As North Carolina’s HB2 law becomes enmeshed in an increasingly complex and clouded legal environment, Wilmington technology incubator tekMountain is sponsoring a second town hall forum on the new law. The goal, officials say, is to help build a movement to repeal HB2.

The most high-profile provision of the new law requires transgendered individuals to use public bathrooms that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificates. Other provisions, however, preclude municipalities from establishing laws that protect LGBT people from discrimination and that would allow for a minimum-wage rate higher than that established by the state. HB2 also prohibits individuals from suing for discrimination in state courts.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed the bill on March 23 in response to an ordinance enacted by the city of Charlotte. The bill was signed into law that same evening by governor Pat McCrory.

The “Counting on You, Part 2” event will take place Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the co-working space, located on the third floor of CastleBranch Corp. headquarters, 1844 Sir Tyler Drive in Wilmington.
Friday’s program will focus on three strategies to help achieve the goal of HB2 repeal, according to a news release:

• Use of technology to voice opposition to HB2
• Use of technology to frame the Wilmington community as progressive and inclusive
• Expanding the local movement to a repeal-HB2 initiative at a state level.

A separate HB2-related event is planned for Friday afternoon as well, said Sean Ahlum, director of business development.

“We realize there is an advocacy event occurring at 5 at Mayfaire regarding HB2, and we will be encouraging our group to leave here and attend that event as well,” he said in an email Wednesday.

Since tekMountain convened its first HB2 forum April 7, the Wilmington City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the act’s repeal and state representative Susi Hamilton (D-New Hanover) co-sponsored a bill that would repeal HB2.

While the area’s tourism industry has not seen significant economic impact from the so-called bathroom bill, a regional unit of the American Institute of Architects cancelled plans for its four-day conference in Wilmington. Losing the conference could cost the city up to $1 million in revenues, officials estimated.

Larger impacts have been felt from entertainers and the business community elsewhere in the state.

State legislators have shown no inclination to nullify or modify the new law. When the U.S. Department of Justice warned state officials that it sees the law as discriminatory against LGBT individuals, citing titles VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act, North Carolina filed suit against the department. In response, the DOJ has sued North Carolina.

Caught in the middle are the state’s public schools and the University of North Carolina system, which receive millions of dollars annually in federal funds. Those funds could be in jeopardy if the DOJ decides to penalize North Carolina for what it believes are violations of the Civil Rights Act.

McCrory has consistently defended HB2 and has characterized the federal government’s response as overreach.