The Rev. Franklin Graham has strongly condemned PayPal after the organization announced it is cancelling plans to bring more than 400 jobs and a $3.6 million investment into Charlotte, North Carolina with its new operation center, because of an objection to the state's recently passed transgender law.
The ordinance, signed by Gov. Pat McCrory, limits the use of bathrooms, locker rooms and showers to persons of the same biological sex, according to NBC.
"The legislation invalidates protections of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens and denies these members of our community equal rights under the law," PayPal CEO Dan Schulman argued in a statement on Tuesday. "The new law perpetuates discrimination and it violates the values and principles that are at the core of PayPal's mission and culture. As a result, PayPal will not move forward with our planned expansion into Charlotte."
Schulman added that the "decision was a clear and ambiguous one."
Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and a North Carolina native, took to Facebook to slam PayPal's decision and condemn the organization's blatant hypocrisy.
"PayPal gets the hypocrite of the year award!" Graham wrote in a lengthy post shared on Wednesday. "Congressman Robert Pittenger made a great point yesterday: 'PayPal does business in 25 countries where homosexual behavior is illegal, including five countries where the penalty is death, yet they object to the North Carolina legislature overturning a misguided ordinance about letting men in to [sic] the women's bathroom? Perhaps PayPal would like to try and clarify this seemingly very hypocritical position.'"
Graham further pointed out PayPal's hypocrisy, as the organization announced in March that it would explore business opportunities in Cuba, where members of the LGBT community are tortured, jailed and executed.
"PayPal only agreed to come to Charlotte in the first place after holding out for millions in corporate incentives," Graham stated. "And under the current law that they are so strongly protesting, PayPal could have chosen their own corporate bathroom policies."
Despite PayPal's move, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest said the state stands by its decision and will not be bullied into changing the law.
"If our action in keeping men out of women's bathrooms and showers protected the life of just one child or one woman from being molested or assaulted, then it was worth it. North Carolina will never put a price tag on the value of our children," Forest said, according to NBC. "They are precious and priceless. If a corporation wanting to do business in North Carolina does not see the worth of our children in the same light, then I wish them well as they do business somewhere else."
In concluding his Facebook post, Graham praised Forest for defending the law.
"He couldn't be more right! We need more politicians across the country with this kind of backbone," Graham wrote. "Pray for the N.C. governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators that they stand strong against the attacks of this wicked agenda."
As of Wednesday afternoon, thousands of people had "liked" and "shared" Graham's post, with many commenting on how they are planning to boycott PayPal.
The Christian Science Monitor notes that Facebook, Apple, and Google all have complexes in North Carolina, but unlike PayPal, have not threatened to remove their businesses from the state.
