@NotVerySmart I take your point about punishing the people of the state, but it’s hard to see what else to do. Certainly reasoning with these politicians doesn’t work, nor does appealing to the better angels of their natures. And I don’t think we can just let laws like this stand. In theory, eventually the people will put two and two together, and elect themselves more reasonable people.
I love your point #2. Methinks in the rush to demonize transgenders, they didn’t quite think this through. 
@Hunt except I read in Huff Post
"Even without formal enforcement mechanisms in place, officials with the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, told HuffPost it worries that schools may still suspend or expel trans students who use the bathroom they feel most comfortable with, and police could arrest people for charges like disorderly conduct or criminal trespass. "
You think schools like mass protests? That’s what they’ll get if they discipline students under those circumstances.
Sorry 'bout that. It had the banned CC “T” word in the link.
Try this:
Similar to #periodsforpence, someone created the hashtag #peeingforpat
Also, re corporate threats, the companies really have no choice themselves. They are courting young people as current and future customers, and young people overwhelmingly object to these laws. So if the companies don’t take a stand, their own customers might strike at them. As we know, corporations are people now. They’re expected to have a moral viewpoint and they’re expected to act accordingly.
This post was far back in the thread, but I really feel strongly about this issue, and had to reply. Showing NC who’s boss would feel good for the rest of the country (myself included), but that would last about 5 minutes. Then we’d be punishing the 48% of the state (or even 51%, given the prevalence of gerrymandering) that thinks these laws are asinine along with the people who support them. We’d also make the problem worse, not better; I’d like to think the legislators who passed this law simply have the dreaded “Bigoted pond scum” gene, but the more likely explanation is that their own schools needed more K-12 funding - not less."
The NC governor and the NC legislature should have thought about the consequences to their citizens and to their state coffers before passing legislation which is in violation of federal statutes. IMO, they are the ones punishing their citizens - not the Feds. They chose their bed.
Personally, I don’t want any of my federal tax dollars (or any of my discretionary funds) going to NC or any state which willfully enacts laws that discriminate against specific classes of people. North Carolina is welcome back when they choose to re-enter the 21st century.
If people who oppose the law work to change it that’s great - but in the meantime NC has to pay for the actions they took.
Hunt, I don’t see what the law having no punishment for “violators” has to do with this issue. It has to strictly with NC passing laws which discriminate against specific classes of people. It doesn’t make the law OK because there are no punishments.
“Pence backed off his so-called religious freedom law REAL fast, once Coke and Apple and the NCAA started chiming in. When push came to shove, he wasn’t willing to penalize his state. But these governors are, apparently. Why?”
Because they believe somehow the outcome will be different this time?
Here is what we received from the UNC-CH Math Dept:
https://corollaries.unc.edu/files/2016/04/HB2-statement.pdf
Interesting sentence:
That’s what I can’t quite figure. They can’t be that stupid, can they? Or maybe their hatefulness is just that much greater than their fear of the voters. Or (this is probably the correct answer) they’re well aware that hatefulness is exactly what the voters want. 
I read a blog that put forth they are doing this for re-election purposes emboldened by the huge segment of Donald Trump supporters winning NC … i.e. backlash against political correctness and that these supporters want discrimination…?? go figure
I’ll take door number 3.
They will also all be re-elected.
A friend of mine works for one of the big news networks and just sent me this - hot off the presses:
Office of the Governor
Press Release
Governor McCrory Takes Action to Protect Privacy and Equality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (919) 814-2100
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 govpress@nc.gov
Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory has signed an Executive Order to protect the privacy and equality of all North Carolinians. Executive Order 93 clarifies existing state law and provides new protections for North Carolina residents.
Executive Order 93 does the following:
Maintains common sense gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities in government buildings and schools
Affirms the private sector’s right to establish its own restroom and locker room policies
Affirms the private sector and local governments’ right to establish its own non-discrimination employment policies for its own employees
Expands the state’s employment policy for state employees to cover sexual orientation and gender identity
Seeks legislation to reinstate the right to sue in state court for discrimination
With this Executive Order, the state of North Carolina is now one of 24 states that have protections for sexual orientation and gender identity for its employees.
