N.C. Atty. Gen.: McCrory 'Pouring Gas on Fire' With HB 2 Suit

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, a vocal opponent of the homophobic, transphobic House Bill 2 and the Democratic candidate for governor, has filmed a video taking the state's governor to task for not only signing the bill but filing a federal lawsuit to keep it on the books.

In the clip, Cooper reminds North Carolinians of the economic and public relations damage HB 2 has done to the state, since it was passed last month and rescinded all LGBT protections in the state, banned future LGBT equality ordinances, made it illegal to sue the state for discrimination, and mandated which bathrooms and changing rooms transgender people could use in government buildings.

After the Department of Justice threatened North Carolina with the loss of federal education funding if the state didn't rescind discriminatory aspects of HB 2, McCrory first asked for an extended deadline to comply, then filed a lawsuit against the department. While the Justice Department was considering the extension, the governor's lawsuit ended that. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced today that the Justice Department is suing North Carolina and told LGBT people that the federal government is on their side.

State Attorney General Cooper jumped on the latest twist involving HB 2 in his new video.

"Already we've lost thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic activity," Cooper said. "And now the governor is pouring gasoline on the fire he lit by putting billions of dollars in education funding on the line. Instead of doing what's right for the state, he's doubling down on what he knows he did wrong."

Cooper also emphasizes the damage McCrory has done to North Carolina's reputation and made a direct plea to him: "Governor, for the sake of our schools, our children, our economy, and our good name, set politics aside and undo this discriminatory law now."