There is no question that “HB2” is hurting the growth of Charlotte, NC, the #13 ranked Forbes Fastest- Growing Cities 2016. It is very likely doing the same to #9 – Raleigh.

It all started with the Charlotte City Council passing an ordinance to protect individuals from discrimination and allow people to choose which bathroom they use based on their “gender identity.” Then a month and a day later the North Carolina State legislature responded by passing HB2 that requires bathrooms and changing rooms in public facilities to only be used by people based on the gender listed on their birth certificate.

“It wasn’t a problem to start with, so why stir up a hornets nest,” Jim Allison, Partner with the 100 year old Charlotte law firm Johnston Allison & Hord shared with Charlotte REAL Professionals Mastermind Group. HB2 has already had significant impact on North Carolina’s economy and will likely continue its impact, unless other measures pass that can make the American business community comfortable.
– PayPal and Deutsch Bank backed out on expansions in North Carolina costing the state at least 650 new jobs.
– The NBA moved their 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte to Atlanta which cost Charlotte an estimated $100 million.
– Notable music performers including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Jimmy Buffet and others have either canceled or promised to cancel future events.
The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law recently released a report which estimated that HB2 could cost North Carolina $5 billion a year based on a variety of factors. Several colleagues I’ve spoken with in North Carolina are disappointed that the issue surfaced at all. Some of the best restaurants I visit in major cities have non gender specific restrooms and this has never bothered me, my wife or any of my four beautiful daughters.

The Tarheel State voters will have something to say about it this fall as the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General are all up for re-election. According to a report from Public Policy Polling, 50% of the voters in North Carolina want HB2 repealed as they think that it is hurting the state both economically and in terms of its national reputation.