
Martin O’Malley called on North Carolina to repeal House Bill 2. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
O’Malley waded in on the issue via Twitter as lawmakers were considering a proposal to repeal HB2, but leave in place a moratorium barring municipalities in North Carolina from enacting pro-LGBT non-discrimination ordinances.
Approved by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory in March after a single day of consideration, House Bill 2 bars cities from enacting non-discrimination, reversing one recently enacted in Charlotte, and prohibits transgender people from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity.
O’Malley ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, but dropped out after the Iowa caucuses after a campaign that focused on the state and not winning a single delegate there. O’Malley emphasized LGBT rights in his campaign, drawing specific attention to the continued issue of LGBT bullying.
Whether O’Malley intends to pursue a second presidential run and challenge Donald Trump after his first term in office remains to be seen. Other potential Democratic candidates are Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
North Carolina Legislature: Repeal #HB2 now. Fully. All Americans including #LGBT Americans deserve love not hate #ncga #ncpol
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) December 21, 2016