Montel Williams: Open letter to McCrory on HB2

Governor,

You may be surprised to hear this, but I used to admire your work as mayor of Charlotte. You struck me as a middle of the road Republican  –  focused on fiscal discipline, jobs, roads and education. You were instrumental in bringing business to Charlotte and creating an environment that encouraged and nurtured small business. I remember going to events and hearing fellow Republicans speak highly of your record. They said it was a record of success that conservatives could be proud of.

That’s who the voters elected:  a Republican focused on issues that matter,   who’d accomplished great results for Charlotte and promised to deliver those same results to the state.

I barely recognize you these days, Governor. You’ve caved to a legislative supermajority more interested in bickering over social issues than managing government. Certainly, you tried to hold them back on many occasions, only to see your vetoes overridden. But at some point, you gave up the fight.

I’m not a legislator. But I know something about caving to pressure. As a talk show host for 17 years, I can say without question there were instances when I lost a little bit of who I was in the name of ratings and forgot, in a sense, what it was about me that caused people to invite me into their living rooms each day.

We both know you think HB2 is a bad idea. In fact, I suspect you support equality for LGBTQ North Carolinians in your heart. I suspect you agree  –  with the overwhelming majority of North Carolina’s business community  –  that HB2 jeopardizes the state’s competitiveness.

You probably thought you could plug the leaks until after the election or that the courts would strike down HB2 before it caused too much damage. Then, you could blame the liberal courts to appease the base while knowing in your heart the right thing had been done. But that ship has sailed, Governor. The NCAA and ACC have pulled their championships. Businesses, these days, have no patience for intolerance.

Leadership is hard, and often it means risking it all and standing alone to do what’s right. And that’s what’s needed here. It’s time to stand up to Speaker Tim Moore and Sen. Phil Berger, who’ve championed this bill. It’s time to push back against their “let Raleigh and Charlotte burn” strategy. It’s time to tell the truth  –  that Alliance Defending Freedom pitched this bill to stir up a frenzy among social conservatives and drive them to the polls in November.

There’s still time to do what’s right  –  to call back the legislature, repeal HB2 outright and pass affirmative protections for LGBTQ North Carolinians.

I’m not in this fight for publicity. If I were, I’d have set up camp in North Carolina a long time ago. My reasons are deeply personal, but I’m speaking out because I’m an advocate. I oppose discrimination wherever it rears its ugly head. And HB2 is discrimination, pure and simple. I also want my kids to see their father on the right side of history.

This is your moment to rise. You are above the nonsensical hyperbole your campaign puts out, and you are certainly above childish antics like putting me in a campaign ad solely to provoke a reaction.

This may really surprise you, but if you’re willing to rise to this moment and be the leader I think you are, the man I think you are, I won’t be the only one to rally behind you. This is bigger than this election  –  this is about whether you want future generations to read that you died on a hill for a farce you don’t even believe in.

The first step is yours to take, Governor, but if you take it, I’m ready to help any time, any place.

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Montel Williams: Open letter to McCrory on HB2."