LGBT Graduates Consider HB2 As They Plan For The Future

It's graduation season. Seniors are getting caps and gowns, diplomas, and that frequent question: what's next? A lot goes into the decision of what to do after college. And now, for some LGBT graduates, House Bill 2 has them asking if they should stay in the Tar Heel State or leave.

Adam Plant is from North Carolina and finishing Divinity School at Wake Forest University. He's a trans male, and active in the LGBT community on campus. And he says, he's sticking around.

“I really want to get involved in community organizing. I want to work in the intersections of queer identities in faith and spirituality, and see where that takes me.”

Plant loves North Carolina and thinks this is an important time to be here.

“As much as it frustrates me when things like HB2 happen, it also makes me very proud to see the reaction of the people in my state. So I'm hoping to stick around and hope to create more positive change."

Like Plant, Kat Stephenson grew up here, and is fond of her state.

Stephenson is a member of the LGBT community, and she's angry about HB2.

When she recently graduated from UNCG, she didn't know what she'd do next. But after the law passed, she did ask herself if she wanted to stay.

“It is my sincerest hope that North Carolina comes out of this better than we have ever been, but honestly it doesn't look good.”

Stephenson's currently thinking about going back to school in the fall. She's looking at UNCG and options abroad.

Plant and Stephenson have strong ties to North Carolina, and as LGBT individuals, HB2 is on their minds as they make decisions about their futures.