Franklin Graham commends NC legislators for declining the repeal of bathroom bill

Franklin Graham has praised North Carolina legislators for not repealing the controversial bathroom bill which requires people to use bathrooms that correspond to their biological gender.

"I'm very thankful for NC Lt. Governor Dan Forest and legislators for protecting women and children from pedophiles and sexual perverts," said Graham in a Facebook post on Thursday. "They have stood strong and resolute for H.B. 2 to uphold safety and privacy."

The bathroom bill or HB2 was passed in March as a response to a Charlotte city non-discrimination ordinance that allowed transgenders to use public bathrooms according to their gender identity.

"It should be obvious to everyone—we don't need men in women's bathrooms and locker rooms in NC or in any state," Graham continued. "Lt. Gov. Forest said, 'The left has already publicly stated the removal of HB 2 is necessary for the rest of their agenda to move forward,'" he added.

Graham, a North Carolina resident, urged Christians to pray and express their support for politicians and legislators who are "fighting this battle for privacy and protection."

Gov. Pat McCrory called for a special legislative session on Wednesday for the purpose of repealing the bathroom bill, also known as HB2, after the Charlotte city council voted to rescind the ordinance.

The legislature failed to repeal the bill because Democratic legislators were concerned about a stipulation for a six-month "cooling off" period that would have delayed local governments from enacting similar ordinances.

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger has accused Governor-elect Roy Cooper of pressuring Senate Democrats to vote against the repeal because of the six-month moratorium.

State Rep. Chris Sgro, a Democrat and an openly gay legislator, contended that the moratorium could be renewed repeatedly, making it impossible for cities to pass non-discrimination laws.

Rev. William Barber, the head of North Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), called for a national economic boycott of the state due to the failure to repeal HB2.

The NCAA and the NBA also announced that their decision to withhold sporting events from North Carolina remains unchanged.

Businesses such as Paypal and Deutsche Bank have previously canceled plans to expand to the state because of the law.