Earlier this week, the U.K. Foreign Office issued a notice that “LGBT travellers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and MS”, in an advisory that critics of the laws called a remarkable show of opposition.
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During his final visit to the UK as the President of the United States, Barack Obama has said that anti-LGBT laws in states like North Carolina should be reversed.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant this month signed a far-reaching law allowing people with religious objections to deny wedding services to same-sex couples and protecting other actions considered discriminatory by gay rights activists.
The remarks from the President were made in London at a news conference. In part, some strong emotions that are generated by people. He said they’ll be treated with “extraordinary hospitality”.
The new laws in the U.S. states are considered to be “anti-gay” and are expected to cost the United states significant revenue from leisure and business travel.
The rest of the world is taking notice of recent laws passed in the U.S., specifically new anti-gay measures implemented in North Carolina and Mississippi. Local city councils have passed resolutions against the law, performers from Bruce Springsteen to Pearl Jam have canceled concerts, trade groups have shifted conventions out of the state and the National Basketball Association is considering moving the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte.
The state’s bathroom law, which has been described as “anti-trans”, says people must use the public toilet designated for the biological sex they were born with, rather than the gender they identify with.
But Cameron also suggested it’s nothing personal: “I’ve been to North Carolina many years ago, and enjoyed it. I’ve not been to MS, but one day I hope to”, Cameron said.
Thursday, Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, weighed in on HB2 saying the state should have left it “the way it was”.
The President said, “I respect their different viewpoints”, but added, “I think it’s very important not to send signals that anybody’s treated differently”.
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Obama said the USA isn’t unique in having a federal system where states can make their own policies.
