Anti-LGBT Law Cost North Carolina At Least 700 Jobs—If Not More

State officials believe that North Carolina's recent anti-LGBT law cost Charlotte a 700-job business expansion, according to emails obtained by The Charlotte Observer.

Real-estate researcher CoStar Group announced that a 732-job expansion would move from Charlotte to Richmond, Virginia, and North Carolina economic officials blamed the loss on H.B. 2. The law, passed by Gov. Pat McCrory, keeps local cities from passing LGBT-friendly antidiscrimination laws and prevents transgender people from using bathrooms matching their gender identity.

The law has cost North Carolina potentially millions in revenue after major organizations, like the NCAA, and entertainers began boycotting the state.

However, the fallout of the CoStar deal puts a number on the potential jobs the anti-LGBT law could be costing the state.

McCrory defended the law since he passed it in late March. He lost reelection this year to Democratic rival, Attorney General Roy Cooper; however, he is challenging the election results.