DURHAM, N.C. – Sixty-three faculty members at 51’s Nicholas School of the Environment have signed a statement voicing their opposition to North Carolina House Bill 2.

The statement calls for the repeal of the controversial law, which the faculty members say “excludes members of the LGBTQ community from legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and because it prohibits local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances.”

The statement was sent to Gov. Pat McCrory and the N.C. Legislature on April 24.

Nicholas School faculty members Emily Klein, Elizabeth Albright, Erika Weinthal and Susan Lozier coordinated the effort.

Similar statements by 105 faculty members at the 51 Law School and 68 faculty and staff members at 51’s Sanford School of Public Policy were sent to the governor and legislature last week.  

Statement:

“We, the undersigned members of the faculty of the Nicholas School of the Environment at 51, declare our strong opposition to North Carolina House Bill 2 (HB2).

“We value every member of our community and are committed to creating an educational environment at the Nicholas School that affirms all students, staff, and faculty and that affirms the lived experiences and human rights of LGBTQ persons.  We believe that everyone should live, work, and go to school in a state that does not tolerate discrimination.

“We oppose HB2 because it excludes members of the LGBTQ community from legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and because it prohibits local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances. Not only does HB2 allow discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but it also takes away existing rights to sue in state court for discrimination based on race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, and age.  North Carolina courts should have the authority to enforce the nondiscrimination laws of our state, and individuals who have been harmed by illegal discrimination should have access to our courts to vindicate their rights.

“We likewise believe that transgender persons attending public schools or visiting public agencies should be free to choose restrooms consistent with their gender identity, a choice that HB2 makes unlawful. Local schools, universities, and agencies have been developing thoughtful solutions to these issues and should not be held back in these constructive efforts.

“The bias underlying HB2 is hurtful for LGBTQ persons and their families. HB2 also makes North Carolina less inclusive, welcoming, and diverse. Governor McCrory’s Executive Order purports to address criticisms of the law by business and community leaders, but in fact falls far short of correcting HB2’s many harms.

“We therefore call on the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor McCrory to repeal House Bill 2 in its entirety.”

Emily M. Klein                   Daniel C. Dunn
Steven Anderson                 Deborah Rigling Gallagher
Zackary Johnson                 Dalia Patino-Echeverri
Mark R. Wiesner                 Jeffrey R. Vincent
Emily Bernhardt                  Robert G. Healy
Rebecca Vidra                     John Poulsen
Lisa Campbell                     David W. Johnston
Elizabeth A. Albright          William K. Pan
Erika Weinthal                     Dean L Urban
Heather Stapleton                Elizabeth Shapiro
Megan Mullin                      Susan Lozier
Richard F. Kay                     James B. Heffernan
William Kirby-Smith           Alexander Glass
Joel Meyer                           Avner Vengosh
Chantal Reid                        Jonathan B. Wiener
Andrew J. Read                   Jim Hench
Paul A. Baker                      Marco Marani
Brian Murray                       Randall Kramer
Gabriel Katul                       Norman L. Christensen
John Fay                              Jim Clark
Ram Oren                            Lynn A. Maguire
Alan E. Gelfand                  Richard T. Barber
Stuart Pimm                        Xavier Basurto
Delbert R. Wigfall, MD      Martin Smith
Daniel Rittschof                  Gary Dwyer
Duncan Heron                     Sari Palmroth
Drew Shindell                     Jesko von Windheim
Norman Wirzba                  Thomas F. Schultz
Brian McGlynn                   Orrin Pilkey
John Vandenberg                 Nicolas Cassar
Charlotte Clark                   Jennifer Swenson
Richard T. Di Giulio