Montgomery County Council approves resolution to ban travel to anti-LGBT states
Montgomery County Council has unanimously approved a resolution to condemn anti-LGBT laws passed in states like North Carolina and Mississippi. It is also urging County Executive Ike Leggett to suspend official government travel to any jurisdiction where such laws are in place.
The resolution, sponsored by Councilmember Nancy Navarro, would mirror bans on all non-essential government travel put in place in other cities and states, including the District, New York, San Francisco, Providence and Tampa. Its provision for urging Leggett would mirror a similar proposal from D.C. Councilmember David Grosso (I-At-Large), whose bill would restrict any District of Columbia official or agency from approving non-essential travel to states with laws that “affirmatively sanction or require discrimination” on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“In a troubling trend, some states have enacted laws that codify discrimination against LGBTQ people,” the approved resolution reads. “North Carolina’s General Assembly passed a law, signed by Governor Pat McCrory, eliminating nondiscrimination provisions for LGBT individuals by city governments. Mississippi’s General Assembly passed a law, signed by Governor Phil Bryant, sanctioning discrimination by individuals, businesses, and religiously-affiliated organizations against LGBT people.
“As a place that stands for equality and respect, Montgomery County should not support jurisdictions that have enacted laws that perpetuate hate, fear, and bigotry.”
“Montgomery County’s strength comes from its diversity and progressive values,” Navarro said in a statement. “That is why it is important for me to make sure that our tax dollars are not used in states that discriminate against individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Our County is known as a place that stands for equality and respect; therefore, we cannot support jurisdictions that have enacted laws that perpetuate hate, fear and bigotry.”
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