HB2 Battle: Chamber Wants Cities to Choose Who to Protect

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Charlotte Chamber Chair Ned Curran and President Bob Morgan announced the Chamber sent a letter to state lawmakers saying cites should be allowed to create their own protections for LGBT residents.

The Chamber is not asking for a full repeal.

“Those who immediately called for repeal of  House Bill Two were left without a voice or a seat at the table,” said Curran.

The chamber again pressured Charlotte City Council to take the first steps to fix this economic problem by repealing the non discrimination ordinance that some argue sparked the new law.

“That would be a signal to the legislature that they are trying to work together,” said Curran.

Monday, council refusing to discuss the issue.

“Really, were looking to the legislature,” said Mayor Jennifer Roberts.

The Charlotte LGBT Chamber agrees legislature should come up with a plan to repeal.

President Melissa Morris tells WCCB Charlotte the LGBT Chamber is evaluating whether to stay affiliated with the Charlotte Chamber.

“We really have to evaluate all of our partnerships and where they stand,” said Morris. “If they’re standing in a place that is discriminatory, we really have to evaluate if we’re going to continue.”

Tuesday, Charlotte Chamber gave City Council a report detailing the economic fallout since HB2.

PayPal plans to bring 400 jobs to the queen city would have created another 908 jobs.

That’s a missed economic impact of $285.5 million for the county.

The chamber says we’ve also missed out on $3.7 million in sales and property taxes.

“We made quite clear that we don’t encourage discrimination of any kind,” said Curran. “It’s quite clear where we stand on the issue of trying to advance the rights of LGBT community.”

Regardless, seven events have canceled, 13 decided to go somewhere else, and Charlotte stands to lose 36 more events.

That results in a loss of more than $86 million in projected spending.

“One specific solution would be to allow municipalities the ability to go further than the state might be willing to go on a state-wide basis. We would ask for the city council to join in calling for that action,” said Morgan. “Of course, we are calling on the legislature to give that serious consideration as a solution to limit the damage some of which we’ve already experienced and more of which is at risk.”