N.C. governor offers ‘compromise’ repealing LGBT law

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper offered Tuesday a compromise to repeal HB2 with provisions intended to increase Republican support for getting rid of the "bathroom" law.

Components of the proposal Cooper, a Democrat, outlined at a press conference Tuesday morning included:

• Striking HB2.

• Tougher penalties for crimes committed in restrooms and dressing rooms.

• Requiring local governments give the state General Assembly 30 days' notice before adopting any non-discrimination ordinances.

HB2 says people must use the restroom for the sex shown on their birth certificate when in state or local government buildings. Proponents say that decreases the chances of crimes being committed in those places, while opponents say there have been few instances of people using non-discrimination laws as a cover to commit crimes.

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Rumors and comments on social media that other local governments in the state would adopt rules preventing discrimination on the basis of sexual preference or sexual orientation once HB2 was off the books helped kill a proposal to repeal HB2 during a special legislative session in December.

HB2 says local government cannot adopt such rules.

The NCAA is expected to make decisions in the next few weeks about where its tournaments will be held in coming years and backers of a repeal say that's a strong reason to take action soon. Cooper appeared to allude to that in a statement.

“I know North Carolinians are tired of hearing about this," he said. "HB 2 has divided us and stained our reputation. I’ve proposed a common sense compromise that will get HB2 off the books and address concerns on both sides. It’s time for Republican leaders to step up and lead their members because February needs to be the month we get this done.”

Initial reaction from a spokeswoman for Sen. Phil Berger, his chamber's Republican leader, casts doubt on whether that will happen.

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“Gov. Cooper’s press conference is the first we’ve heard of his so-called compromise, so if he has a list of members willing to support his proposal, he should make it public now," said Berger spokeswoman Amy Auth.

Auth said Cooper's "refusal to enforce existing criminal trespass laws as attorney general was a major reason legislators were forced to pass HB2 in the first place" and that makes it "difficult to take seriously his pledge on ‘strengthening penalties.’"

Further, she said, "This proposal does nothing to address the basic privacy concerns of women and young girls who do not feel comfortable using the bathroom, undressing and showering in the presence of men, and as we saw in Charlotte last year, it does not require an assault to make a woman feel violated."

Cooper was flanked by the Democratic leaders of the state House and Senate.

"House Bill 2 is currently the biggest obstacle facing our economy and it must be repealed," Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, said in a statement. "Despite their supermajority, legislative Republicans have refused to offer a viable solution that will bring jobs and sporting events back to North Carolina. This proposal requires some compromise by Democrats — but it addresses every single one of legislative Republicans’ reported concerns surrounding HB2 and we’re willing to come together to get the job done.”

Cooper's statement does not include details on what the tougher penalties would be.

Follow Mark Barrett on Twitter: @MarkBarrettACT