North Carolina’s new Democratic Governor vows to repeal anti-LGBT law
North Carolina Governor-elect Roy Cooper has vowed to tackle the state’s anti-LGBT law.
North Carolina has lost a string of big investment ventures over Republican Governor Pat McCrory’s decision to sign the contentious HB 2 – which voided all local ordinances protecting LGBT rights, banned transgender people from using their preferred bathroom, and permits businesses to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religious belief.
Although GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump comfortably took the state during the Presidential election last month, an apparent split-ticket vote saw McCrory defeated in his re-election battle by Democratic challenger Roy Cooper.
Speaking after McCrory finally conceded the race, nearly a month on from election day, Governor-elect Cooper repeated his pledge to repeal HB 2.
Speaking to Associated Press, Cooper said he would try to establish a bipartisan coalition to repeal HB 2.
He said: “I believe that most or all of the legislators understand the severe economic impact of House Bill 2 that it’s having on us and that something needs to be done.”
However, Cooper may have a tough time delivering on his promise. Despite his victory, Republicans were returned with supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature, and voted overwhelmingly in favour of HB 2 just last year.
Even given the economic damage done by the law, it is possible that the GOP may refuse to work with Cooper on the issue to secure general reform.
However, State Senate leader Phil Berger signalled he was open to a deal. Berger previously demanded a ‘compromise’ which would see HB 2 repealed in exchange for the City of Charlotte revoking an ordinance that protects LGBT people from discrimination.
According to LGBTQ Nation, Berger said: “That is just going to be a very difficult thing to deal with. I think it is something that there needs to be conversations about. As to how we deal with it, I don’t think anybody knows the answer to that.”
We have a few answers, Phil, but you probably wouldn’t like them.
