Roy Cooper on Civil Rights

	Roy Cooper on Civil Rights

Workplace discrimination "bathroom bill" is unacceptable

When I took office, House Bill 2 [the "bathroom bill"] was hurting North Carolinians and holding our economy back. I said we must repeal it and with bipartisan support, HB2 is gone.

But there is more to do. We must show the rest of the nation and the world who we really are: a state that values diversity, that is welcoming, and that is open for business. I've signed two executive orders that reaffirm those values by banning workplace discrimination.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to North Carolina congress , Feb 25, 2019

Repeal the "Bathroom Bill"; it's a dark cloud over NC

North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in America. By 2025, we will have one million more residents. And when they come here, they are welcomed. There is a welcoming handshake at the ball field. There are the open arms of entire communities. Our people are welcoming. But some of our laws are not.

I call on the legislature once again to repeal House Bill 2 [the "Bathroom Bill" which requires transgendered people to use the bathroom of their birth gender]. The law has damaged our state. The legislature must erase this law from our books. Pass a clean repeal of HB2 and I will sign it the same day. Pass a compromise repeal that works to eliminate discrimination and brings back jobs, sports and entertainment and I will sign it--as long as it truly gets the job done.

I also raise this issue at the beginning because HB2 is the dark cloud hanging over our state of promise. It drains the energy from what should be our work for the people of this state. It's time to move on.

Source: 2017 North Carolina State of the State address , Mar 13, 2017

Repeal law requiring bathroom use based on birth gender

A state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people and directs transgender people to use public restrooms matching the gender on their birth certificate has dominated the political discourse since it was signed by GOP Gov. Pat McCrory earlier this year.

Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, who has held the office since 2001, has declined to defend the law and vowed to try repealing it as governor.

Source: Associated Press on 2016 North Carolina Gubernatorial race , Oct 1, 2016

Women deserve equal pay

Our daughters deserve the same pay as men who are working the same job.#EqualPayDay Source: Facebook.com posting on 2016 North Carolina Governor race , Apr 12, 2016

Same-sex marriage opt-out is likely unconstitutional

North Carolina's attorney general is speaking out against the new law that will let magistrates opt-out of performing same-sex marriages. "It is likely to be challenged constitutionally," Roy Cooper said. Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, didn't sign the measure into law. He vetoed it, but his action was overturned by the GOP-controlled legislature.

Cooper said the law is the kind of legislation that turns businesses away. "We need to be welcoming as a state," he said. "I think we need to encourage having all kinds of people here, and I think some businesses look with scorn at states who pass these kinds of laws. So, I think it's bad for jobs. I think it's bad for our families. I think it's bad for the economy."

Last year, Cooper refused to defend the state's same-sex ban in court. "Our office defends the state when it gets sued," he said when asked if he would defend the new law. "That's the job of the Attorney General's office."

Source: 2016 gubernatorial campaign website, RoyCooper.com , Jun 17, 2015

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*Other governors on Civil Rights:*			*Roy Cooper on other issues:*
*NC Gubernatorial:* Andy Wells Dale Folwell Josh Stein Mark Robinson Michael Morgan *NC Senatorial:* Cal Cunningham Cheri Beasley Eric Mansfield Erica Smith Garland Tucker Jeff Jackson Marjorie K. Eastman Mark Walker Pat McCrory Rett Newton Sandy Smith Ted Budd Thom Tillis	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D) vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R) vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D) vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D) vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary) vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary) vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D) vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R) vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew) vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D) vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D) WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]