The North Carolina Republican Party is attempting to thwart a forum on House Bill 2 (HB 2), the state’s controversial anti-LGBTQ law, by filing an elections board complaint against forum host The Charlotte Observer.

The North Carolina GOP submitted a formal complaint against The Charlotte Observer, along with several other entities, for planning to host a forum on HB 2 scheduled for November 2. The controversial anti-LGBTQ law -- which, among other things, invalidated local governments' ability to provide legal protections for LGBTQ people and limited transgender people's bathroom access in certain public bathrooms -- has been a focal point of North Carolina’s gubernatorial race. 

In the complaint, the North Carolina Republican Party alleged that the forum would serve as an “infomercial” for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper, claiming it amounts to a political “contribution” that would violate North Carolina election law. The GOP called for the event to be canceled and its hosts and sponsors “appropriately sanctioned.” Last month, for the first time in 25 years, the Observer editorial board did not endorse North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory in his political race. Since 1991, the paper had endorsed McCrory in every one of his bids for office, including twice for city council, seven times for mayor and twice for governor.

In response to the complaint, Observer Executive Editor Rick Thames said it was “ludicrous to suggest that this is anything other than a forum to help voters” and noted that the paper had made “every effort possible to make this a forum that represents all views.”

From the November 1 edition of The Charlotte Observer:

On Wednesday night, the Observer plans to host a forum on HB2, the controversial law that limits protections to people who are gay or transgender.

The forum, which is sponsored by Charlotte-area marketing firm Red Ventures, is scheduled to include gay and transgender advocates as well as former Republican Charlotte mayor Richard Vinroot and Mitch Kokai of the John Locke Foundation, a conservative think tank.

In a complaint filed Tuesday, the state GOP is asking the North Carolina elections board to launch an investigation and force the cancellation of the forum.

The complaint alleges that the forum’s “proximity in time to the general election and its focus on an issue repeatedly raised by the democrat party and Roy Cooper belies the true purpose and motivation behind the event.”

Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who is seeking reelection, has defended HB2. Cooper, however, has called for the law to be repealed, saying it has caused significant economic damage.

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Observer Executive Editor Rick Thames said, “It’s ludicrous to suggest that this is anything other than a forum to help voters.

“We’ve made every effort possible to make this a forum that represents all views.”

The Observer’s newsroom determined the content of the forum without any influence from Red Ventures, Thames said.