A twice-a-year furniture market in
North Carolina has seen lower attendance since passage of House Bill
2 (HB2).
HB2 is the only state law in the nation
that prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom of their
choice. It also blocks cities and municipalities from enacting LGBT
protections.
According to the Associated Press,
attendance dropped 2.4 percent compared to last year at the High
Point Market's fall event. An event in April saw roughly 1,000 fewer
registered attendees.
The High Point Market's events generate
about $5 billion in statewide economic activity.
Republican Governor Pat McCrory has
staunchly defended HB2, which he signed. McCrory trails Democrat Roy
Cooper by more than 9,000 votes but has yet to concede the race,
claiming voting fraud. Cooper has promised to repeal the law if
elected governor.