N.C. governor calls for ‘bathroom bill’ repeal
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Following a surprise move by the Charlotte City Council on Monday, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has called for a special session Wednesday to consider repeal of House Bill 2.
The governor’s statement came in a series of rapidly unfolding events that could signal an end to the ninemonth drama that has catapulted North Carolina into national headlines. HB2, seen by critics as an anti-LGBT measure, prompted boycotts and cost the state millions in lost jobs.
Monday’s events also underscored the continuing tensions between Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov.-elect Roy Cooper.
McCrory’s call came hours after the Charlotte City Council voted 10-0, with the support of Cooper and Democratic Mayor Jennifer Roberts, to rescind the LGBT ordinance that prompted HB2.
“This sudden reversal, with little notice after the gubernatorial election has ended, sadly proves this entire issue, originated by the political left, was all about politics at the expense of Charlotte and the entire state of North Carolina,” McCrory said in a video statement.
Cooper, who lobbied for the council action, announced earlier that GOP legislative leaders had promised to repeal HB2.
“Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore assured me that as a result of Charlotte’s vote, a special session will be called for Tuesday to repeal HB2 in full,” Cooper said in a statement. “I hope they will keep their word to me and with the help of Democrats in the legislature, HB2 will be repealed in full.”
In a joint statement of their own, Berger and Moore said politics was behind the council vote.
“Today Roy Cooper and Jennifer Roberts proved what we said was the case all along: Their efforts to force men into women’s bathrooms and shower facilities was a political stunt to drive out-ofstate money into the governor’s race,” the Republican leaders said. “For months, we’ve said if Charlotte would repeal its bathroom ordinance that created the problem, we would take up the repeal of HB2.”