LGBT

Correction: An earlier version of this story said fifth-graders got the questions about sexual orientation and gender identity, but a CMS official says fifth-graders only took the school climate survey without those questions.

Some Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools parents and teachers say they're concerned about a mandatory survey being given in class that asks students in grades 6-12 to list their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Clergy, activists and churchgoers gathered in a show of support at Wedgewood Church Monday after an anti-gay slur was painted on the church's rainbow-colored front door last week. It was the seventh act of vandalism in seven years at the church, which reports half its congregation is LGBT. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board members voted 7-2 Tuesday night to increase support for LGBTQ students by expanding the district’s multiculturalism policy. The vote followed a public hearing on the matter that was heated and, at times, combative. 

House Bill 2 is no longer on the books. Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill Thursday afternoon to repeal and replace the controversial law. The measure easily passed the state House and Senate earlier in the afternoon. Those who oppose the repeal include people who both supported and opposed House Bill 2.

On Thursday, two bills were introduced in the North Carolina House which would repeal HB 2.

It’s been another day of surprises with House Bill 2, Charlotte, and the city’s non-discrimination ordinance. The Charlotte City Council met again Wednesday morning to take action aimed at convincing state lawmakers to repeal House Bill 2.

That’s what council did Monday, too. Whether it’ll work still isn’t clear.

North Carolina's political scene has been full of surprises lately, like last week's unexpected special legislative session to limit the governor's powers. This week, it was the Charlotte City Council's turn. Monday, the council unexpectedly repealed an ordinance expanding legal protections for LGBT people. Morning Edition host Marshall Terry talks with WFAE reporter David Boraks, who’s been following the news out of both Raleigh and Charlotte.

Each day this week, we're going to different areas in Charlotte and asking voters what matters to them in this election. Today, we're visiting traditionally conservative south Charlotte, also known as "the wedge." That's because if you look at all the Charlotte neighborhoods in the top 10 percent socio-economically, they all roughly fall in the south Charlotte area between Providence Rd. and Park Rd. in the shape of, well, a wedge.

There is a chance House Bill 2 could be repealed, in its entirety, next week.

That’s according to both Governor Pat McCrory’s office and a North Carolina lobbying group. But there are some major hurdles to overcome, the first comes on Monday night.

A record number of people came uptown this weekend for Charlotte's annual gay and lesbian Pride Parade & Festival.  

On Saturday, the revelers came early, and they came dressed in their finest.

There have been many events canceled in North Carolina because of House Bill 2, but you can’t count this weekend’s Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade as one of them.

Kimberly Melton, is the Executive Director and first full time employee of Charlotte Pride. Melton pointed out this is one event that is expected to be in high attendance because of HB2. She spoke to WFAE’s Sarah Delia about the increased security around the festival and parade this weekend.

The Charlotte Chamber reports the number of businesses interested in Mecklenburg County has declined substantially. The reason? North Carolina’s controversial law affecting LGBT people. The Chamber is trying to increase pressure on state lawmakers and city council members to make changes.

Charlotte City Council last night was expected to cast a symbolic vote on whether to repeal recently-passed LGBT protections. Council approved those protections in February as part of an expansion of the city’s non-discrimination ordinance, but they were rendered moot by House Bill 2.

A symbolic repeal was portrayed as a way forward, a sign of good faith which would spur North Carolina’s Republican-dominated legislature to modify House Bill 2.

But the vote was pulled from the council agenda at the last minute. End of story, right? Not even close.