North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory's
office on Friday said that the Republican governor would back repeal
of House Bill 2 if Charlotte ditched its LGBT protections ordinance.
Republicans called a one-day special
session in March to approve House Bill 2 after the Charlotte City
Council approved its ordinance, which prohibits discrimination
against the LGBT community. House Bill 2 blocks cities and
municipalities from approving such measures. It is also the only
state law that prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom
of their choice in schools and government buildings.
Passage of the state law sparked a
backlash from companies, some of whom said they would limit their
investment in North Carolina, and entertainers, some of whom canceled
shows. In more recent weeks, sporting events have been pulling out
of the state, including the NBA All-Star Game, NCAA championships and
some Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) events.
“For the last nine months, the
governor has consistently said state legislation is only needed if
the Charlotte ordinance remains in place,” McCrory
spokesman Josh Ellis is quoted as saying. “If the Charlotte
City Council totally repeals the ordinance and then we can confirm
there is support to repeal among the majority of state lawmakers …
the governor will call a special session.”
The Charlotte City Council earlier this
year rejected repeal of the ordinance, which remains unenforceable.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the
nation's largest LGBT rights advocate, called the offer a “cheap
trick.”
“This is the same cheap trick the
North Carolina General Assembly has attempted all along, asking
Charlotte to repeal crucial protections for the LGBTQ community and
trust they will hold up their end of the bargain on a full repeal of
HB2. This arrangement would create problems, not solve them,” the
group said in a statement.