Dear Friend,

This past weekend I attended the 2019 Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade, whose "mission is to enrich, empower, strengthen and make visible the unique lives and experiences of LGBTQ people in Charlotte and the Carolinas."  My sister and I volunteered at the Festival and we met the most beautiful, happy and caring souls.  This event truly touched me as its message of unity and acceptance exists in such contrast to the barrage of negativity and polarization we so often see in our daily lives.   

Not every state protects its citizens from LGBTQ discriminatory practices, especially in the workplace. North Carolina has more than 250,000 members of the LGBTQ community. Of those 77% have experienced some form of discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Only 2% of North Carolina’s workforce is covered by local laws protecting workers from these types of discrimination. This is wholly and completely unacceptable when more than a quarter million of our state’s residents identify as LGBTQ.

I ask you, what truly differentiates us, as people? Is it our skin color? Is it our ethnic background? Is it our sexual orientation? I contend that these qualities may create wonderful variances within our tapestry of citizens, but it is empathy and the lack thereof, which truly sets us all apart.

As your Senator, it is my job to end these forms of intolerance.

In May of this year, the US House of Representatives passed The Equality Act, which extends anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation nationwide – including in North Carolina. Under current federal law, LGBTQ citizens can be fired from a job, evicted from a home, or denied service in a restaurant simply because of their sexual orientation. The Equality Act codifies into federal law provisions that grant equal rights to EVERY American.

As you probably have guessed, Mitch McConnell and Thom Tillis have tabled this bill and refuse to even allow a vote on it.

Fighting discrimination is not a new fight and we must be vigilant in fighting it in all its insidious forms. Yet, many on the political right continue to want to roll back the clock to a time where intolerance and discrimination carried the day.

I’m here to tell you that the days are over for people like Thom Tillis who prefer a monoethnic society to the beauty of cultural diversity. We must work to pass the Equality Act with speed and alacrity and forcefully defend the rights of every single American, not just a select few. Our diversity makes us strong. Inclusion and acceptance win over intolerance every time. 

As your United States Senator, I will forcefully advocate and ensure the Equality Act becomes law.                                                                                                                            

Thank you so much for your trust and support.  Please sign up on my website for all updates and news about our campaign! www.ericaforus.com

Erica


P.S.  We are up against MILLIONS of dollars of NRA and other special interest money.  Please consider donating $50, $100 or $250 today to help us get our message out to all voters in North Carolina! 


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{{Erica For US  P.O. Box 1236 Gaston, North Carolina 27832}}

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