A local business is planning a forum on North Carolina’s House Bill 2, and is looking for individuals interested in being part of a panel discussion. tekMountain has announced a community forum on HB2 Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., according to a news release.

WECT’s Ashlea Kosikowski will host the forum.

HB2 has been nicknamed the “Bathroom Bill” because it requires transgendered individuals to use public bathrooms that reflect their birth gender. It was introduced in a special session of the General Assembly in response to an ordinance allowing transgendered people to use bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity passed by the city of Charlotte and set to take effect April 1.

The new law - passed by both houses of the N.C. General Assembly March 23 and signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory that night -  also blocks cities and local governments from passing antidiscrimination measures that could protect gay and transgender people, and also prevents local governments from enacting higher minimum wage standards.

“The recent signing of HB2 by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has attacked the civil liberties of LGBT individuals, endangered employee/employer relations and openly enables legalized discrimination in the workplace,” Brent Martin, tekMountain CEO, said in the release.

“This is a major step backwards for a state that has come so far and is home to some of our nation's finest companies.

“I urge each of us to make the commitment to make a difference, to stand up for what's right,” Martin continued. “To actively work to repeal HB2. Let's take bigotry off the books for North Carolina.”

Interested individuals should email [email protected] or call 888.723.4263, ext. 7895.

A number of tech companies and other high-profile business organizations in North Carolina's metropolitan areas have taken stands opposing the new legislation. Locally, however, there has been less public opposition. Officials at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce said the chamber has not taken a position on the bill. Local film officials did not have a comment on the effect the new law could have on film activity in the state.