City Council unanimously votes to ban travel to North Carolina

Columbus has officially joined the list of cities and states that have banned nonessential travel to North Carolina by city employees following the passage of a law critics say discriminates against transgender people.

The North Carolina law requires transgender people to use the bathroom of their biological sex, rather than the one of their gender preference.

Openly gay City Councilman Shannon G. Hardin proposed the travel ban, which passed through City Council unanimously.

“We are a community that is focused on inclusion, focused on diversity,” said Hardin. “Whenever we have a chance to take a stand up and put a stake in the group and say in Columbus this is where we stand, we have to be loud and have the conversation.”

The resolution comes the same day an Ohio Representative proposed a similar “transgender bathroom law” in Ohio.

Rep. John Becker (R – Union Township) is concerned about sexual predators masquerading as transgender people entering women’s bathrooms, and he has faced backlash for the proposal.

What do you stand on this controversial issue? Tell us below!

4/18/16: City Council to ban travel to N.C. over LGBT law

Columbus is joining the list of many other cities and states that have banned travel to North Carolina in protest of a new law that critics say violates the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Among the most controversial aspects of the law is a provision that mandates transgender people must use the bathroom of their corresponding biological sex, rather than the one of their preference.

While some say this is a protection against sexual predators who would pretend to be transgender to enter bathrooms of the opposite sex, others say that it creates complications for transgender people, especially those who have successfully transitioned, and appear to be a person of the opposite sex.

Columbus City Councilman Shannon G. Hardin, who is openly gay, plans to present the ordinance that would ban unnecessary travel to North Carolina by city employees at tonight’s city council meeting.

Mayor Andrew Ginther supports the travel ban.

Commissioners will vote on a ban on April 26.

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