Governor signs bill that bars jurisdictions including city of Charlotte from letting transgender people use the bathroom matching their gender identity



North Carolina legislators have approved a bill that prevents cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules, including a measure that allows transgender people to use the restroom aligned with their gender identity.

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The legislation, signed into law later on Wednesday by Governor Pat McCrory, dealt a blow to the LGBT movement after success with protections in cities across the country.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly acted after Charlotte city leaders in February approved a broad anti-discrimination measure allowing transgender people to use the restroom that matched their gender identity.

McCrory, who was the mayor of Charlotte for 14 years, has criticized the local ordinance.

Twelve Democrats in the state house joined all Republicans present in voting for the bill in the afternoon. But later, all Democrats present in its senate walked off the chamber floor in protest during the debate in protest. Remaining Republicans gave the legislation unanimous approval.

“We choose not to participate in this farce,” said the senate minority leader, Dan Blue of Raleigh.

The senate leader, Phil Berger of Eden, said he could not recall such an action before a vote, which he said was a “serious breach of their obligation to the citizens that voted to elect them”.

Republicans and their allies have said intervening was necessary to protect the safety of women and children from “radical” action by Charlotte. There have been arguments that any man – perhaps a sex offender – could enter a woman’s restroom or locker room by calling himself transgender.

“It’s common sense – biological men should not be in women’s showers, locker rooms and bathrooms,” said representative Dean Arp of Monroe, a Republican, before the chamber voted 82-26 for the legislation after nearly three hours of debate.

Gay rights leaders and transgender people said the legislation demonized the community and gave credence to bogus claims about increasing the risk of sexual assaults. They said the would will deny lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people essential protections needed to ensure they could get a hotel room, hail a taxi or dine at a restaurant without fear.

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“Protections for LGBT people against discrimination are common sense,” Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality North Carolina, said in a release after the vote. Advocates had hoped to pressure McCrory into vetoing the bill, beginning with a rally on Thursday night.

Republican leaders scheduled the one-day session because Charlotte’s ordinance was set to take effect on 1 April. Otherwise the legislature would not have returned until late April.

The current Charlotte mayor, Jennifer Roberts, said she was appalled by the legislature’s actions.

“The General Assembly is on the wrong side of progress. It is on the wrong side of history,” Roberts said.

The bill bars local governments statewide from prohibiting discrimination in public places based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It directs all public schools, government agencies and public college campuses to require bathrooms or locker rooms be designated for use only by people based on their biological sex. They can offer single-occupancy facilities.

Transgender people who have transitioned to the opposite sex would not be affected if they had their birth certificate changed.

Democrats have said the bill makes North Carolina less inclusive and interferes with local governments. They say the state could also risk billions in federal education dollars with the school policy.

“This is really not about bathrooms,” said Democratic representative Rodney Moore of Charlotte. “This is about fear.”

Ordinance supporters and opponents spoke to legislators in house and senate committees, telling of their personal stories and fears. They included Skye Thompson, 15, of Greenville, who was born female but now identifies as male. He told senators they were putting him in danger by requiring use of a women’s restroom.

“I’ve dealt with bullying my whole life and now I worry that my own state lawmakers are bullying me as well,” Thompson said.

Donna Eaton of Cary said everybody deserved to be treated with dignity and respect but is worried that without Wednesday’s bill “it’s going to open the door for people with malicious intent who would masquerade as transgenders to come in and actually take advantage and have access to our kids.”

Legislation requiring transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding with their birth gender have failed recently. South Dakota’s legislature failed to override Governor Dennis Daugaard’s veto and a similar bill in Tennessee bill died on Tuesday.



