Sheffron, Lee & Associates

April 14, 2016

In efforts to diminish the law’s intense oppression, McCrory announced he would fortify work protection for state employees, and try to persuade the General Assembly to adjust the law. 

Amid all the disgruntlement from business owners, the Obama administration has also put pressure on North Carolina. The administration has argued that gay, lesbian and transgender people are protected by federal laws that go against gender discrimination.

Since the law was passed, the NBA has threatened to not host its 2017 All Star game in Charlotte, and other companies like PayPal said they would not have any type of office in the state. In addition to this, Deutsche Bank announced on Tuesday (April 12) that it would “freeze plans to create 250 jobs” near Raleigh.

The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, or HB 2, has sparked fierce debate since North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed it into law the same day it was introduced and passed by state legislators.

Lawmakers passed the bill in response to a Charlotte ordinance that added protections for LGBT residents in "places of public accommodations," which also allowed transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. 

Proponents say the law is necessary to roll back Charlotte's ordinance, which they say went too far, and to protect women and children in public restrooms.

The law's opponents argue that there have been no issues in the 18 states that have similar protections in place, and that the new law illegally targets the state's LGBT community and would ope the door to widespread discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

North Carolina's Attorney General Roy Cooper said he would refuse to defend the law in court.

"We're talking about discrimination here," Cooper said at a press conference,according to CNN. "Not only is this new law a national embarrassment, it will set North Carolina's economy back." 

Many entertainers have cancelled shows in North Carolina and executives from more than 100 companies signed an open letter calling on state legislators to repeal the law, from Starbucks, Facebook and Apple to Wells Fargo, Citibank and Kellogg Company.  Pay-Pal recently nixed plans to open a 400-employee global operations center in North Carolina.