Speakers attacked Donald Trump over North Carolina’s law that requires transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex. | Getty Democrats rally around transgender bathrooms

On its fractious first night, the Democratic National Convention went into the toilet, and there it found a source of common cause.

Chants of “Hillary” and “Bernie” calmed as relatively low-profile speakers attacked Donald Trump — and Gov. Mike Pence — over North Carolina’s law that requires transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex.


“It’s clear there’s one thing you don’t understand about business,” said Jesse Lipson, an executive at Raleigh-based Citrix, told Trump from the podium in Philadelphia. “Nothing scares away investment like hate.”

Pointing to businesses and events, including the NBA All-Star Game, that are boycotting North Carolina over the law, Lipson said, “Republicans may think they’re telling people which bathroom to go into, but they’re actually telling people which market to stay out of.”

Trump had initially mocked North Carolina’s law, known as HB2, by inviting Caitlyn Jenner to use her bathroom of choice at Trump Tower, but he later said the matter should be left to the states.

North Carolina’s Republican Gov. Pat McCrory happened to be appearing with Trump just as Lipson and Pat Spearman, the first lesbian member of the Nevada legislature, were attacking the law he signed.

As McCrory took the stage at a Trump rally in Winston-Salem, he quipped, “If any of you need to use the restroom…” trailing off to laughter.

Lipson and Spearman also attacked Trump’s running mate, Indiana’s Gov. Pence, for signing a bill that critics say allows businesses to discriminate against LGBT customers — though proponents cast it as protecting religious freedom.

“I guess you could say bigotry has created one job,” Lipson said. “The position of Donald Trump’s running mate.”

Democrats offered multiple bathroom options at the Wells Fargo Arena. Reporters on the scene tweeted pictures of a bathroom that had been turned into an “all-gender restroom.”

