PayPal Backtracks, Will Not Bring 400 Jobs to Charlotte Due to Transgender Law

PayPal has announced that the company will no longer bring 400 jobs to North Carolina after a recent law was passed that restricts protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

The company had planned to expand in Charlotte, but no longer intends to do so after the law was signed into effect on March 23rd. Just days earlier, Governor Pat McCrory joined the celebration when PayPal revealed that it would bring 400 jobs to the city with a new operation center.

“Two weeks ago, PayPal announced plans to open a new global operations center in Charlotte and employ over 400 people in skilled jobs,” PayPal’s statement read. “In the short time since then, legislation 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.”

The statement continued, “The new law 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.”

Other corporations have also spoken out against the law, arguing that it makes it harder for them to attract talent to the area now that it is in effect. Although many have verbally opposed the legislation, this move by PayPal represents the largest backlash that North Carolina has faced thus far.

Editors Note:  Paypal does business all over the world including countries in the Middle East who would execute transgender individuals as soon as look at them. So Paypal looks to North Carolina to make a statement? Who needs ’em.