Franklin Graham thanked the Charlotte City councillors who voted against the controversial "transgender restroom" ordinance on Monday.
The ordinance was intended to add protections to people based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. One of its provisions would have allowed transgenders to use the toilets assigned for the genders that they identify with. Had it passed in the Council, this would have also allowed transgenders to extend right of access to locker rooms and showers as well.
However, after a passionate session on Monday that involved around 120 citizens, the Charlotte City Council voted to remove the provision on the bathrooms, lockers and showers. This further divided the Council, with councillors who previously supported the bill voting "No" on the grounds that they could not support a "half measure" that "does not protect all of Charlotte's citizens."
According to the Charlotte Observer, the final vote came to six councillors voting No, and 5 voting Yes for the ordinance.
The decision was celebrated by opponents of the ordinance, including Graham.
"The Charlotte City Council made the right decision ... A big thank you to the council members who stood against this proposition," Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Charlotte, told the Charlotte Observer.
Graham also told Charlotte voters to take note of the supporters of the ordinance and give them a miss in the next election.
The repeal of the ordinance follows the failure of a similar proposal in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In December, residents of Fayetteville voted to repeal the city's Civil Rights Ordinance, which would have granted transgenders the same rights as those proposed in the Charlotte ordinance.
This eventually prompted the passing of Senate Bill 202, which effectively banned businesses in the state from enacting rules that prevented disrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.