Fight Over House Bill 2 Returns to Raleigh Monday

CHARLOTTE, NC – The fight over House Bill 2 heats up again Monday when lawmakers return to Raleigh for the short session. Opponents looking to overturn the controversial law could have an uphill battle.

“We already know we’ve lost PayPal. We’re going to lose the NBA All-Star Game,” says Sen. Jeff Jackson.

Jackson hopes lawmakers will listen to the economic argument he’ll make for repealing HB 2. “If we don’t take this off the books soon, it’s going to take years for us to undo the reputational damage,” he says.

But Jackson admits attempts repealing HB 2 will likely be unsuccessful without more consensus.

He says that starts with the Governor. “He’s the one who can create the political space within the Republican party for them to admit, ‘OK, we need to start walking this back,'” Jackson says.

Both sides will push their cause in Raleigh Monday.

Keep NC Safe, which supports the bill is expecting a big crowd at their Noon rally. On their website members of the group wrote, “Our goal is to show the nation what it looks like to see churches, families, and people from all political parties, in unity, praying for our leaders and asking them to continue to protect our families.”

In Charlotte, some church leaders held an inter-faith service at Myers Park Baptist Church. They support HB 2’s repeal.

Senator Jackson says lawmakers may be able to reach an agreement overturn parts of the law, like a portion that removed the ability to file non-discrimination lawsuits in state court.

But at Sunday’s service, LGBT supporters told WCCB a compromise isn’t good enough.

“What the Governor is proposing is just a, I call a soft slap in the face. No. We need a total, compete repeal,” says Rev. Debra Hopkins, with Sacred Souls Community Church.