PayPal boycotts N.C. over anti-LGBT law: ‘We only work with people committed to equality’

PayPal has announced that “as a result” of North Carolina’s anti-LGBT laws, the company will not be expanding its services to the state.

The $9 billion multi-national financial services corporation announced this Tuesday that because of Governor Pat McCrory signing the draconian bill into law, it has canceled plans “to open a new global operations center in Charlotte and employ over 400 people in skilled jobs.”

The company referred to “legislation [that] has been abruptly enacted by the State of North Carolina that invalidates protections of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens and denies these members of our community equal rights under the law,” adding that HB2 “perpetuates discrimination and it violates the values and principles that are at the core of PayPal’s mission and culture. As a result, PayPal will not move forward with our planned expansion into Charlotte.”

From The New Civil Rights Movement:

The company, which was founded in 1998, says its decision is “a clear and unambiguous one” which “reflects PayPal’s deepest values and our strong belief that every person has the right to be treated equally, and with dignity and respect. These principles of fairness, inclusion and equality are at the heart of everything we seek to achieve and stand for as a company. And they compel us to take action to oppose discrimination.”

PayPal President and CEO Dan Schulman released a statement saying that while he regretted not being able to bring jobs to the people of the region, his company will “stand firm in our commitment to equality and inclusion and our conviction that we can make a difference by living and acting on our values.”

Our decision is a clear and unambiguous one. But we do regret that we will not have the opportunity to be a part of the Charlotte community and to count as colleagues the skilled and talented people of the region. As a company that is committed to the principle that everyone deserves to live without fear of discrimination simply for being who they are, becoming an employer in North Carolina, where members of our teams will not have equal rights under the law, is simply untenable.

While we will seek an alternative location for our operations center, we remain committed to working with the LGBT community in North Carolina to overturn this discriminatory legislation, alongside all those who are committed to equality.

Featured image via NBCNewYork.com

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