Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, thanked North Carolina legislators for continuing to protect women and children from sexual predators by not repealing House Bill 2.

“It should be obvious to everyone—we don’t need men in women’s bathrooms and locker rooms in NC or in any state,” Graham said on a post to Facebook.

On Wednesday, Gov. Pat McCrory called for a special session of the legislature supposedly for the repeal of the controversial HB 2, which requires transgender persons to use bathrooms that are in line with their biological sex and not their gender identity.

H.B. 2 was passed early this year in response to a nondiscrimination ordinance approved by Charlotte that gives transgender persons access to bathrooms based on their identity.

State legislators said HB 2 was put in place to protect the public, particularly the women and children, who could be victimized by sexual predators posing as transgender persons.

On Monday, Charlotte City Council repealed its nondiscrimination ordinance with the expectation that the state would also repeal HB 2, as both camps had previously agreed that if Charlotte would repeal its ordinance, state legislators would also repeal HB 2.

However, during the special session, state legislators decided to let the bill stand. As it turned out, the City Council of Charlotte, did not fully repeal its nondiscrimination ordinance. This was discovered by Republican legislators the day before they were to vote for the repeal of HB 2.

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, a supporter of HB 2, said if the state law is repealed, North Carolina would fight the battle all over again. He also said Charlotte repealed an ordinance that was technically made void when HB 2 was enacted early this year.

“I support HB 2 and do not favor its repeal. No economic, political or ideological pressure can convince me that what is wrong is right,” he said in a strongly worded statement posted to Facebook. “It will always be wrong for men to have access to women's showers and bathrooms.”

“The left has already publicly stated the removal of HB 2 is necessary for the rest of their agenda to move forward. … the national groups who are pushing this agenda will not stop until their social engineering is accomplished. The only thing stopping them are those of us who continue to stand strong,” he said.

Graham praised Forest and the North Carolina legislators for upholding the bill and for “protecting women and children from pedophiles and sexual perverts.”

“They have stood strong and resolute for HB 2 to uphold safety and privacy,” Graham said.

He urged everyone to keep praying for government leaders who continue to fight for the privacy and protection of women and children in the U.S.