Seattle Mayor defends trip to China, says country ‘slowly’ moving in right direction
May 11, 2016, 7:48 AM | Updated: 11:18 am
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, seen here in Shenzhen, China, told Seattle's Morning News that the connection between China's past and the law being debated in North Carolina can't be compared. (Ed Murray via Twitter)
(Ed Murray via Twitter)
Though China is “hardly a heaven” for the LGBTQ community, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray says in terms of discrimination China and North Carolina are uncomparable.
The mayor’s visit to China was called into question since he banned travel to North Carolina for official business by city employees earlier this year. A North Carolina law overrides existing LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances in the state, banning transgender people from using restrooms that match their gender identity.
Though China hasn’t been a shining example for human rights, Murray says the country is moving forward, unlike North Carolina.
Related: Opponent of transgender access says law violates women’s boundaries
“I don’t think you can make the connection between people who are trying to turn back 50 years of civil rights legislation in the United States and actually enact legislation that would discriminate, versus a country that is moving away from legal discrimination of LGBT people,” Murray told KIRO Radio’s Colleen O’Brien on Seattle’s Morning News.
Murray says these are new issues for China; not so much for a state in the US.
The Seattle mayor is spending three days in Japan and two days in China. He’s joined by business executives, economic development officials, and academic leaders to promote trade and strengthen business and cultural ties.
Murray says China is different from other countries that persecute those in the LGBTQ community.
“This is hardly a heaven for gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender people,” Murray said. However, “this is a country moving slowly in the right direction.
“I’m quite surprised by — not exactly sure where this criticism is coming from,” he continued. “I think if I were traveling to Gaza or Egypt, where gays and lesbians are being persecuted and executed … that would be a different situation. But it seems like there’s a misunderstanding about the slow progress — but progress — that China and, really, many Asian countries are beginning to make.”
Murray points out that China is one of the largest trading partners with Washington.
Follow @https://twitter.com/mynorthwest
