Cites Anti-LGBT Law’s ‘Public Safety Risk’ â€“Â Constitution State Â is Fourth To ActÂ â€“ Several Major Cities Have Also Joined Boycott

Connecticut Democratic GovernorÂ Dannel Malloy has signed an executive order banning non-essential state-funded travel to North Carolina, joining New York, Washington,Â Vermont, and cities includingÂ New York City, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle. All bans are in response to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory‘s decision to sign HB2, a sweeping anti-LGBT bill into law last week.

“When we see discrimination and injustice, we have to act,” Gov. Malloy said in a statement.Â “This law is not just wrong, it poses a public safety risk to Connecticut residents traveling through North Carolina. That’s why I have signed an executive order banning state-funded travel to the state.”

RELATED:Â 3 States And Several Large Cities Now Banning Publicly-Funded Travel To North Carolina Over LGBT Law

Among other acts, HB2 voids all LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances across the state, bans transgender citizens from using public building restrooms that comply with their gender identity, and removes the right to sue in state court over nondiscrimination issues.

“This law endangers the welfare not just of North Carolina’s citizens, but of all people visiting that state,” Governor Malloy said.Â “Nearly two decades ago, Connecticut was among the first states to pass a comprehensive anti-discrimination law concerning sexual orientation, and three years ago I proudly signed a law adding gender identity and expression to those statutes. We need to do what we can to stand up and act against laws that encourage – as a matter of public policy – discrimination and endangerment of our citizenry. It’s unacceptable, and Connecticut is acting.”

Just in: Exec order by Connecticut gov. banning govt travel to NC to protest anti-LGBT law: https://t.co/7drBeQFSYP pic.twitter.com/Q3CGeeccbQ â€” Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) March 31, 2016

Gov.Â Malloy “wrote North Carolina business owners this week inviting them to relocate their companies here in the wake of a law critics have said is discriminatory toward the LGBT community,” the Hartford Courant reported Wednesday.

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