North Carolina's "Bathroom Bill" Is Bad for Business
It appears that nobody wants to do business with North Carolina as long as HB2 is in effect, and it's costing the state. According to an analysis by the Associated Press, North Carolina will lose $3.76 billion over the course of 12 years because of the "bathroom bill."
HB2, among other things, requires people to use restrooms that correspond to their assigned gender at birth rather than their actual gender identity. There was a huge backlash, and research showed that discriminatory bills like this could have a public health impact, resulting in higher suicide rates among transgender teens.
Because of that risk, many businesses refused to conduct business in North Carolina. The NCAA moved seven championship events out of the state, saying it was "because of the cumulative impact HB2 had on local communities' ability to assure a safe, healthy, discrimination free atmosphere for all those watching and participating in our events." On Thursday, they said they would continue to boycott the state until a change in the law was made.
According to the AP analysis, PayPal's pulling out of their plans to build a new facility there cost the state $2.66 billion and 400 jobs. Deutsche Bank, CoStar, Voxpro, and Adidas also decided not to build facilities and factories in the state because of the bill, and the state lost $196 million from sporting events, concerts, and other entertainment events that were cancelled. Artists like Maroon 5, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, and Ringo Starr all cancelled appearances in the state.
"Bathroom bill" legislation has been introduced in 16 states in 2017. Legislation in Wyoming, South Dakota, and Virginia failed to pass, while in the other 13 states it's still pending. Presumably, this analysis would serve as a warning to any state that wishes to pass this type of discriminatory legislation.
For the record, trans people are more likely to be assaulted in a bathroom than they are to attack someone else. In other news, former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who signed HB2 into law, can't find a job because people think he's a bigot. Wonder where they got that impression?
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