Repeal and only repeal HB2

There are rumors going around the North Carolina General Assembly that some compromises, to be proposed by Democrats, may be coming forward on HB2, the ridiculous bill curbing the rights of transgender people to use bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity. HB2 requires them to go by the sex designated on their birth certificates.

But that is only part of HB2, which also prohibits localities from passing anti-discrimination laws of their own and tosses in a limit on minimum wages offered by local governments, along with forcing workers to sue in federal courts if they have an employment discrimination claim. It’s all the standard Republican anti-worker platform, with some angry provisions about the LGBT community thrown in.

Now, after the tragedy in Orlando, HB2 looks even more like a gratuitous, cruel slap at gays, lesbians and transgender people. It is all the more embarrassing to North Carolina than it was – and it was plenty embarrassing.

North Carolinians may tell themselves they are better than the Republican demagogues and the weak governor who is supposed to lead them. But the case is getting harder to make, particularly now that the state appears to be a symbol of oppression for gay, lesbian and transgender people. There must be no compromise, no tweaking. The law must be repealed. Period.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Repeal and only repeal HB2."