North Carolina

Historians move conference from Charlotte to Baltimore over HB2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Business historians are protesting North Carolina's controversial transgender law by moving the Business History Conference to Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Business History Conference secretary-treasurer Roger Horowitz tells local media that the event, scheduled for April 2018, is expected to bring 350 guests and $120,000 in spending to Baltimore. The historians - who study the history of businesses and their role in society - announced Friday they would meet instead at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The meeting was originally planned to be held in Charlotte. The new North Carolina law blocks cities from approving protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. It also states that in government buildings, individuals may only use restrooms that correspond to the sex identified on their birth certificates.

Horowitz says the conference may have members that the law would affect.

The NBA All-Star game and the ACC Championship have already been pulled from the state over the law, and other major companies have nixed plans to come to Charlotte.

Earlier this year, PayPal halted plans for an expansion, and most recently the company Costar decided to build its headquarters in Richmond, Virginia instead.

Over 1,000 jobs were lost because of both moves.

Last week, Gov. Pat McCrory called for a special session to repeal House Bill Two after Charlotte City Council announced they repealed their non-discrimination ordinance.

The special session, which cost taxpayers $42,000, was adjourned without making a decision.

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