The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) will no longer consider Charlotte and other cities in North Carolina as future sites for AWP’s Annual Conference & Bookfair as long as North Carolina has its so-called “bathroom law” (House Bill 2 “The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act”) that discriminates against members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community.

The AWP Annual Conference & Bookfair generates $30 million in economic activity for its host city. Attracting 12,000 attendees from all across North America, it is the largest literary conference held in the U.S.

AWP will no longer consider other cities for prospective conference sites if the states of those cities pass similar anti-LGBTQ “bathroom laws.”

If AWP has contracted to hold its conference in a city and its state passes such a law after the conference contracts were executed, AWP will honor those contracts, but AWP will not return to that city as long as such a law is extant there.

You can view the full press release in our Press Room.