Deutsche Bank is freezing plans to create 250 new jobs in Cary.
The bank announced the decision on Tuesday in a message on the company’s website that said the decision is “due to state-wide legislation enacted in North Carolina on March 23 that invalidated existing protections of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fellow citizens in some municipalities and prevents municipalities from adopting such protections in the future.”
The legislation the message is referring to is House Bill 2, which has drawn national criticism from groups ranging from LGBT advocacy groups, who are challenging the law’s constitutionality in federal court, to the editorial board of the New York Times.
Deutsche Bank is joining PayPal in canceling plans to expand in the Tar Heel state.
Governor Pat McCrory and state GOP leadership have repeatedly called the bill “common sense” legislation that will prevent grown men from entering a women’s bathroom or changing room. The bill came in a special session after the Charlotte City Council approved extending the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance to the LGBT community. House Bill 2 says that individuals must use the bathroom of the sex on their birth certificate rather than the facility that matches their gender identity. The bill also repeals all ordinances from local governments that enact protection beyond the state’s nondiscrimination ordinance, which does not cover sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status, among other areas.
The bill also prohibits local governments from requiring businesses to pay employees a living wage.
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Duetsche Bank co-chief executive officer John Cryan said in the bank’s announcement that the company takes its commitment to building inclusive work environments seriously.
“We’re proud of our operations and employees in Cary and regret that as a result of this legislation we are unwilling to include North Carolina in our US expansion plans for now.” Cryan added. “We very much hope that we can re-visit our plans to grow this location in the near future.”
McCrory has defended the legislation amid backlash from business leaders around the state and country, saying the bill does not require private businesses to change their policies.
The release from Deutsche Bank says it is committed to sustaining the existing presence of 900 employees in Cary. The plan to add 250 jobs to the Cary location was announced in September and was to be rolled out through 2017.
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