Campus Pride calls on NC college students to speak out against HB2 and “band together” across the State of North Carolina

Campus Pride calls on students at public and private college campuses to band together in the State of North Carolina. Students in the UNC system will not allow their voice to be silenced by the UNC system President, the Governor or the State Legislature. There will be more protests and rallies. 

On Thursday, April 7, the president of the University of North Carolina system Margaret Spellings said the 17 colleges in the UNC system will follow the new law known as HB2.  She said in a memo to chancellors that the 16 college campuses and N.C. School of Science and Math must label multi-occupancy changing facilities for single-sex use. She says schools may provide single-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities that are gender-neutral.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Equality North Carolina have filed a lawsuit against HB2 stating that the new law violates federal law.

Appalachian State University students and the campus community responded with a march and rally opposing the implementation of HB2 and asking for the law to be repealed.  Appalachian State University is one of the public campuses in the UNC system impacted by the new law.

Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer issued this statement today:

Campus Pride calls on students at public and private college campuses to band together in the State of North Carolina. Students in the UNC system will not allow their voice to be silenced by the UNC system President, the Governor or the State Legislature. There will be more protests and rallies. 

UNC students have a right to express how this new law negatively impacts them, their education and campus safety.  President Spellings in choosing to follow the new law jeopardizes the safe learning environment at UNC campuses.  She is out of touch with today’s college student.   Additionally, she has put UNC system campuses at risk of losing billions in federal aid money due to the direct conflict between the new law and federal Title IX protections.

Being based and founded in Charlotte, NC, Campus Pride was among the organizations supporting the passage of the Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance a month ago at the Charlotte City Council.  As a national organization, we are committed to supporting students and we are  invested in whatever it takes to achieve ‘lived equality’ in North Carolina.  We are committing additional resources to supporting these student efforts and to ensure their voices are being heard statewide and across the nation.

Spellings was elected to be the UNC System President by the UNC System Board of Governors in October 2014. Spellings started her position on March 1, 2016.  The Governor of North Carolina is responsible for appointing individuals to the UNC System Board of Governors.

Campus Pride is the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. The organization provides resources and services to thousands of college students and nearly 1400 campuses annually. Learn more online at CampusPride.org.