May 28, 2015

Equality NC Applauds Governor's Promised Veto of SB2

MEDIA CONTACT: Jonah Hermann (920) 860.1416, jonah@equalitync.org

Raleigh, N.C. – Equality NC, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, responded today to statements from Gov. Pat McCrory confirming his intention to veto Senate Bill 2, the magistrates recusal bill. The legislation, which has now passed through both legislative chambers, would exempt certain public officials from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and others.

An excerpt from McCrory's statement:

Equality NC’s Executive Director Chris Sgro immediately applauded McCrory's statement and called on both legislative chambers to sustain the governor's proposed veto.

"We applaud Gov. Pat McCrory's promise to veto this discriminatory legislation and call on our legislature to follow their own oath to protect all North Carolinians by sustaining that veto. Both actions will send a strong message that no public official is exempt from the constitution they themselves have sworn to uphold and that all North Carolinians deserve equal access to state services under the law," said Sgro.

Equality NC is now calling on its supporters to once again reach out to their representatives to ask that they sustain the governor's veto.

It is unclear whether either chamber has enough votes to override the governor’s decision.

Several House Republicans voted against the bill on Wednesday and Thursday, including some members of GOP caucus leadership and Mecklenburg Reps. John Bradford and Charles Jeter.