Netflix moves production of new show OBX from North Carolina over anti-LGBT+ 'bathroom bill'

The streaming giant has reconsidered its production plans for the coming-of-age series, set in the state's Outer Banks

Clarisse Loughrey

Thursday 10 January 2019 14:09 GMT

Netflix is pulling production out of North Carolina due to its anti-LGBT+ legislation (AP)

Netflix will no longer shoot its coming-of-age series OBX in North Carolina due to the state’s anti-LGBT+ legislation.

The streaming giant is instead considering moving production to South Carolina, as long as portions of House Bill 2 remain active in North Carolina, the Wilmington Star News reports.

Otherwise known as the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, HB2 barred trans people from using the bathroom that corresponded with their gender identity and eliminated anti-discrimination protections for LGBT+ people.

It became law in 2016, but was partially repealed the following year and replaced with HB 142, itself lambasted as a “fake repeal”, preventing local governments from enacting non-discrimination ordinances until 2020 (HB 2 had prevented this indefinitely).

Netflix had wanted to shoot in the state as OBX is set in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, in show creator Jonas Pate’s hometown of Wilmington.

“This tiny law is costing this town [Wilmington] 70 good, clean, pension-paying jobs and also sending a message to those people who can bring these jobs and more that North Carolina still doesn’t get it,” Pate said, adding that production was set to spend $60m in the state.

The show creator added that he would consider moving production back if it became clear to him that were concerted efforts to repeal the clause concerning non-discrimination ordinances.

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Incoming North Carolina Senator Harper Peterson, who is a Democrat, said he hopes the matter will be addressed at the start of the General Assembly’s session this week. He said: “That is a decision the legislature has to make and realize that it is one more opportunity we are losing if we don’t. We have to get back and be competitive with other states. It just hurts to see a production about North Carolina go to South Carolina.”

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