Charlotte Chamber issues ‘urgent call to action’ in repeal of HB2

Republicans had long maintained that the statewide law was necessary to counteract the Charlotte ordinance that would have ensured transgender people’s right to restrooms corresponding to their gender identities.

North Carolina lawmakers convened a special session Wednesday that could end with the repeal of HB2, the state’s controversial “bathroom law” that stripped protections for LGBT people in the state.

They said that they’ve been amenable for months to repealing HB2 if Charlotte acted first to undo a local anti-discrimination ordinance. “Today was the day that we opted to make the move as a council to do our part”. The Charlotte City Council did so on Monday.

Cooper, a Democrat who has voiced opposition to the law, said he is optimistic that it will be repealed during the special session.

Democratic Governor-elect Roy Cooper said both chambers had the votes for a full repeal, but divisions within the Republican Party killed it. The legislature has shown a willingness to go its own way, despite intense outside pressure to scrap the law. Democrats blamed Republicans, Republicans blamed Democrats, and homosexual activists condemned everybody.

Repeal of HB2 proved unsuccessful after too much opposition from Republicans… and Democrats.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts didn’t respond to a request for a comment Thursday but she did responded to a critic on Twitter saying city leaders tried to reach a compromise with the state, but leaders there “broke their word and did nothing”.

Jeff Collins is against HB2’s repeal and on the floor Wednesday challenged whether the session had been lawfully called. Chuck McGrady of Hendersonville said. That could anger some Republicans who may vote to keep HB2 in place.

“No economic, political or ideological pressure can convince me that what is wrong is right”, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest said in a statement early Wednesday. “For months, we’ve said if Charlotte would repeal its bathroom ordinance that created the problem, we would take up the repeal of HB2”. “I’m disappointed that we have yet to remove the stain on the reputation of our great state”. Durham city council members also promised to quickly pass transgender bathroom bills as soon as HB2 was repealed. Hundreds of people have protested outside the capitol building in recent days as the legislature in a special session pushed through several bills that reduce the power of the governor’s office.

The state law in question is known as HB2 – also called the “bathroom bill” because, among other things, it required trans people to use bathrooms that match the sex on their birth certificate.

The repeal legislation, Senate Bill 4, caused new turbulence by imposing a six-month moratorium on local government measures affecting public accommodations and access to restrooms.

However, HB2 has been blasted by gay rights groups.