THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

"Full repeal of HB2 is the only way for lawmakers to get out of the hateful mess they've created in North Carolina. Any attempt to pass additional discriminatory legislation will be seen for what it is — a shameful political ploy designed to give some lawmakers cover as the state continues to discriminate against its LGBTQ citizens," said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs."While some lawmakers may be ready to pack up and go on their summer vacations, there is no resting while HB2 is on the books. We stand together with these organizations and our friends in the statehouse in our continued fight for the full repeal of HB2 — and passing a law that brings full equality to LGBTQ people under the law."

The letter from the organizations states in full:

To Whom It May Concern;

As a united coalition representing LGBTQ people, we have come together in opposition to the false "fix" to North Carolina's disastrous HB 2. This legislation adds insult to injury. At a time when lawmakers should be fighting for statewide protections that cover all people, they are instead doubling down on their discriminatory mistake. No one who supports this sham is a true friend to our community.

What we are currently witnessing is a terrible re-run of the events that led to HB2 being rammed through the legislature. Instead of holding a public discussion about fixing the harms and the mess they've created, a handful of lawmakers privately planned another sneak attack that will leave LGBTQ people hanging out to dry and perpetuate harms against all minority communities. How can any legislation be a compromise when the people it affects most are not even at the table?

None of the economic hurt, legal trouble or public shame that North Carolina has undergone since March has changed the political calculus of the leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly ( NCGA ) whose intention remains to inflict pain on North Carolina's minority communities, particularly the transgender community. The NCGA reconvened in mid-April and since then leadership has made no serious effort to address the many harms imposed upon North Carolinians by HB2. Every rumor of a backroom deal failed to address the substance of the problem; every attempt was a decoy designed to distract from continued discrimination. Those responsible for HB 2 call for a "compromise." The compromise is full repeal of HB 2, which simply brings us back to a starting point where many of our communities would still be left unprotected. When every provision of HB2 is discriminatory nothing but full repeal is a true solution.

This proposal does not address the anti-LGBTQ discrimination perpetuated by HB2. It does not address the provisions that force transgender people to use restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity in public buildings. It does not address the similar provision related to transgender students in schools. And it does not restore the abilities of cities to pass non- discrimination ordinances. It continues to punish cities who have acted on behalf of the general welfare of their communities by: setting a living wage; prohibiting child labor abuses; ensuring all have access to paid sick leave; or guaranteeing that city contractors aren't able to discriminate on the taxpayers' dime.

In fact, this proposal would make life even worse for North Carolina's transgender residents and visitors. By adopting increased penalties for criminal trespass and linking them to HB2, transgender people are vulnerable to arrest simply for using a restroom consistent with their gender identity. And that would apply to all restrooms throughout the state.

No one should be fooled by this fig leaf.

We urge lawmakers, fair-minded North Carolinians, and the business community to continue standing with us until HB2 is entirely repealed.

Sincerely,

ACLU

ACLU of North Carolina

Campaign for Southern Equality

Campus Pride

Equality Federation

Equality North Carolina

Family Equality Council

Freedom for All Americans

GLAAD

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders ( GLAD )

Human Rights Campaign

LGBT Center of Raleigh

LGBT Dems of Mecklenburg County

Lambda Legal

National Black Justice Coalition

National Center for Transgender Equality

National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina

North Carolina AIDS Action Network

North Carolina Women United

The Freedom Center for Social Justice

The Tribe

Time Out Youth

UPDATE:

North Carolina Legislature Shamefully Adjourns Without Repealing the Deeply Discriminatory HB2 Law

WASHINGTON — Late last night, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned without repealing the state's deeply discriminatory HB2 law that has sparked debate and outcry across the country. Lawmakers chose to ignore the overwhelming chorus of North Carolinians, business leaders, fair-minded voices, and civil rights advocates demanding the law be repealed before the end of the legislative session.

"Legislators shamefully walked away from their job today without fixing the deeply harmful and outrageous mess they created with HB2," said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. "HB2 puts LGBTQ people in harm's way every single day it remains on the books and has cost the state not only its reputation but millions of dollars. Let me be clear: this is not over and they will be held to account. Lawmakers may have run out the clock on this short session, but they won't be able to run away from North Carolina's voters in November."

Instead of fully repealing HB2, only one portion of the deeply discriminatory law was addressed. Lawmakers passed a measure late last night that restores the ability to sue under state employment non-discrimination law on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, religion, national origin, and sex. However, they pointedly chose not to include sexual orientation or gender identity, thus leaving in place the discriminatory provision that has made it illegal for transgender people to access certain restrooms and other facilities, and the section that blocks localities from passing non-discrimination protections for their own residents and visitors.

In the over 3 months since Governor McCrory and state lawmakers rammed HB2 into law, the overwhelming outcry from fair-minded North Carolinians, business leaders, and LGBTQ equality advocates has continued to grow. More than 200 major CEOs and business leaders signed an open letter calling for full repeal of HB2 — including many of North Carolina's largest employers. Major film studios and corporations, from PayPal to Deutsche Bank, have stopped investments in the state because of the new law's threat to employees and consumers. Artists including Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Dead & Company, and Cyndi Lauper have spoken out. Conventions have withdrawn from the state, taking substantial revenue with them, and the Charlotte Chamber said in May that HB2 has cost the Mecklenburg area alone $285 million and 1300 jobs.

HB 2 has eliminated existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. In addition, the legislation prevents transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. It also compels the same type of discrimination against transgender people to take place in publicly-owned buildings, including in public universities, major airports, and convention centers.

To be clear, full repeal of HB2 would only be the start. The state still lacks protections for LGBTQ people from discrimination.