Mayor Roberts, Small Business Owners and Advocates Discuss Impact of New Anti-LGBT Law on North Carolina Entrepreneurs

Today Small Business Majority joined Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Compete NC, Intel and local small business owners for a press call to discuss HB 2—‰legislation invalidating local protections for LGBT individuals—and how the law will harm the state's business environment for entrepreneurs.

Here's what the panel of speakers had to say about this legislation:

"Discrimination is never right and discrimination is not good for business," said Mayor Roberts. "This is a bad bill for the Tar Heel State."

"From Main Street to Wall Street, our economy can't survive without small businesses," said Rhett Buttle, President & Managing Director of Small Business Majority. "But entrepreneurs can't succeed if we continue to pass laws that hurt them. Laws like HB 2 drive away business and talent from local economies, which is a step in the wrong direction for North Carolina's small business owners."

"My company thrives because we do business with a number of large, national companies," said Tony Cope, owner of Myriad Media in Raleigh. "I'm worried they will no longer want to do business in North Carolina if they feel like they're supporting a discriminatory business environment, because that could reflect poorly on their reputation. That would hurt my ability to compete."

"This law is putting the burden on me as a business owner to let customers and employees know that we're a safe space and that everyone is welcome at my brewery," said Keil Jansen, owner of Ponysaurus Brewing Co. in Durham. "I shouldn't have to do that extra work, and I'm frustrated that our state government has chosen to ignore the needs of local businesses in this move. Embracing discrimination is a bad move for our state and our entrepreneurs."

"Intel is committed to nondiscrimination and freedom of gender expression," said Sabrina Stoffregen, Global Diversity and Inclusion Communications Manager at Intel. "Intel stands in strong support of the LGBTQ community."

"NGLCC, the business voice of the LGBT community, is proud to stand with our organizational and corporate partners in asserting the economic and moral imperative in repealing this harmful, discriminatory law in North Carolina," said Jonathan Lovitz, Vice President of External Affairs at the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "These laws erode away at our vibrant and inclusive economy. We know that the best thing North Carolina can do for its bottom line is create workforce and supply chain where all citizens can bring their whole selves to their business every day free from discrimination. We will continue to assert financial and political pressure in North Carolina until every citizen is included, protected, and allowed to thrive."

To request an interview, contact Cassie Mills, Communications Manager for Small Business Majority at (202) 289-6271 or [email protected]. For a recording of today's press call, visit: http://smallbusinessmajority.com/news-and-events/audio/033016-Non-Discrim.mp3.