Democratic presidential nominee Hillary
Clinton on Tuesday told supporters that marriage equality and LGBT
rights are at stake in this election.
Clinton made her remarks during a
campaign stop in North Carolina, which included an appearance by
First Lady Michelle Obama.
Clinton called on North Carolinians to
elect Democrat Roy Cooper for governor. Cooper is a vocal opponent
of House Bill 2, the state's controversial bill that blocks cities
and municipalities from enacting LGBT protections and prohibits
transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice in government
buildings, including public schools. The law was signed in March by
Republican Governor Pat McCrory, who has defended the law, saying
that it's needed to protect the privacy of women and girls.
(Related: Anti-gay
group NOM attacks North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper
in new ad.)
“Let's be sure to elect Roy Cooper
the next governor of North Carolina,” Clinton told the crowd. “He
will repeal HB2, because he knows that discrimination is wrong. It's
bad for business and it's against North Carolina's values.”
“Marriage equality is at stake too,”
she added, a possible reference to Donald Trump and his support for
conservative judges such as the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a strong
opponent of LGBT rights.
“If you believe everyone deserves to
be treated equally in America no matter who they are or who they
love, then you've got to turn out and vote in this election,”
Clinton
said.