Two GOP lawmakers call for a hard look at HB2
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Republican senators Rick Gunn of Alamance County and Tamara Barringer of Wake County want a special meeting to repeal or change House Bill 2.
Both senators, who are running for re-election, voted for House Bill 2 in March. But they now say they regret it.
Gunn released this statement on his Facebook page:
"I'm opposed to giving men access to girls' locker rooms and bathrooms, but I also am concerned about the impact HB 2 is having on our state and the Triad - especially NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference athletic championship events - and I think it is time we give serious consideration to modifying, or possibly repealing, HB 2. It is time for the federal courts to protect women and girls' privacy and strike down President Obama's bathroom sharing mandate."
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Barringer said her decision is also based on the multi-million dollar losses to North Carolina, the job losses, and the state's damaged reputation.
Wake County School Board member Susan Evans, who is challenging Barringer in the District 17 race, said she believes her opponent is flip flopping on the issue because she is in jeopardy of losing her seat.
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"My opponent is now a Johnny come lately to the HB2 repeal movement this week," Evans said. "Where was she in March? When she had the opportunity to vote no to begin with? Where was she in May and June when the domino effects fell around us, and chances to repeal this bill were filed in the General Assembly?"
Barringer responded to her critics.
"I want to make it very clear. I am a mom first," Barringer said. "My youngest is 16 years old. I do not believe that grown men have a place in little girl's locker rooms or restrooms so we have a public policy issue of safety security and privacy. However when we look at the unintended consequences that was put forth to do that - we have got to put the brakes on it. It's not performing the way it should."
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Barringer said she has lost a lot of sleep over the effect of House Bill 2. She said it was never her intention to discriminate against the LGBT community.
Barringer says she supported revisions to the bill that allowed individuals to file law suits for discrimination.
But even with the multi-million dollar loses to the state, supporters of HB2 say the law should not be repealed or changed.
"Absolutely not," said Tami Fitzgerald of the NC Values Coalition. "The issue is, what price do you put on the privacy and safety of women when they enter a bathroom and locker room or a private place? Not only where you have an expectation of privacy but you have a right under the Constitution."
If no special meeting is called, voters will make the decision in November.
