LGBT Rights

Here’s How HB2 is Impacting North Carolina

After dozens of petitions and artists called for the repeal of HB2, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has issued an executive order to try and address concerns with the law.

But the most controversial part of the law, which forces transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their birth certificates, has not changed. 

In response, ACLU’s Executive Director, Sarah Preston, said in a statement:

“Governor McCrory’s actions today are a poor effort to save face after his sweeping attacks on the L.G.B.T. community, and they fall far short of correcting the damage done when he signed into law the harmful House Bill 2.”

On March 23, the North Carolina legislature passed HB2, which strips away and prevents local ordinances from giving protections to the LGBT community, such as protections from being fired simply for their sexual orientation. It also removed all North Carolinians’ right to sue on the basis of discrimination, something Governor McCrory is now asking the state legislature to repeal. 

HB2 sparked national outrage almost immediately. Businesses and celebrities showed their disapproval of the law by pulling out of the state.

Both Bryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen, for example, cancelled concerts planned in North Carolina and Mississippi (which has passed a similar law) citing those states’ religious freedom bills. 

Statement from Bruce Springsteen

Statement from Bruce Springsteen

“Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards,” explained Bruce Springsteen on his website. 

PayPal announced on April 5 that it was cancelling plans to open a global operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina following the passage of HB2. This has meant a loss of 400 jobs for North Carolina. 

You can see a running list of businesses and celebrities who are protesting North Carolina on the New York Times.

The ACLU's LGBT Movement page on Change.org 

The ACLU’s LGBT Movement page on Change.org 

Individuals have shown their outrage over the law by starting petitions.

A movement to protect LGBT rights started by the ACLU includes more than 35 petitions and has over 30,000 signatures. 

That movement includes several petitions asking Governor McCrory to repeal HB2, including on by Lara Americo, a transgender woman living in Charlotte.

“[HB2] made us more visible than I think we’ve ever been in North Carolina and it’s created a witch hunt where people are looking for transgender people, especially in the bathroom,”  Lara explained during a Q&A with Change.org.  

And there have been many petitions asking specific artists to not to play in North Carolina, including the band Dead & Company.

In his petition, Steve B. asks Dead & Company, “Please cancel your appearance in Charlotte, NC on June 10th, 2016 to show that you will not tolerate codifying hate and fear of the LGBT community.”

Most recently a petition started by Nicholas Wilkins, asks Beyonce to cancel her May 3 concert in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Beyonce, you have the chance to oppose the discrimination and hate placed into law by HB2 by canceling your appearance in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 3, 2016,” he writes. 

 

Do you want to see HB2 overturned? Or would you like a business or celebrity to stop doing business with North Carolina?

Written by
Change.org
April 14, 2016 5:29 pm