North Carolina, its institutions of higher education and its communities have just seen their brand tarnished.
HB2, the new law that requires LGBT folks to use the restroom of the sex on their birth certificate1 has been an enormous, costly embarrassment2 for a state that has real issues to confront.
UNC System President Margaret Spellings told campuses last week they must follow the law – they can’t choose which laws to follow. But Spellings made it clear the law chills recruitment of students and faculty.
“You all would be mistaken if you thought we were not concerned about the kind of chill this is having as it relates to the climate, the culture, the goodwill that we attempt to engender on university campuses as it relates to free expression, diversity and ability to recruit students and faculty of all types from all over the world,” Spellings said.
“I think broadly there’s a sense of fear, of anger, questions about what’s next,” she said. “Just a feeling, a question that, is this a state that is unwelcoming to people of all kinds? That particular law suggests that that may be the case. I think that there’s a general anxiety.”3
If HB2 further harms efforts to recruit faculty – who’ve had just one raise from the legislature in seven years – it hurts our public universities. If it hurts efforts to attract jobs, it hurts students, their families and their communities.
North Carolina has already suffered economic consequences from HB2. And they’re not over:
- PayPal canceled plans for 400 jobs in Charlotte that would average over $50,000 a year.4
- Ric Elias, CEO of digital marketing firm Red Ventures, says he must “seriously reconsider” adding 500 jobs in Charlotte.5
- Deutsche Bank announced Tuesday that it is freezing plans to add 250 jobs in Cary.6
- The Asheville Chamber CEO says a company eyeing Asheville for 500 jobs now has second thoughts.7
- The $5 billion High Point Furniture Market announced that hundreds of customers are canceling visits.8
- Bruce Springsteen canceled a concert Sunday in Greensboro, attracting nationwide attention.9
- The Charlotte Visitors Authority reports 13 conventions have canceled, and 29 more are on a “hesitant/concerned” list that could cost 103,000 hotel night stays.10
- Not to mention phones that never ring because we’ve been crossed off the list.11
HB2 has been a colossal distraction from real challenges North Carolina needs to address.
Instead of inventing a solution in search of a problem, state leaders should be figuring out how to recruit, pay and keep the real people who teach our children at every level – from pre-K through grad school.
That matters infinitely more than who’s in the next stall.
1 http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015E2/Bills/House/PDF/H2v4.pdf
2 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article70905457.html
3 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article70774662.html
4 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article70001502.html
5 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article70026277.html
6 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article71314817.html
7 http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/04/08/chamber-ceo-hb2-may-end-buncombe-chance-500-jobs/82787748/
8 http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/28/news/economy/north-carolina-bathroom-bill-high-point/
9 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/09/business/media/bruce-springsteen-cancels-a-north-carolina-concert-over-anti-gay-law.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/04/08/bruce-springsteen-cancels-n-c-show-to-protest-bathroom-law/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/bruce-springsteen-cancels-north-carolina-concert-to-protest-transgender-law-1460154019
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-bruce-springsteen-cancels-north-carolina-set-over-anti-lgbtq-bill-20160408-story.html
10 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article70867152.html
11 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article70291167.html
Cindy Andrews says
My question to you and all these companies that are mentioned above is what has changed? NC had separate sex bathrooms when they were considering or doing business in NC before HB2 and we still do. Nothing’s changed. It’s a safety issue, not a descrimination issue.
Fiddlin Bill says
There is no safety issue and never was. Anyone who is afraid at any time to enter a public restroom doesn’t have to. This law is an attempt to stigmatize and make fearful a segment of our population. Some of these folks even vote Republican, or did before this abomination.
Eric Gentry says
Great point, Cindy Andrews. It begs the question of social bullying and intimidation when some of these companies gladly take the money of countries where sexual deviance of any kind is illegal…
Steve Mahaley says
I’m glad to see this statement from Higher Ed Works. As a native North Carolinian, US citizen and UNC system graduate (twice) I would hope that leadership at our colleges and universities would be taking a stronger and action-oriented stand – rather than just commenting on the ‘chill’. Indeed, maybe this is happening and I have just not seen it yet.
BRBARA QUATRANO says
This is an expensive bias…. similar to the shut down of the whole country by Cruz and the GOP congress. Until our GOP powers that be show that they care about our state and NC citizens, I will continue to be embarrassed to be a North Carolinian.
I have voted for local Republicans in the past, but until there are signs that the party has the residents’ backs, you can be sure that I’ll only cast votes for Democrats!!!!! I am FOR humane treatment of humans (and animals).
To the Governor and the NC congress: Why aren’t you?
David Huneycutt says
Although the I continue to have concerns for the LGBT community even after governor McCory has backtracked a little with his executive order, my greatest concern is for the restrictions that the bill placed on discrimination law suits. Some have suggested that the discrimination described in the bill only applied to the LGBT issue. But the way I read the bill, it applied to all discrimination suits. It may appear that the executive order corrected or retracted that issue, I am in a quandary as to how our legislators would have thought they could add this section to limit court access unnoticed . It’s time to change the leaders with some who actually have common sense.
wayne hollar says
As a NC native and a graduate of two different UNC System universities, I find it most unfortunate that President Spellings is so misguided on her “facts” and completely brainwashed by the extreme “left” agenda. She is indeed out of touch with the majority of NC citizens, our heritage, our beliefs, and our desires for the future.
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Wayne Hollar, DDS, MAGD
http://www.drwaynehollar.com (828)754-1600
A General Dentistry Professional Association
614 Hospital Avenue, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645
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Mark Lane says
My thought, If you are a male, use the Men’s Room, and if you are a female, use the Women’s Room. Spend your 2 to 5 minutes in the restroom and come out and go about your business. We are not unwelcoming anyone in this state. Just go to the correct restroom. Simple. Left wingers have made a mountain out of a mole hill. Do your business and move on. Also, some in the private sector have not had raises in years also, and do not forget they are the ones who pay your salaries. I applaud the governor for his actions. Do you think I agree with the all laws that Obama has passed? No, but I still follow the law.
Fiddlin Bill says
You’d think Ms Spellings would have had some advance input, since she was installed as the darling of the NC right wing only months ago. Personally, I hope the blowback is sufficient to crush the NC economy. If we can’t vote these incompetents out for this gigantic embarrassment, they’ve apparently installed themselves permanently. And in fact, at the moment due to scientific gerrymandering, most of the legislators who voted for this are running unopposed.
Anonymous says
It’s amazing how much misinformation there is floating around about this bill. It’s only 4 pages long, please go read the bill. You will be surprised at what institutions are NOT affected. The media is filling citizen’s heads with half-truths and whipping people into a frenzy with misinformation. Please read the bill and make up your own minds (don’t be cattle). Mr. Huneycutt (commented below) is correct, the most concerning part of the bill is not the restrooms, but the discrimination suits.