(New York City, NY, November 13, 2018)— In an expansion of a nationwide public education campaign, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Open to All today announced the launch of a taskforce of elected leaders from around the country, as businesses from all over New York City commit to serving everyone on equal terms, regardless of who they are. Open to All is a coalition that unites leaders in business, civic engagement, and the non-profit sector across the United States to build support for nondiscrimination and defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.

Comptroller Stringer also announced that fifteen lawmakers from around the country, including Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland and Mayor Catherine Pugh of Baltimore, have joined him in supporting Open to All.

Comptroller Stringer’s taskforce, Local Electeds Against Discrimination (LEAD), is a national network of elected leaders who support Open to All and are also taking a stand for nondiscrimination protections in their cities and states. The LEAD taskforce brings together local elected officials from across the country to share model nondiscrimination policies, strategies for encouraging businesses to pledge to be Open to All, and ideas for bringing together local communities to oppose discrimination.

“Diversity is our nation’s greatest asset and putting policies in place to fight discrimination moves us one step closer to becoming a more just, thriving country,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “We have seen too many instances where people have been turned away because of who they are – it’s discriminatory and it has to end now. That starts with government leaders taking a stand and advocating for policies that reflect our values of inclusion. I’m honored to stand with elected officials across the United States to ensure that businesses in every corner of our nation are open to all.”

By signing the Open to All Elected Officials Pledge and joining the LEAD Taskforce, lawmakers agree to:

• Take a stand for nondiscrimination in their city or state and work to create a welcoming and safe environment for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion or disability.
• Oppose discrimination against individuals or denial of goods or services based on any of these characteristics, and to work to ensure businesses provide all goods and services to everyone on the same terms.

The announcement that New York City is Open to All is also supported by Gap Inc., which recently signed on to the Open to All business pledge at over 2,300 Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Intermix stores across the country, spanning all 50 states, including 190 stores in the state of New York. Last month, Gap Inc. joined Yelp, Marriott International Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Lyft, as well as more than 1,500 small businesses and 200 nonprofits, in partnering with Open to All.

“Open to All and the work of the LEAD Taskforce is critical in this current environment,” said Open to All Campaign Manager Calla Rongerude. “We have heard from gay couples who are afraid to stop at restaurants on a cross-country drive, or people of color who are afraid to linger too long over a cup of coffee. People want to know where they will be safe and welcome. Open to All is very simple. It’s a public declaration that a business will treat people fairly—and a promise that if someone isn’t treated fairly that the business will take that seriously. It’s also a pledge to fight back against discrimination in communities across the United States. We’re inspired to see businesses like Gap Inc. and elected officials like Comptroller Stringer leading the charge and making a commitment to inclusion.”

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The Open to All coalition is a coalition of over 200 organizations including civil rights and racial justice organizations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organizations and community centers, health and advocacy organizations, and faith organizations—plus a rapidly growing number of businesses—that believe in the basic principle that when a business opens its doors to the public, it should be open to everyone, on the same terms. Learn more at www.OpentoAll.com