HB2 SHAM: NC GOP Go Back On Their Deal

Republicans go back on their pledge to fully repeal HB2 after blackmailing Charlotte into repealing its nondiscrimination ordinance

Raleigh, NC – On Monday (Dec 19), Progress NC Action warned that Republican leaders should not be trusted to hold up their end of an HB2 “compromise” requiring Charlotte City Council to repeal its nondiscrimination ordinance in exchange for the full repeal of HB2.

On Wednesday (Dec. 21), Republican leaders proved how untrustworthy they are by:

  • Refusing to fully repeal HB2, even after the Charlotte City Council repealed its non-discrimination ordinance
  • Proposing an indefinite “moratorium” on local nondiscrimination ordinances, leaving the HB2 provision banning such ordinances in place
  • Adjourning without even bringing their false “repeal” plan to a full vote in both chambers.

This comes after the General Assembly blackmailed Charlotte into removing its escape clause on Dec. 21, leaving LGBT North Carolinians even worse off than before.

“Republicans have no excuses for this sham of a session,” said Gerrick Brenner, executive director of Progress NC Action. “Republican state lawmakers have betrayed the trust of Charlotte’s business community, the LGBT community, and the voters of North Carolina. Charlotte should immediately reinstate its nondiscrimination ordinance as soon as possible to reaffirm their commitment to equality for all, and other local governments should pass similar ordinances in solidarity.”

By refusing the allow a vote on full repeal of HB2, Republicans also reveal their hypocrisy on their own damaging discriminatory law. Even now, Republicans claim HB2 was a needed reaction to a local ordinance, and they claimed the business backlash to HB2 was the fault of the Charlotte City Council. But even when the ordinance is repealed, Republicans with their super-majorities in the General Assembly refuse to budge on HB2.

“The Charlotte ordinance is repealed, HB2 is still hanging around North Carolina’s neck, and the Republican excuses for keeping HB2 are revealed to be utterly fraudulent,” said Brenner. “As employers, major sporting events, and entertainers cross North Carolina off their list of states in which to invest and visit, it’s ever more crystal clear who is to blame. Republicans in the General Assembly will answer to voters in 2017.”

“Their behavior is shameful,” stated Democratic House Leader Rep. Larry Hall. “In the nine months since Republicans passed HB2, our state has lost millions of dollars and thousands of jobs due to this discriminatory legislation. Once again, North Carolina is in the national spotlight for all of the wrong reasons.  Our state has been embarrassed enough.”

(source: www.progressncaction.org)