I live in North Carolina.
I am not happy about HB2, nor do I support it.
I couldn't care less what the NBA, or some rock and roll star, or Hollywood company, or any foul mouthed hatemonger on an internet debate site has to say about my state.
We are going to try and work through this as a state.
If you are that pissed off at what happened here in NC (which I, again, do not agree with at all) then get over it, go worry about your state, and we will worry about ours.
There are well meaning, honest, concerned citizens on both sides of this issue that are having a very hard time understanding the concerns of the other side. There are also hateful, self centered, bigoted assholes on both sides of this issue that don't give a flying crap about the concerns, or feelings, or religious beliefs of others, or what living in a body that doesn't match how your mind and emotions believe you to be can do to a person.
The newly elected Mayor of the City of Charlotte pushed through the city ordinance regarding public restroom and locker room usage by Pre- and/or Post-Gender Reassignment Surgery Transgender men and women - the mayor did so even after the NC Legislature asked her to slow down a little so the state could be involved and see if it would be possible to come to a solution that would meet the needs of trans people as well as quell the anxieties of those people that don't understand or maybe just basically don't even have a clue what it's like for a trans person to live with all the hate and bigotry and see this as a way for predators to be allowed to be creeps.
The Mayor refused, and kept pushing on.
The State of North Carolina, like most states (except those that have "home rule"), controls all regulatory power within the state according to the state constitution. No municipality or other government or quasi-government organization has any powers to do anything without it being granted by the state legislature. The City of Charlotte shoved this in the face of the legislature and got their ass smacked for doing so.
However, the NC Legislature went WAY to frigging far with HB2, and that needs to be fixed. I think it will be fixed, but not until the anti-HB2 folks stop pushing so damned hard, and give the other side of this debate some time to breath and room to talk. So far, the anti-GOP forces in NC have been in transmit only mode, and need to listen just a tad, for just a little while. And... so do the Republicans and Democrats in the NC Legislature that voted in favor of HB2 - they need to listen and try to understand that trans people need to be able to live their lives unmolested and free from hatred and bigotry - using the bathroom in peace is just the beginning of that process.
Now, you folks can hate my state all you want, and those that support HB2 can keep right on going on supporting it. However, both sides need to understand that both sides of this issue in the state I love are both to blame for where we are right now. An arrogant ass of a mayor and a bigoted group of legislators getting support from well meaning legislators in the General Assembly are both to blame. And so are people like those I've read in this thread that throw hatred out in the name of progress, understanding, and (this is the funny one) peace, love, and acceptance of our fellow man.
/rant