A  Boston city councilor, Josh Zakim  has filed an ordinance to ban the city-sponsored travel to North Carolina following the  state’s recently passed bill that prevents transgender individuals from using public bathrooms which, do not match their biological gender.

The ordinance was filed on Friday during the Boston City Council meeting. The move is a response to a controversial law, signed  by North Carolina Governor,  Pat McCrory, last week.

City Councilor Josh Zakim, said that, “We are a city in Boston that values diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination.”  “I feel compelled to stand up and be counted at times like this. I think it’s important that Boston continues to lead on this issue.”

Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement, that, “In Boston, we believe that all individuals should be treated equally, and I applaud Councilor Zakim for standing up against discrimination.”

Zakim said  in a Facebook post, that, “In Boston we take great pride in leading on issues of social justice and LGBTQ equality, and we have a continuing obligation to uphold this mission whenever there is an opportunity to do so, that includes standing up and speaking out in the face of oppression and discrimination.”

“House Bill 2 disrespects and denigrates all LGBTQ individuals who set foot in North Carolina, a group that includes many Boston residents, I intend to work with my colleagues and the Mayor to pass this ordinance as quickly as possible,” Zakim said.

Nandini