Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday once again called on the General Assembly to repeal House Bill 2, the state’s statute that supersedes a now-repealed Charlotte ordinance that, among other things, requires businesses to allow transgendered people to use the bathroom of their gender identity.
“It’s the most bipartisan issue that we have,” Cooper told hundreds of the state’s business leaders at the 15th annual Economic Forecast Forum sponsored by the North Carolina Chamber and the North Carolina Bankers Association at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center.
The Charlotte City Council repealed its controversial ordinance in December 2016. However, legislators were not able to pass a bill to repeal the state’s statute during a subsequent December special session of the General Assembly.
Many Senate Republicans wanted to include a moratorium on similar local ordinances that would last until lawmakers adjourned the 2017 regular session, scheduled to start next week.
However, a key test vote on the bill failed, dooming the bill.
Cooper said he believed a straight up-or-down vote, with no strings attached, would pass the General Assembly.
“Let them vote,” Cooper said.
Cooper also said he is going to businesses and sports organizations telling them that North Carolina has a new face. He said he is encouraging businesses that boycotted the state after H.B. 2 was passed to return.