Apple, Google CEOs sign letter condemning North Carolina LGBT law

A number of tech’s most high profile chief executives signed a letter condemning a law in North Carolina that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates say protects discrimination under the law. “We are disappointed in your decision to sign this discriminatory legislation into law,” the executives said in a letter to Gov Pat McCrory (R-NC). “We believe that HB 2 will make it far more challenging for businesses across the state to recruit and retain the nation’s best and brightest workers and attract the most talented students from across the nation.”

They urged state policymakers to repeal the law. The letter was signed by more than 80 executives and was released by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy group. Signatories include Tim Cook, the Apple CEO who is openly gay and has been active on LGBT issues, as well as Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Executives from Facebook, Airbnb, Salesforce and Twitter were among the many tech CEOs who also signed on to the letter. The bill, which was signed into law by Gov McCrory during the week of March 21, stops municipalities from barring discrimination against LGBT people. And it also bans transgender people from using single-sex bathrooms or locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.