‘Fix’ Does Not Go Far Enough

North Carolina House Republicans are reportedly drafting new legislation to amend HB2, amid pressure from the NBA which could move the 2017 All-Star Game out of state. HB2 is a virulently anti-LGBT bill that experts have deemed unconstitutional, which in additionÂ to banning transgender people from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, remove local control over minimum wage and employment discriminationÂ ordinances.

The possible new bill would, as WBTV first reported, create “an official document that would recognize a personâ€™s gender reassignment. The new document, which is treated as the equivalent as a birth certificate in the draft legislation, isÂ referred to as a certificate of sex reassignment.”

A portion of the draft bill reportedly reads:

â€œAn individual who (i) was born in another state or territory of the United States that does not provide a mechanism for amending a current certificate of birth or issuing a new certificate of birth to change the sex of an individual followingÂ sex reassignment surgery and (ii) resides in this State at the time of the written application may request a certificate of sex reassignment from the State Registrar,â€ the legislation reads. â€œThe State Registrar shall issue a certificate of sex reassignmentÂ upon a written application from an individual accompanied by a notarized statement from the physician who performed the sex reassignment surgery or from a physician licensed to practice medicine who has examined the individual and can certify that the personÂ has undergone sex reassignment surgery.â€

It would appear that only transgender people who have completed “sex reassignment surgery,” as it is described, would be considered transgender and entitled to “a certificate of sex reassignment.”Â

“The draft bill,” WBTV adds, “also amends portions of HB2 related to protections for employees by adding specific references to federal statutes that provide special protections for certain groups of people. Other changes in the draft legislation increaseÂ the penalties for suspects convicted of committing certain offenses in a multi-person bathroom or changing facility.”

The draft bill also amends portions of HB2 related to protections for employees by adding specific references to federal statutes that provide special protections for certain groups of people. Other changes in the draft legislation increase the penalties for suspects convicted of committing certain offenses in a multi-person bathroom or changing facility.

“The draft legislation is the result of months of conversations between leadership in the state legislature, including the Speaker’s office, and officials from the NBA,” WBTV adds, noting House Speaker Tim Moore (photo) has not responded to inquiries.

But one of North Carolina’s top politicalÂ reporters, Colin Campbell of The News & Observer, offered this via Twitter:

House Maj, Leader @RepMikeHager says no #HB2-related legislation has been in GOP caucus yet, but he didn’t rule out future discussion #ncpol â€” Colin Campbell (@RaleighReporter) June 28, 2016

More via Twitter:

You can only be trans after surgery & have to carry around “certificate” at all times? #HB2 https://t.co/2juXcMb0gS pic.twitter.com/aXbbjlg1qC â€” Alex Kotch (@alexkotch) June 28, 2016

@theobserver Is that application going to cost money (yes)? So it’s a bathroom tax now? #HB2 â€” WeAreNotThis (@Robyn780) June 28, 2016

The reassignment ID is available only as a substitute? Still have to change BC if born here? And only post surgery? This is pathetic. #hb2 â€” Laurel (@laurelgreen) June 28, 2016

What will the required badges look like? Yellow stars and red Ls are taken, purple smiley faces perhaps? #hb2 gender reassignment IDs ðŸ™„ â€” Laurel (@laurelgreen) June 28, 2016

In other news, NC is working to “improve” on #HB2 by creating a transgender registry that would force trans people to carry a Trans Card. â€” TV Is Great (@tvisgreat) June 28, 2016

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UPDATE I: 1:53 PM EDT â€“

Chris Sgro, theÂ Executive Director of Equality North Carolina and a North Carolina State Representative just posted this tweet denouncing the “fix,” and noting the end of the session (sine die) is fast approaching:

Draft of “no fix” #hb2 measure leaked. Nowhere close to necessary #RepealHB2. Leadership says sine die is sat. #ncga cut and run. #ncpol â€” Chris Sgro (@cristoferosgro) June 28, 2016

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