North Carolina Governor: My wife and I are being shunned by friends over anti-trans law
The Governor of North Carolina has complained that he and his wife have lost lots of friends because of hisĀ anti-transgender law.
North Carolina has lost a string of big investment ventures over Governor Pat McCroryās decision to sign the contentious HB 2 āĀ 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.
Some might say the biggest cost might be the huge economic impact on the state, or the LGBT people who now feel unsafe – but forĀ McCrory, the biggest problem is apparentlyĀ his social life.
McCrory,Ā who is currently fighting a tough re-election battle against Democrat Roy Cooper, lamented losing friends in a speech to a listed anti-LGBT hate group, the Family Research Council.
He said: “Thereās an Orwellian concept going on here, where whatās happening to me and my wife, and they plan to do this with other governors.
“Theyāre doing this to the business community. Is theyāre purging any dissent on this issue. Itās almost like the George Orwell book 1984, where if you disagree with big brother, or you go against the thought police, if you remember that book, you will be purged and you will disappear.
“They purge you. And my wife, for example, in Charlotte, she primarily stays in Charlotte. Sheās been disinvited to charity events, and basically, they call her up and they say, āyou know, you better not come. You better not come’.”
He added that friends in the business community “just this week told me they cannot support me, although youāve been an outstanding governor, we still cannot support you because HRC will attack us. And Iāve had at least 5 this week tell me that. At least 5. Good friends.
“Very good friends [have said] ‘Pat I love you, I love you man, weāll be friends for life, I canāt support you’.”
He continued: “Weāre being shunned for a political disagreement, a value disagre ement. And Iāll listen to the other side when they tell me, and I say I respectfully disagree with you, they do not say that to me. I wave to them with 5 fingers and they wave back with the one.”
