Portland city councilors unanimously approved a ban of all non-essential city travel to Mississippi and North Carolina in the wake of state laws that discriminate against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.Click here to watch the report.Portland became the first city in the state to ban travel to the two southern states and joined at least 20 others across the country and five states.North Carolina’s so-called “bathroom bill” and Mississippi’s religious objections law have both come under heavy criticism recently with opponents saying they both limit civil liberties.Mayor Ethan Strimling said he hopes the economic impacts the bans have on the states will reverse the discriminatory laws.“This is both practical, but it’s also a statement,” Strimling said. “It’s also to let them know that if something came up, we won’t go. Regardless, if there’s anything in the pipeline right now, for us, protecting the LGBTQ community is an important value in Portland.”“It’s important sometimes to take a stand when you see something discriminatory happening, and that’s our small way of saying something about it,” City Councilor David Brenerman said.Non-essential travel means, for instance, that a city employee won’t be allowed to use city funds to go to a conference in those states.However, it does not ban employees from traveling there to meet contractual obligations.

Portland city councilors unanimously approved a ban of all non-essential city travel to Mississippi and North Carolina in the wake of state laws that discriminate against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Click here to watch the report.

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Portland became the first city in the state to ban travel to the two southern states and joined at least 20 others across the country and five states.

North Carolina’s so-called “bathroom bill” and Mississippi’s religious objections law have both come under heavy criticism recently with opponents saying they both limit civil liberties.

Mayor Ethan Strimling said he hopes the economic impacts the bans have on the states will reverse the discriminatory laws.

“This is both practical, but it’s also a statement,” Strimling said. “It’s also to let them know that if something came up, we won’t go. Regardless, if there’s anything in the pipeline right now, for us, protecting the LGBTQ community is an important value in Portland.”

“It’s important sometimes to take a stand when you see something discriminatory happening, and that’s our small way of saying something about it,” City Councilor David Brenerman said.

Non-essential travel means, for instance, that a city employee won’t be allowed to use city funds to go to a conference in those states.

However, it does not ban employees from traveling there to meet contractual obligations.