This morning, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Equality NC, a state organization focused on equal rights for LGBT North Carolinians, announced that executives from more than 100 companies — including eBay President and CEO Devin Wenig — signed an open letter requesting that North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory repeal House Bill 2, which went through legislature last week.
As the HRC has noted, “House Bill 2 eliminates existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people; prevents such provisions from being passed by cities in the future; and forces transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity, putting 4.5 billion dollars in federal funding under Title IX at risk.”
eBay’s opposition to House Bill 2 aligns with our long record of supporting inclusion and opposing discrimination. For eight years in a row, eBay has received a 100 percent ranking on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national report on corporate policies and practices related to workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people.
Previously, eBay took a similar stance against discriminatory legislation in Indiana and Arizona. Last year, Devin Wenig voiced his support on Twitter for the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision supporting same-sex marriage, and eBay has voiced support for marriage equality in Ireland as well. Additionally, in our North America, South America and EMEA offices, eBay works to engage with local officials to help create an environment for our employees that is free of discrimination.