GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina's ban on cities passing LGBTQ protection ordinances expired in early December, and LGBTQ activist Jennifer Ruppe is thrilled.

House Bill 142 prohibited local governments from passing nondiscrimination ordinances to the protect the LGBTQ community, but now Ruppe can work with city leaders to pass laws to protect more LGBTQ people.

She's working closely with Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, and city leaders took immediate action by changing the verbiage in ordinances to more gender-neutral terms.

The city is also in the works of creating a transgender task force.

"There's been a lot of change and a lot to keep up with, but it is moving in a more equitable and inclusive direction, and we're very happy about that,” Ruppe emphasizes.

She adds there's a statewide project, NC is Ready, led by Equality North Carolina and the Campaign for Southern Equality that's dedicated to making the entire state more inclusive for the LGBTQ community in response to the sunset of HB142.