Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is criticizing his state’s anti-LGBT legislation that prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice.
“Yeah, I’ve got issues,” Burr told the Huffington Post when asked if he has problems the law, known as HB2. “The legislature botched what they were trying to do. It was far too expansive.”
The law, signed by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, repeals protections against LGBT people by preventing local municipalities from passing anti-discrimination ordinances, and requires them to use bathrooms that correspond to their birth gender. Burr broke his silence Tuesday by talking about the law, and predicted it will eventually be changed in some capacity.
“It will be decided one of two ways: through the courts, where everybody’s chosen to place it now, or the General Assembly and the Charlotte City Council getting together and solving what was blundered on both sides,” Burr explained. He said the General Assembly “went too far” and “the City of Charlotte created an issue where there wasn’t a problem.”
The state has faced extreme backlash from passing the bill into law. Currently, North Carolina is in a lawsuit with the Justice Department over HB2 over its violation of federal civil rights.
Analysis also shows that boycotts by companies and entertainers over the law could cost the state as much as $5 billion annually.
Burr has been avoiding talk about HB2 because he is up for reelection. Democrat Deborah Ross, who is challenging Burr, has taken note of that.
“When HB 2 began hurting working folks and businesses started leaving our state, he couldn’t be bothered. Now that he thinks it’s hurting his re-election chances, he’s changing his tune,” Ross spokesman Cole Leiter said in a statement. “Burr’s Washington-style politics of self-interest haven’t worked for North Carolina, and it’s time for a change. Deborah Ross has spoken out against HB 2 and told the truth about its impacts since day one.”
Half of North Carolina voters want HB2 repealed, compared with 38 percent who want to keep the law, according to a PPP poll released Tuesday.
