The UNC Young Democrats teamed up with the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender/Straight Alliance in 103 Bingham Hall to discuss legislative inequality.
Alice Newton, co-chairwoman of the alliance, said Young Democrats President Susan Navarro approached her a few weeks ago to discuss the possibility of the two groups coming together to address issues that affect the LGBT community.
"It's important if you're politically active to form coalitions with different organizations on campus," Newton said. "The Democratic Party has been supportive of LGBT issues." Newton said it is important to raise awareness and further support through networking. She said she hopes that in the future, politicians will respond to LGBT issues, which she said are traditionally ignored.
A broad range of issues was covered at the forum, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Defense of Marriage Act, Early Treatment for HIV Act, crimes against nature laws and hate crime legislation. Newton also spoke about the voting records of N.C. legislators on each of those issues.
Alliance member Olivia Ramo spoke about the employment act, which would prohibit discrimination against people based on sexual orientation.
It is legal to fire employees based on their sexual orientation in 38 states, including North Carolina. The act, which is being debated in the legislature, would give people a course of action if they are discriminated against.
Alliance member Bobby Tedder spoke about the marriage act, which gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. If the act passes, the government will not recognize same-sex marriages, and those people will be denied federal benefits.
Alliance member Trevor Hoppe spoke about crimes against nature, which include sodomy. Crimes against nature laws affect both heterosexual and homosexual couples.
Hoppe said the law is seldom enforced but that it remains in effect. The laws still exist, he said, so that the LGBT community can be denied housing, adoption and other options. "These laws have to be repealed because they're holding us down," Hoppe said.
