North Carolina faces massive backlash after anti-LGBT law

North Carolina is facing an ever-growing wave of backlash after Gov. Pat McCrory signed a law last week erasing discrimination protections for LGBT residents and forcing transgender people to use bathrooms that align with the gender on their birth certificates. 

Dozens of businesses, politicians and other organizations have lambasted the state and called for legislators to repeal the law.

The range of those opposed to the law includes CEOs of more than 80 businesses who initially signed a letter addressed to McCrory, voicing opposition to the law. The letter was published by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy group.

"Discrimination is wrong, and we believe it has no place in North Carolina or anywhere in our country," the CEOs wrote in the letter. "As companies that pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming to all, we strongly urge you and the leadership of North Carolina’s legislature to repeal this law in the upcoming legislative session."

The CEOs who signed onto the letter include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Starbucks CEO and Chairman Howard Schultz, and many more 

Many businesses also tweeted their opposition.

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The NBA said in a statement that its officials are "deeply concerned" about the "discriminatory law," though they don't know "what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 all-star game in Charlotte."

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Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox, who is transgender, added her voice to the chorus calling for the law to be overturned.

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Opposition to similar legislation in Georgia, Arizona and Indiana has recently caused governors there to either veto or amend bills and laws that many feel are anti-LGBT. 

McCrory seems to be feeling that same pressure. 

The governor recently released a video defending the law he signed, saying "North Carolina has been the target of a vicious, nationwide smear campaign disregarding the facts."

Human Rights Campaign activists are trying to turn up that pressure even more by upping their call for McCrory to meet with members of the LGBT community. 

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But as of Thursday morning, the governor was still defending the new law against the decision by other governors to limit state travel to North Carolina until the law is repealed. 

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