North Carolina was blasted for passing House Bill 2 (HB2) in March, 2016. The bill not only eliminated anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community, but also decreed that in government buildings, individuals must use restrooms and changing facilities that corresponded to the sex on their birth certificates. 

 

Backlash was swift and relentless. Stars like Bruce Springsteen refused to play concerts in North Carolina, while several sports organizations -- including the NBA, NCAA, NFL and ESPN's X Games -- threatened to move any major events to other, more gay-friendly, states.

 

In the recent election, Governor Pat McCrory, who supported the bill, was kicked out of office and replaced by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper (pictured). Cooper promised to trash HB2.

 

On Thursday, a “repeal” of the bill took place. However, activists are crying foul.

 

The deal behind the repeal ends all anti-trans restroom requirements. State and local agencies in North Carolina can no longer regulate access to bathrooms or locker rooms. However, it also means that they cannot set up trans-friendly facilities, either.

 

Also, going forward, no municipal government will be able to pass non-discrimination laws protecting people within the LGBT community until December 1, 2020. This is an issue because North Carolina does not have laws protecting people based on their sexuality. Gays can still be fired from their jobs. Lesbians can be evicted from an apartment. And now, for the next three years, cities cannot do anything to rectify this with their own bylaws.

 

Even worse, private businesses can continue to decide which bathroom a trans person should be using and the city or state can do nothing about it.

 

Yesterday, Cooper accepted these terms of the repeal and signed it into law.

 

He admitted it was "not a perfect deal,” but he said that it “begins to repair our reputation.”

 

“This is not a repeal," countered Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. "Just a cynical package that will continue to hurt NC and trans people.”

 

Chad Griffin, president of the LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, added: “This isn't [a] repeal. This doubles down on discrimination. This is a leadership test. And the Governor is failing.”