Seven years ago, North Carolina became ground zero in the nationwide fight over transgender rights with the passage of a “bathroom bill” that galvanized culture warriors, canceled business projects and sporting events, and influenced a gubernatorial race. While a similarly Republican-controlled legislature’s enactment of recent laws aimed at transgender youth generated passion from advocates and legislators, the public pushback against these policies has been insignificant compared to 2016 and House Bill 2. And the corporate world largely has taken a pass on getting involved. What can the change in attitudes be attributed to? Republican Senate leader Phil Berger acknowledged last week that the “bathroom bill” is widely regarded as the prelude to the present wave of legislation affecting trans people nationwide. When the law passed, major sports tournaments, businesses, and conventions pulled out of North Carolina, costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue before the policy was eventually rolled back in 2017 and settled in federal court in 2019. Republicans now hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers for the first time since 2018, which has opened the door to some LGBTQ+ restrictions that had not previously gained traction in the state.