LGBT groups and Governor critical of a bill to end North Carolina’s HB2

A new bill, filed to repeal North Carolina’s controversial HB2, has been slammed by LGBT rights groups and the Governor.

On Wednesday, two Democrats and two Republicans filed a bill in the state’s House of Representatives aimed at repealing the ‘bathroom bill’.

However, in the measures, a number of add-ons were attached that have led Governor Roy Cooper and LGBT groups to withhold support.

The proposals would ensure that policy decisions over bathrooms are still taken by lawmakers in public buildings but cities could expand other anti-discrimination protections.

This protection includes sexual orientation, but only after a four-month process and a local referendum, if opponents get above a threshold of signatures.

In December, the new Governor tried to repeal the bill but reached an impasse with the Republican-controlled legislature.

HB2 requires trans people to use public bathrooms and facilities that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate, as well as preventing local pro-LGBT ordinances from being introduced.

The GOP’s Chuck McGrady, one of the bill’s sponsors, said he hoped he could get the bill through the chamber.

“It’s a bill that I view as sort of a bipartisan path forward to deal with an issue that is very complex and needs to be resolved,” he said.

Since the introduction of HB2 the state has lost numerous business and sports deals and representatives have said they want to restore confidence in the state’s reputation.

The Governor has said he is hesitant of the bill and is “concerned the legislation as written fails the basic test of restoring our reputation, removing discrimination and bringing jobs and sports back to North Carolina”.

Chris Sgro of Equality North Carolina said anything but a ‘clean repeal of HB2’ is “a distraction from the real issue.”

• Dec 31 2024

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