Los Angeles — On Thursday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed HB 142, a bill passed earlier by state legislators that purports to repeal portions of HB 2, the controversial law that forces transgender people to use restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity, and that voids local LGBT non-discrimination protections, among other things. The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that in response, it would meet over the next few days to discuss a possible return of its college basketball championships to the state. Following the passage of HB 2, the NCAA announced that it was cancelling all championship events in the state between 2018 and 2022, pending repeal of the law.
In response to HB 2, the California Legislature passed AB 1887, authored by Asm. Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) and sponsored by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, banning state-funded travel by state employees to North Carolina and other states that pass new anti-LGBT laws. Pursuant to AB 1887, a travel ban is currently in effect for North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri. Equality California today stressed that AB 1887 requires that the California travel ban remain in effect for North Carolina because HB 142 is a new anti-LGBT discriminatory law.
“HB 142 continues to enshrine LGBT discrimination in North Carolina’s laws and is totally unacceptable,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “It is not a repeal – it’s HB 2.0, and we’re deeply disappointed that NCAA leadership would even consider that this so-called compromise comes anywhere close to removing discrimination from North Carolina laws. Local non-discrimination ordinances passed before HB 2 are still void. Worse, local governments are still prohibited from passing protections for their own LGBT citizens, including laws protecting restroom access for transgender people. The measure leaves LGBT North Carolinians without equal protection under the law and is patently unconstitutional.
We are especially disappointed that Gov. Roy Cooper, who was elected on promises that he would work to overturn HB 2, chose instead to sell out the LGBT community by signing this recodification of discrimination. The faux repeal already has been lauded by his predecessor, former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, and by hate group the Family Research Council. That alone should allay any doubts as to its discriminatory impact.
California leaders have reaffirmed their commitment that North Carolina will remain on the ‘no-fly’ list mandated by AB 1887. California lawmakers have made it clear that they oppose all attempts to discriminate against the LGBT community, and that tax revenues from the world’s sixth largest economy will not fund discrimination in other states.
Through its example, the NCAA has led the thousands of business leaders, sports figures, academics and entertainers who believe that any enterprise thrives when diversity and basic human dignity are respected. We call on the NCAA to continue the powerful statement it has made since the passage of HB 2 by keeping in place its moratorium on championship events in North Carolina.”
NCAA leaders are expected to announce their decision next week on whether the organization will resume championship games in North Carolina.
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance, and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org
