NC GOP admits they wouldn’t have repealed bathroom provision, reaction to law continues

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

There were reports earlier this month that the GOP led North Carolina legislature might repeal its reviled, anti-LGBTQ HB2, if the city of Charlotte would first repeal its ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Now, the state’s House Speaker, Republican Tim Moore is saying that even if that had happened, the legislature would have kept the provision that has gained the most national publicity – its requirement that people, particularly transgender people, use bathrooms that conform with the gender on their birth certificate.

According to the Associated Press, “Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and the office of GOP Gov. Pat McCrory, said recently that repeal of H.B. 2 was contingent on Charlotte first doing away with its ordinance. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts quickly said there were no immediate plans to bring the ordinance back before the council, and negotiations fizzled.

“Recalling the situation, Moore said if Charlotte would ‘back off of that ordinance’ the General Assembly would ‘get rid of most of those provisions and just make sure that we kept in the bathroom piece.’"

National reaction to HB2 has caused North Carolina to lose business relocation opportunities, important sports contests and more. Estimates are that the anti-LGBTQ law has cost the state at least $500 million in business since the law was passed in May.

In other action this week reported by the AP, and related to HB2:

The Atlantic Coast Conference has moved its 2016 football championship game to Orlando, Florida instead of holding it in Charlotte, NC.

The Southern Conference decided to keep four league championships in North Carolina despite the NCAA and the ACC actions withdrawing championships from the state.

Two colleges, one in Missouri and one in Oklahoma, say they won’t take part in the NAIA cross-country championship because the meet was moved out of North Carolina. The conservative, religious affiliated colleges were Oklahoma Wesleyan, and the College of the Ozarks, located in Springfield, MO.

The Tulsa World reports that Oklahoma Wesleyan President Everett Piper said the NAIA should give female athletes "the dignity of having their own restrooms."

KYTV in Springfield, Missouri, says the College of the Ozarks cited similar reasons. President Jerry Davis called the NAIA's action "political correctness gone berserk."

“What will it take for Governor McCrory and state legislative leaders to stop holding the people and economy of North Carolina hostage?” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Copyright 2016 The Gayly – September 30, 2016 @ 11:45 a.m.