Equality Federation condemned North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper for signing HB 142, a law that legislators attempted to frame as a repeal of the famously discriminatory HB 2. In fact, the new law keeps in place the most troubling parts of HB 2, including the provision that prevents local governments from passing nondiscrimination ordinances.

“Why mince words? This is a fake repeal,” said Ian Palmquist, Program Director of Equality Federation, “As a proud North Carolinian, I’m deeply disappointed that HB 2’s shameful ban on local protections will continue. While we disagree with Governor Cooper on this compromised repeal bill, we do agree on this: local ordinances aren’t enough. North Carolinians must update our state’s nondiscrimination laws to fully protect the LGBTQ community, and we’ll keep working until that happens.”

“HB2 was hastily passed without any input from the LGBTQ community just one year ago,” said Chris Sgro, Equality NC Executive Director. “Today, we returned to the legislature with a deal made between Governor Cooper, Phil Berger and Tim Moore that once again left out the ones most impacted by the discriminatory law – LGBTQ North Carolinians. Lawmakers and Governor Cooper have failed to resolve the problems with HB2 by doubling down on discrimination. Once again, the North Carolina General Assembly has enshrined discrimination into North Carolina law.”

Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation said, “We’re not giving up on LGBTQ North Carolinians. Today’s bill doubles down on HB 2’s harmful ban on local protections, but we will double down our efforts to create a more fair and equal North Carolina.”