Republican Governor can’t name a single business that wants his anti-gay law
The Governor of North Carolina is apparently unable to name a single business that wants his law ‘protecting’ their right to anti-gay discrimination.
Last week the state of North Carolina has passed a law which voids all local ordinances protecting LGBT rights, and permitting businesses to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religious belief.
The new law also bans transgender students in public schools from using their preferred bathroom.
The bill passed the state Senate by a vote of 32-0 after all the Democrats walked out in protest – and the state’s Republican Governor Pat McCrory swiftly signed it into law.
Despite being geared to protect businesses, the law has been met with condemnation from Dow, Biogen, PayPal, RedH
Despite this, AP reports that the Governor’s office has been unable to identify a single business that supports McCrory.
JoDee Winterhof of the Human Rights Campaign said: “Given the overwhelming response we have received from businesses who are against HB 2, we are not tremendously shocked that Governor McCrory can’t name a single business backing this dangerous and radical new law.
“This is just one more indication that Governor McCrory and legislative leadership rammed this through on their own without considering the impact on business or North Carolina residents.”
The law has also attracted one hell of a lawsuit – with the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and Equality NC teaming up to file a case against the law today.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that the law has violated the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law.
It also contends that provisions pertaining to school bathrooms are in clear violation of Title IX of the Education Act of 1972, which protects against discrimination.
