urged to Act Now!
By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
March 18, 2016
RALEIGH, CHARLOTTE, – Forces both pro and con faced off this week over Charlotte’s so-called non-discrimination ordinance that allows men to use women’s restrooms, showers and locker rooms. LGBT advocates held a press conference in favor of the ordinance in Raleigh on Thursday. On Friday, opponents of the ordinance also held a press conference in Charlotte.
The Raleigh press conference, held in front of the state legislative building, featured speakers from Equality NC, which describes itself as the state’s largest LGBT advocacy group, as well as certain progressive faith leaders, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Charlotte City Council member, John Autry, and Erica Lachowitz, a transgender.
Although anatomically Lachowitz is a man, she told WNCN news she had been using the women’s restroom for years. “I go in the stall. I go to the bathroom and then when I wash my hands and leave. And they look and say, ‘What’s going on? Oh, that was a man.’ And for some reason that riles people up,” said Lachowitz.
Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, who was later interviewed by WNCN, said it shouldn’t be of any surprise that a man in a woman’s bathroom “riles people up.”
View WNCN report by clicking here
Dr. Creech said, “Allowing men to use women’s bathrooms, showers and locker rooms puts both women and children in grave danger. Commons sense tells you that allowing a man into a women’s bathroom makes them vulnerable to sexual assault. Women and young girls shouldn’t have their privacy or safety violated in that way. C’mon, it’s just common sense.”
The ordinance, which permits an individual, regardless of his or her biological anatomy, to use the restroom of whichever gender he or she identifies is set to go into effect on April 1st.
Opponents to the ordinance are asking Governor McCrory to convene a special session of the North Carolina General Assembly to address the measure before it can harm anyone. Supporters, like the people at the press conference in Raleigh, want the Governor and the legislature to leave the matter alone.
In Charlotte on Friday, local mothers, business owners, job creators, community leaders, students, and past victims of sexual assault assembled for their press conference lead by the Keep NC Safe Coalition. More than a hundred people gathered together in front of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Complex Building.
Charlotte resident Eliana Smith, a former victim of sexual assault, shared her story, testifying, “Over the past several weeks after Charlotte passed their harmful bathroom ordinance, I have woken up with anxiety and fear that I may encounter a man in the bathroom, and just the thought of this sends chills over my body. Simply seeing a man in a place that is supposed to be a private and safe place inflicts incredible reminders of the emotional trauma I experienced as a young girl.”
Dr. Mark Harris, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Charlotte, the last of a number of featured speakers, concluded at the press conference: “Governor McCrory and the General Assembly must act now to protect women and children all across North Carolina. If they fail to do so, businesses will suffer, commerce across the state will take a hit, and women and children will be placed in situations of grave danger. These are things we should not be gambling with. We will not give up until our elected officials hear our voices loud and clear. Call for a special session immediately, and keep North Carolina safe.”
Some leaders in Raleigh have cited the monetary cost per day of hosting a Special Session of the legislature as a reason for waiting until lawmakers reconvene for the Short Session at the end of April. But House Speaker Tim Moore has said there isn’t a price that you can put on the safety of women and children. Lt. Governor Dan Forest, who has the constitutional power to call for a Special Session, has indicated his willingness to do so, if the constitutionally mandated threshold of 3/5ths of Senate members, ask him in writing.
Senate President Pro-Tempore, Phil Berger, has also appointed a working group of Senators to work on possible legislation to overturn the ordinance.
Another negative component of the Charlotte ordinance with equal seriousness is the unfair way it allows government to overreach into private businesses and churches by forcing them to promote ideas and participate in events, such as same-sex ceremonies, that conflict with their peacefully held beliefs.
In other places around the country where such laws have been passed, bakers, florists, photographers, innkeepers, wedding venues, etc. have been punished for simply exercising their First Amendment right to practice their faith by not participating in events they find morally objectionable.
Business owners in Charlotte can face a fine up to $500 per day or possible jail time for violating the ordinance.
One poll shows more than 66% of North Carolinians want immediate corrective action on the Charlotte ordinance by the state’s legislature.
Another press conference by opponents is scheduled to be held at noon on Monday, March 21st on the south steps of the Capitol Lawn in downtown Raleigh (facing Fayetteville Street).
“This would be an excellent time for everyone who wants to have an impact on turning back this terrible ordinance to show up for this press conference,” said Dr. Creech. “We need as many people as we can to show the Governor and lawmakers the critical need to deal with this matter before it does harm – before it can get its nasty talons into its prey – people who live by common sense and those who sincerely morally object to a certain way of life.”
Take Christian Action Now:
- Come to the Press Conference in Raleigh at 12:00 noon, Monday March 21st, on the south steps of the Capitol Lawn in downtown Raleigh.
- Call the office of Senate President Pro-Tempore, Phil Berger at 919.733.5708. Graciously ask that Senator Berger support the call for a special session.
- Call the office of Governor Pat McCrory at 919.814.2000 and kindly urge the he call for a special session.