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U.S. NEWSThursday 24 March 2016
North Carolina reins in local
governments, transgender rule
House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, addresses members of GARY D. ROBERTSON islation, expected to be- himself transgender.
the House as North Carolina lawmakers gather for a special ses- EMERY P. DALESIO come law, will deal a blow “It’s common sense — bio-
sion Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in Raleigh, N.C. Associated Press to the LGBT movement af- logical men should not me
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North ter success with protections be in women’s showers,
Associated Press Carolina legislators decid- in cities across the country. locker rooms and bath-
ed to rein in local govern- The Republican-controlled rooms,” said GOP Rep.
ments by approving a bill General Assembly took Dean Arp of Monroe be-
Wednesday that prevents action after Charlotte city fore the chamber voted
cities and counties from leaders last month ap- 82-26 for the legislation
passing their own anti-dis- proved a broad anti-dis- after nearly three hours of
crimination rules. The leg- crimination measure that debate.
allows transgender people Gay rights leaders
to use the restroom aligned and transgender people
with their gender identity. said the legislation demon-
GOP Gov. Pat McCrory izes the community and es-
planned to sign the bill into pouses bogus claims about
law Wednesday night, ac- increasing the risk of sexual
cording to Josh Ellis, the assaults. They say the bill will
governor’s communica- deny lesbian, gay, bisexual
tions director. McCrory, and transgender people
who was the mayor of essential protections need-
Charlotte for 14 years, has ed to ensure they can get
criticized the local ordi- a hotel room, hail a taxi or
nance. dine at a restaurant with-
Although 12 House Demo- out fear.
crats joined all Republicans “Protections for LGBT peo-
present in voting for the bill ple against discrimination
in the afternoon, later all are common sense,” Chris
Senate Democrats in at- Sgro, executive director
tendance walked off their of Equality North Caro-
chamber floor during the lina, said in a release after
debate in protest. Remain- the vote. Advocates had
ing Senate Republicans hoped to pressure McCrory
gave the legislation unani- into vetoing the bill, begin-
mous approval. ning with a Thursday eve-
“We choose not to partici- ning rally.
pate in this farce,” Senate GOP leaders scheduled
Minority Leader Dan Blue the one-day session at the
of Raleigh said after he left cost of $42,000 because
the chamber. Charlotte’s ordinance was
Senate leader Phil Berger set to take effect April 1.
of Eden said he couldn’t re- Otherwise, the legislature
call such an action before wouldn’t have returned un-
a vote, which he said was til late April.
a “serious breach of their Current Charlotte May-
obligation to the citizens or Jennifer Roberts, who
that voted to elect them.” pressed since taking office
Republicans and their al- to get the anti-discrimina-
lies have said intervening tion ordinance approved,
is necessary to protect the said she was appalled by
safety of women and chil- the legislature’s actions.
dren from “radical” action “The General Assembly is
by Charlotte. There have on the wrong side of prog-
been arguments that any ress. It is on the wrong side
man — perhaps a sex of- of history,” Roberts said in a
fender — could enter a prepared statement.q
woman’s restroom or lock-
er room simply by calling
