I love being from the beautiful state of North Carolina, however, when it comes to political ideologies in this state, I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of calling myself a North Carolinian. It's the 21st century and the fight for LGBT equality has been going on for far too long. It's time for North Carolina to get a grip and let people live their lives identifying however they please without fear of discrimination.

Just recently, in March of this year, lawmakers basically passed an anti-LGBT law. There is no longer protection against discriminatory acts upon the LGBT community. First off, Governor, Pat McCory signed a bill entitled, "Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act" which states that individuals must use a bathroom based on the sex they were born with, not the gender with which they identify. More than just forcing people to use certain bathrooms, the law allows for discriminatory acts upon the LGBT community. In other words, anyone who works in the state of North Carolina can be fired from their job for being gay.

North Carolina has anti-discriminatory laws that were passed stating employers could not discriminate against employees based on their race, age, religion, and biological sex. However, it doesn't protect transgender employees. It is wrong for North Carolina to implement laws that give discrimination an a-okay. Discrimination is never okay.

I am ashamed of North Carolina and this law that it has passed. It upsets me that the state I call home has such twisted ideas. This country has come too far with equality, however, North Carolina just proved us all wrong and took a major step back in the wrong direction.

I am disappointed in North Carolina. I am disappointed that people still have to protest for the rights that they deserve. And I am disappointed that this law has led people to call it, "the most hateful law passed in the last decade."

It's 2016, we shouldn't be moving backwards, we should be moving forwards.