North Carolina Governor defends HB2, attacks Bruce Springsteen, PayPal
The Governor of North Carolina has again defended the recently introduced anti-LGBT law HB2, taking aim at those who have criticised it including Bruce Springsteen and PayPal.
Governor Pat McCrory spoke in an interview with The Big Show’s John Boy and Billy.
He defended the bill, which limits the rights of trans people to use a gender-appropriate bathroom, and rolls back local ordinances protecting LGBT people.
McCrory said a local law in Charlotte, which was voided by the state law, would have “allowed people to determine their own gender identity”, irrespective of “what their real gender is”.
The Governor went on to say: “If you’re a boy and you wanna be a girl you can use a girl’s bathroom.”
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Going on, adding to the suggestion that he didn’t really understand laws like Charlotte’s to protect LGBT people, McCrory added: “There’s also gender expression… I don’t know what that means.”
He also accused Charlotte of “wanting to be the bathroom police”.
Attacking Bruce Springsteen, who cancelled a concert in North Carolina over the law, McCrory said: “By the way they only had 8,000 tickets sold but they didn’t mention that. I doubt he read [HB 2] or understands it.”
He called the company PayPal for cancelling an expansion in the state, saying: “They do business in the Sudan. They cut your head off for being gay or lesbian but they can’t do business in North Carolina.”
On whether or not he is a bigot, McCrory said: “It’s the farthest thing I am,” he told the radio hosts.”
Cirque du Soleil last month cancelled gigs in North Carolina over the state’s new anti-LGBT law.
Hundreds of business leaders have urged the repeal of North Carolina’s HB2, and multiple celebrities have pulled out of appearances, including Ringo Starr and, Bruce Springsteen.
Springsteen was even accused of using “bully tactics” for cancelling the concert by one of the state’s Representatives.
But dozens of celebrities and hundreds of fans came to the defence of Springsteen, commending him for taking a stand.
Others such as Mumford and Sons and Cyndi Lauper have said they will appear but that they will donate their profits to LGBT rights organisations.
Mississippi also faces similar threats as Bryan Adams and Sharon Stone have pulled out of appearances there.
