Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said the city council will not repeal the ordinance that led to House Bill 2.

 

In recent days, legislative leaders said they would repeal the controversial law provided the Charlotte City Council dropped the ordinance that allows transgender people to use the public restrooms and shower facilities of their sexual identity instead of their biology.  HB2 nullified that law. 

 

In response, Senate Leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican told the Charlotte Observer Roberts' decision “makes me question if she and Roy Cooper are really serious about trying to find a solution, or if they would rather prolong this debate for political reasons – regardless of the impact on Charlotte and our state’s business community.”

 

The National Basketball Association pulled its all-star game and celebrations from Charlotte citing its objection to HB2. The NCAA and ACC also pulled their championship games from North Carolina to protest the law.

 

State Rep. Chris Sgro, a Guilford County Democrat and executive director of Equality NC, called HB2 “the worst anti-LGBT law in the nation.” He and other LGBT leaders accused Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders of “holding Charlotte hostage.”

 

On Friday, the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association announced it was trying to broker a compromise to stop the economic damage from HB2. And Sunday the Charlotte Chamber, along with hospitality and tourism leaders, called for the city and state to repeal the controversial laws.

 

In a joint statement Sunday, Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore said, “(We) believe that if the Charlotte City Council rescinds its ordinance there would be support in our caucuses to return state law to where it was pre-HB 2.”

 

The Chamber’s board said Monday it’s “disappointed” in the city decision.

 

“We applaud and support the intentions of the Charlotte City Council to extend nondiscrimination protections to the LGBT community, but are disappointed that the Council has not acted in response to the call for action from legislative leaders,” a statement said.

 

In a statement Monday, Roberts said, “the state should overturn HB2, which the state can do at any time without any action from the City of Charlotte.”

 

Meanwhile, an Elon College poll released Monday found 49.5 percent of those surveyed against HB2 and 39.5 percent in support.