More than 1 ½ years since North Carolina's "bathroom bill" was repealed, Charlotte is spending millions to try to attract the visitors turned off by the measure seen as allowing discrimination against LGBTQ residents.
Through a public records request, The Charlotte Observer learned Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority has earmarked $3 million total these past two fiscal years for "Post HB2 Marketing/Sales support."
CRVA spokeswoman Laura White says the money is for a "comprehensive place branding strategy" to promote Charlotte in regional markets and improve the city's image after House Bill 2 and the unrest that followed the fatal 2016 police shooting of a black man, Keith Lamont Scott.
The CRVA's annual report noted North Carolina remains under a travel ban from six states, following the replacement of HB2 with a compromise measure.
