Leaders in the LGBT community walked a petition into U.S. Rep. Robert Pittinger's Charlotte office Thursday morning with 30,000 signatures on it.
Organizers said they are upset over comments congressman Pittinger made during a recent town hall led them to take action.
They claim the congressman said employers should have the right to not hire or fire people based on their sexual orientation.
The congressman's office insists he never made the divisive statement.
SEE the full petition here.
They said Pittinger told a blogger he does not support the employment non-discrimination act and the blogger ran with it.
He sent Channel 9 a statement saying in part:
"Today, local activists presented 30,000 petitions of which only 146 were residents of North Carolina's 9th congressional district who disagree with my stance on a specific piece of legislation. The statutes are clear, that Americans are well protected already."
"His comments are out of touch with what most people in the united states believe," said Scott Bishop of the human rights campaign.
Opponents say the the LGBT community is not properly covered under current laws and it robs them of a sense of security.
"Being able to go to work and feel like we won't be fired for being who we are feeling like we're safe in an environment that we go and earn our money and pay our bills and do our daily business," said Chad Sevearance of the Charlotte Business Guild.
Pittinger said the government needs to enforce current laws, not create new ones.
In addition, he said most Fortune 500 companies have adequate policies against discrimination.
Organizers said they are upset over comments congressman Pittinger made during a recent town hall led them to take action.
They claim the congressman said employers should have the right to not hire or fire people based on their sexual orientation.
The congressman's office insists he never made the divisive statement.
SEE the full petition here.
They said Pittinger told a blogger he does not support the employment non-discrimination act and the blogger ran with it.
He sent Channel 9 a statement saying in part:
"Today, local activists presented 30,000 petitions of which only 146 were residents of North Carolina's 9th congressional district who disagree with my stance on a specific piece of legislation. The statutes are clear, that Americans are well protected already."
"His comments are out of touch with what most people in the united states believe," said Scott Bishop of the human rights campaign.
Opponents say the the LGBT community is not properly covered under current laws and it robs them of a sense of security.
"Being able to go to work and feel like we won't be fired for being who we are feeling like we're safe in an environment that we go and earn our money and pay our bills and do our daily business," said Chad Sevearance of the Charlotte Business Guild.
Pittinger said the government needs to enforce current laws, not create new ones.
In addition, he said most Fortune 500 companies have adequate policies against discrimination.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
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