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Martin, For over a year now, House Bill 2 has been a dark cloud over our great state. It has stained our reputation. It has discriminated against our people. And it has caused great economic harm to many of our communities. We never should have had to suffer under House Bill 2, but the former Governor and Legislature forced it on North Carolina anyway. Today, we repealed House Bill 2. We begin to end discrimination. We begin to bring back jobs and sporting events. And we begin to repair our reputation. It is an important step, but it cannot be the only step. This is not a perfect deal or my preferred solution. It stops short of many things we need to do as a state. With HB2 in place, local governments could not pass protections for their LGBT employees. With this law I just signed, now they can. With HB2 in place, local governments could not pass laws to protect LGBT people in their contracting. With this law I just signed, now they can. And this new law provides for even more LGBT protections in the future. This is just the first step -- I will continue to work hard for statewide protections for North Carolina’s LGBT citizens. In North Carolina our people are welcoming. They overwhelmingly oppose HB2, but are being harmed by this damaging law anyway. Today’s compromise will stop the economic damage hurting our families and businesses and it makes progress toward our ultimate goal of making North Carolina a place that works for everyone. Thanks for all you continue to do for North Carolina, Roy |
