McCrory mocks transgender people at Trump rally
N.C. governor jokes about HB 2 law that restricts transgender people's access to restrooms
Gov. Pat McCrory (R) mocked transgender people at a rally in Winston-Salem, N.C. on behalf of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Monday, reports The Washington Post. The appearance marked one of Trump’s first on the campaign trail since locking up the GOP nomination last week.
The Post notes that the rally featured several establishment politicians from North Carolina, telegraphing a signal that the major players in the GOP have fully embraced Trump as their nominee. McCrory, who addressed the crowd prior to Trump’s speech, imitated a flight attendant as part of his joke.
“All right, let’s be safe now. We’ve got a big crowd, so if you need to leave suddenly, we’ve got exits this way, exits this way and exits this way,” McCrory said, motioning straight ahead, to his right and to his left. “And if any of you need to use the restrooms…”
As McCrory paused, the crowd laughed and cheered at the reference to HB 2. The law eliminated all local nondiscrimination ordinances that extend protections to members of the LGBT community, and restricts transgender people’s ability to access bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.
McCrory then continued: “And if you have any questions, go to the Philadelphia convention where all of the Democrats are,” prompting the crowd to cheer again.
Due to McCrory’s refusal to repeal or amend the anti-transgender provisions in HB 2 — Republican lawmakers only recently amended the law to allow people to sue for wrongful termination — the law has incurred a backlash against the state, with the Charlotte alone losing an estimated $285 million revenue and 1,300 jobs that would result from increased economic activity. As a result of the law, the NBA pulled its 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, prompting McCrory to call the NBA’s action “total P.C. B.S.“
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