“After listening to people’s feedback for the past several weeks on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina,” said Governor McCrory. “Based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm and improve the state’s commitment to privacy and equality.”
Governor McCrory has posted a video statement on the Executive Order. It is available here or by clicking the image below.
Transcript:
Hi, I’m North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
North Carolina proudly welcomes all people to live, work and visit our great state.
We didn’t become the ninth most populous state in the nation by accident. We have long held traditions of both ensuring equality for all of our citizens and our visitors, while also respecting the privacy of everyone.
We are also a state that strives to allow our people and businesses to be as independent as possible without overreaching government regulations.
These North Carolina values of privacy and equality came into conflict recently when the Charlotte City Council passed a new mandate that forced on businesses a city-wide ordinance of bathroom and locker room regulations, something frankly we had never seen or had before in that great city or in North Carolina.
Simply put, this government overreach was a solution in search of a problem.
In fact, the Charlotte City Council rejected this proposal less than a year ago.
In a letter prior to the most recent vote, I notified the Charlotte City Council that this unnecessary and intrusive mandate conflicts with basic expectations of privacy in the most private of settings.
Therefore, as I expected, the state took action on what was seen as government overreach.
You know, after listening to people’s feedback for the past several weeks on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina.
But based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm and improve the state’s commitment to privacy and equality.
To that end, today I have signed an executive order with the goal of achieving that fine balance.
This executive order accomplishes the following:
First, it maintains common sense gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities in government buildings and in our schools, and when possible, encourages reasonable accommodations for families and those who have unique or special circumstances.
Second, the private sector can make its own policy with regard to restrooms, locker rooms and/or shower facilities. This is not a government decision. This is your decision in the private sector.
Third, I have affirmed the private sector and local government’s right to establish its own non-discrimination employment policies.
And fourth, as governor, I have expanded our state equal employment opportunity policy to clarify that sexual orientation and gender identity are included.
And fifth, I will immediately seek legislation in the upcoming short session to reinstate the right to sue for discrimination in North Carolina state courts.
Simply put, I have listened to the people of North Carolina, and the people of North Carolina are entitled to both privacy and equality. We can and we must achieve both of these goals.
Now I know these actions will not totally satisfy everyone, but the vast majority of our citizens want common sense solutions to complex issues.
This is the North Carolina way.
Thank you very much, and may God continue to bless the great state of North Carolina.
I’m not suggesting that the law is OK. I’m suggesting that people in NC overtly and ostentatiously ignore the law.
@craspedia WHOA!!! This…And fourth, as governor, I have expanded our state equal employment opportunity policy to clarify that sexual orientation and gender identity are included…
is huge
but looks to me like the only people targeted now are Kids in Public Schools bathrooms … BC what are common sense gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities in government buildings and schools these days???
The language is nebulous…
It also doesn’t seem to roll back the ability for localities to set their own minimum wage, which was also part of HB2.
@craspedia Your right. Also is that just state-worker protection for sexual orientation and gender identity and not also private sector?
So he’s rolling back pretty much everything except penises? Is that how to read this?
I hope that statement is true from the Governor. It’s a great start to fix this problem and proves that people and companies can have a voice.
I still feel bad for all the hurt this has caused the LGBT community and now the super conservative right are going to be upset that he ‘caved’ to pressure.
Once the gate is open there is no way to avoid conflict.
This is a surprising and refreshing acknowledgment of the truth:
I imagine his life as been hell the last few weeks - what with companies pulling out jobs and the looming federal monies drying up.
Still is ridiculous to keep in place the govt and public schools part of the law so might still lose federal dollars because of that.
Also, the right to sue is still up in the air - but it’s a good start.
@LasMa unfortunately the statement of “gov’t overreach…a solution in search of a problem” was referring to Charlotte’s original law. Though my DH and I were saying this morning this exact phrase in connection with the state law. Too bad he DOESN’T see it that way. I think his statement has much less meat in it than it seems at first blush.