Hispanic advocates, philanthropy group pull out of N.C. over HB2

The country’s largest advocacy group for Hispanics announced Tuesday it has moved its annual regional affiliates meeting in October from Raleigh to Miami because of HB2.

Also, a national organization of philanthropic groups decided its annual convention would be held anywhere but North Carolina.

The regional meeting typically draws about 75 people from 77 affiliates in a couple dozen states, according to the National Council of La Raza.

The announcement by the organization is the latest in a long line of cancelations and public admonition over the passage of the bill, which pre-empted expanding LGBT protections in Charlotte and prevented other communities from doing the same.

“Hispanics know what it is like to be singled out and stripped of our humanity because of who we are or what we look like,” Janet Murguía, president and CEO, said in a statement. “And with the wave of anti-immigrant state laws in recent years, the Latino community is all too familiar with legislation that purports to ‘protect’ but, in fact, legalizes discrimination.”

She called for repeal of the law.

Grantmakers in Health, which represents foundations and corporate giving programs, said because of HB2 its annual conference scheduled in Charlotte will be moved to an as-yet determined location.

“Philanthropy manages resources held in the public trust, and we cannot ask the field to spend those funds in a state that appears to violate civil rights or sanction discrimination in any form,” the organization announced on its website. “We were excited about holding the annual conference in Charlotte and deeply regret that this choice was necessary. We look forward to bringing the largest gathering of health grantmakers to North Carolina in a future year, when this issue is resolved.”

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Hispanic advocates, philanthropy group pull out of N.C. over HB2."