The North Carolina HB2 and the Basic Rights of the LGBT Community
On March 23, 2016, the North Carolina legislature passed a bill known as HB2. This was a direct response to an ordinance issued by Charlotte in February giving special rights to transgenders allowing them to use bathrooms based on their gender identity rather than biological sex.
The HB2 nullified the Charlotte ordinance and additional protections given to the LGBT community. This conservative move had its cost. In sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled 7 championships events that were supposed to take place in the state throughout 2016. The Atlantic Coast Conference switched the football championship meant to take place in Charlotte to a different location.The National Basketball Association decided that its 2017 All-Star Game would not take place in Charlotte. That practically means a potential loss of $100 million in revenues.
Major companies, PayPal included, reduced the economic activity in North Carolina. Even singers, such as Bruce Springsteen, canceled shows and concerts.
A failed attempt to abolish HB2
On Wednesday, December 21, there was an attempt in NC General Assembly to abolish the quite embarrassing HB2. It was a complete fiasco. A bitter argument between Republican lawmakers and Charlotte’s official prevented any fruitful solution.
The Republicans demanded the repealing of the Charlotte’s ordinance in exchanged for repealing HB2. The Charlotte representatives were not willing to annul any provision dealing with anti-discriminatory laws especially in relation to transgenders. The result was a stalemate.
The bottom line is that there are no laws in North Carolina that protect lesbians and gays in contrast to legal protection given to people based on ethnicity, race and religion. HB2 clearly stipulates that any future protection to the LGBT community will not be given. North Carolina has made it clear that anti-discriminatory laws based on sexual orientation have no room in the state’s General statutes.
The situation in other states
What is happening in the rest of the United States? So far, 21 states have followed suit and refused to allow transgenders use bathrooms based on their gender identity rather biological sex.
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