Recent bans on abortion access in North Carolina have stripped residents of their fundamental right to control their own bodies, lives, and futures. These dangerous policies hurt North Carolina's residents, workforce, and economy, and the politicians behind these attacks aren't done. The same people pushing abortion bans are also pushing harmful legislation that further marginalizes the LGBTQ+ community. But the fight to secure our basic rights isn't over.
The Don't Ban Equality Letter is an opportunity for business owners in North Carolina to join a statewide network of businesses working to ensure that everyone can live, work, and raise families in healthy communities. By signing on to the Don't Ban Equality Letter, businesses can make a clear statement to state legislators that abortion bans and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation are bad for North Carolinians and bad for business.
If you are a North Carolina based business owner or leader, join us in urging state legislators not to pass additional legislation limiting abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights in North Carolina. We are powerful when we work together.
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Don't Ban Equality Social Media Toolkit
The Letter
Dear State Legislator,
Equality in the workplace is one of the most important business issues of our time. Restricting access to comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, threatens the health, independence, and economic stability of our workers and customers. As companies with workers, consumers, vendors, and assets in North Carolina, we urge you not to enact laws that further ban abortion or discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people in North Carolina.
The economic losses from existing abortion restrictions, including labor force impact and earnings, already cost state economies across the nation an estimated $105 billion annually. As we know from HB2, North Carolina is not immune to such losses. HB2 cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars and more than a thousand jobs before its repeal. We’re asking you not to put the business community, the economy, and North Carolina’s rating by CNBC as America’s top state for business in 2022 at risk.
Simply put, public policies that restrict reproductive health care and discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people go against our values and are bad for business and for North Carolina. It impairs our ability to build diverse and inclusive workforce pipelines, recruit top talent across states, and protect the well-being of all the people who keep our businesses thriving day in and out.
We have a common vision for North Carolina’s future as a state with prosperity for all and we stand against policies that hinder people’s health, independence, and ability to fully succeed in the workplace. We encourage each of you to weigh the costs of extreme, dangerous legislation to our economy, and we ask you to take action to stop any bill that further restricts reproductive health care or discriminates against LGBTQIA+ people.
Testimonies
Photo Text: "I call on my fellow North Carolina business owners to do everything in our collective power to support people with ovaries. They drive the community and economy in our great state, and our livelihoods and our people will suffer for years to come if we allow basic rights to be stripped from our citizens." Amanda McLamb, Co-Founder & Owner, Resident Culture Brewing
Photo Text: "Our uniquely beautiful lives are hardened and constricted when basic human rights are threatened, restricted or eliminated. Choice gives us freedom to live our experience ... I encourage NC to stand together for the safety, stability and well being of one another." Jess Reiser, CEO and Co-Founder, Burial Beer Co. and VISUALS Wine
Photo Text: "I support a person's right to choose because I don’t think politicians should be making medical decisions. Reproductive freedom is not only essential for North Carolina's residents, it is also essential for business. People want to live and work in states where they have control over their bodies." David Meeker, Trophy Brewing, Carpenter Development, Elm Partners
Photo Text: "The rights of women & our transgender citizens are crucial to a healthy and thriving community for us all. Using my business as a force for good isn't just a moral choice, it's an economic imperative. I encourage all business owners in North Carolina to use their power to build and strengthen our communities." Tony Cope, Partner & Director, MYR!AD
Photo Text: "I went into private practice to be able to operate a business in alignment with my values. Therapy is political and is a space for naming the systemic oppression that causes minority stress. Bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right; abortion access and gender-affirming care should be a protected right for all." Courtney Diliberto, LCSW, Owner of Create the Pause Therapy
Photo Text: "As a woman-owned business, dedicated to driving social change through design, I firmly stand for reproductive freedom and trans rights as essential human rights that should never be up for debate. Protecting these rights isn't just about equality—it's about empowering individuals to shape thriving businesses, robust economies, and vibrant communities." Rachel Martin, Founder/Creative Director, Mindful & Good