If North Carolina's governor Pat McCrory thought he could get away with passing a sweeping anti-gay law -- one which banned local municipalities from passing pro-LGBT legilsation, and also declared that trans individuals must use the restroom that corresponded to the sex on their birth certificate -- he was in for a rude awakening.

 

HB2 was passed into law on March 23. Since then, the state has lost out on hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Corporations have altered plans to relocate to the state. Event organizers and entertainers have, in several cases, decided to hold their events and concerts elsewhere (Bruce Springsteen being one of the first to cancel his concert there).

 

Last week, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) both announced that they would not be holding any of their championship games in North Carolina.

 

“Fairness is about more than the opportunity to participate in college sports, or even compete for championships,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. “We believe in providing a safe and respectful environment at our events and are committed to providing the best experience possible for college athletes, fans and everyone taking part in our championships.”

 

Facing South, an online magazine of the Institute for Southern Studies, estimated that the state had already lost $230 million. Wired magazine argued the losses could actually be closer to $395 million.

 

For months, McCrory refused to back down, arguing that the law was being unfairly criticized by the militant left. But the financial losses seem to be affecting his chances of being re-elected; he is now willing to consider repealing HB2, but with two big conditions.

 

“If the Charlotte City Council totally repeals the ordinance [protecting gay rights in the city] and then we can confirm there is support to repeal among the majority of state lawmakers in the House and Senate, the governor will call a special session,” said a McCrory spokesman last week.

 

Let's hope it's too late for Governor McCrory to save his own ass and that he is given the boot by voters, even if they care more about the economic loss than the mistreatment of sexual minorities.