Robert T. Adams: McCrory needs to look in mirror

The real nut of the Charlotte ordinance that spawned House Bill 2 was employment nondiscrimination. The bathroom nonsense was simply how the GOP sold the bill to its political base.

Where does the base think transsexuals have been going to the bathroom all these years?

Gov. Pat McCrory should have immediately anticipated the consequences of HB2. As governor, he should exercise true leadership and make decisions that are sometimes considered politically disadvantageous to himself if that is in the long-term interests of North Carolinians.

Providing employment protection for a historically persecuted minority that needs to eat, like everyone else, is good for North Carolina. However, McCrory decided to perpetuate the environment that allows persecution. This failure in true leadership has hurt not just the LGBT minority but thousands of others. And, now, it’s probably hurting McCrory’s political life.

Regardless of whether McCrory wins re-election, his legacy will always be one of bigotry. He will have to wrestle in his own conscience about how he has hurt people. How does he, as an adherent of a God of love, charity and tolerance, justify HB2?

This story was originally published September 16, 2016 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Robert T. Adams: McCrory needs to look in mirror."