Is North Carolina LGBT Friendly? LGBT Life in NC

nc flag

North Carolina can be a great place for LGBTQ people to visit and make home. The state has its issues, to be sure, but no place is perfect. While state laws are not ideal for protecting LGBTQ from discrimination, there are plenty of reasons an LGBTQ person would want to live in or visit North Carolina.

Table of Contents

LGBTQ Rights and Laws in North Carolina Leave Room for Improvement

North Carolina is unfortunately rated in the bottom half of states according to the Human Rights Campaign’s index of state laws. While the state has some protections for LGBTQ individuals, such as a non-discrimination policy for state employees, the state does not extend this protection to private employers.

In the past, the state used to a have a law which prevented cities from passing their own non-discrimination laws. That law has since been repealed, and many cities now protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas of life.

Since 2014, one year before the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal in the entire country, gay marriage became legal in North Carolina.

Although North Carolina’s state laws are not ideal for protecting LGBTQ equality, the situation is improving. There are also plenty of reasons outside of state law that make North Carolina a great place for LGBT people to live and visit.

North Carolina Drag Ban Proposal

In 2022 and 2023, a few U.S. states banned drag performances in public and in the presence of children. These laws characterize drag performances as “adult entertainment.” Unfortunately, lawmakers use fear and homophobia to advocate for drag bans.

In April 2023, a bill proposing a drag ban appeared in North Carolina legislature. So far, there is no indication that the bill will actually become a law in North Carolina.

Plenty of Safe Spaces for the LGBTQ Community in North Carolina

While the state may have received a low score from the Human Rights Campaign that doesn’t mean North Carolina isn’t a great place for members of the queer community to call home. There is more to life than state law, after all, and there are plenty of reasons LGBTQ individuals and families might want to visit or call North Carolina home.

LGBT-Friendly Cities in North Carolina

Even though state laws leave a lot to be desired in terms of LGBTQ equality and protection, many local governments have stepped up to fill the void. In addition to the legal aspect of LGBTQ equality, these cities have awesome queer communities doing fun and interesting things.

  • Chapel Hill: Recognized as a leader in LGBTQ policies, Chapel Hill has had both an openly gay mayor and openly gay Town Council members. It is home to UNC Chapel Hill, which attracts young and educated people to the city, which helps make the city an LGBTQ-friendly place.
  • Durham: An educated, prosperous LGBTQ-friendly city, Durham is home to Duke University and has high scores in almost every category in the Human Rights Campaign municipal equality index. The LGBTQ Center of Durham provides support to young adults experiencing homelessness, as well as other members of the queer community.
  • Greensboro: Located in the central part of the state, Greensboro received very high scores across the board from Human Rights Campaign’s municipal equality index. The city is home to former state representative Marcus Brandon, one of few openly gay representatives in the North Carolina legislature. The city has been at the center of many major moments in civil rights history.
  • Asheville: Known for its progressive culture, Asheville is a mountain town located in western North Carolina. The area is home to several gay-friendly bars, clubs, and restaurants, as well as an annual Pride festival. It a popular vacation destination for members of the LGBTQ community.

Check out our article on LGBT-Friendly Cities in North Carolina for a more in-depth look at the most queer-friendly communities in the state.

LGBT-Friendly Employers in North Carolina

While the state may not do the best job at protecting against employment discrimination, queer workers in North Carolina have plenty of opportunities to work for a company that does not want to discriminate. After all, who wants to work for an employer whose only reason for not discriminating is a state law?

Here are some of the major LGBTQ-friendly employers in North Carolina:

  • Bank of America: Headquartered in Charlotte, Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the United States, and it employs thousands of people in the state. It sponsors pride events around the state and has a published statement of support for the community on its website.
  • Lowe’s: Lowe’s is a home improvement and appliance company, it is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina and employ over 200,000 people nationwide. Lowe’s is a major sponsor of Charlotte Pride, which takes place annually in Charlotte, NC.
  • Duke Energy: Based in Charlotte, Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States, and it employs thousands of people in the state. The Human Rights Campaign has recognized Duke Energy as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality.
  • Food Lion LLC: Food Lion is a grocery store chain based in Salisbury, North Carolina. It operates over 1,000 supermarkets in 10 states and employs over 63,000 people. It also sponsors Charlotte Pride and regularly receives high scores in the Human Rights Campaign’s corporate equality index.
  • Novant Health: Novant Health is an integrated system of doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare centers based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It employs over 26,000 people in the state. Over a dozen healthcare centers in the Novant system have been recognized as leaders in LGBTQ healthcare.

LGBT Communities, Clubs, and Activities in North Carolina

For queer people looking to get involved in the LGBTQ community, or just meet friends and socialize, there are tons of ways to do so in North Carolina. Here is a short list of just some of the LGBTQ organizations in North Carolina.

  • LGBTQ Community Centers – There are large community centers in Durham and Charlotte which provide resources and support to the community, including support for LGBTQ people experiencing houselessness, health issues, and more.
  • Pride Events – Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, and Asheville are just some examples of cities with annual Pride events around the state. These events typically involve a festival and parade, and can be a great way to get introduced to the local LGBTQ communities in each of these cities.
  • Social Clubs – Charlotte and Raleigh both have awesome LGBTQ social clubs, like Stonewall Sports, which is a nonprofit sports league open to LGBTQ individuals and allies. There are plenty of other similar organizations that offer way more than just sports – too many to list here!

So don’t let pre-conceived notions about the South or lackluster state laws keep you away. North Carolina can be an awesome place for queer people to visit or call home.

References

Related Articles

Scroll to Top