Cresent Fine Furniture Opposes HB2

April 13, 2016  by in Industry   

The third generation, family-owned company’s full statement can be found here: 

“Cresent Furniture stands opposed to the HB2 Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act that was passed by a special session of the North Carolina state legislature and signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory. We cannot support legislation that enables, condones or encourages discrimination against any class of individuals with respect to hiring and workplace bias, minimum wage standards or public accommodation.

In response to the legislation, Cresent executives Richard Tomkins, Taylor Condra and Joseph Condra forwarded a letter to Governor McCrory articulating Cresent’s position that HB2 is misguided, harmful to businesses that operate in the state and should be repealed. The letter states that Cresent Furniture has a consistent and longstanding policy of workplace and customer inclusion, and that HB2 runs counter to the core principles of equality upon which our company, North Carolina and the United States have been built. 

The home furnishings industry has a long history of embracing creativity, diversity, self expression and individual respect. It is Cresent’s hope that those who join the company in their opposition to this legislation do so by petitioning Governor McCrory and those at the state and federal level with the authority to affect its repeal.

We believe that attending High Point Market demonstrates support for the industry and not support for discriminatory legislation that stands contrary to the commitment that we have demonstrated to our employees and retail partners since our founding in 1947.

Cresent looks forward to welcoming a diverse and creative group of industry partners to High Point Market on April 15 while continuing to work towards the repeal of HB2.”

Governor McCrory recently signed Executive Order 93 addressing concerns over HB2, which he says clarifies the bill and also “provides new protections for North Carolina residents,” according to a news release from his office.

“Gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities” in government buildings and schools will remain in place, according to the order. But the private sector can “establish its own restroom and locker room policies” and “non-discrimination employment policies for its own employees.” 

The order also extends the state’s “equal employment opportunity policy to clarify that sexual orientation and gender identity are included.” 

LGBT advocates and community members have denounced the move as a deflective measure.