North Carolina lawmakers are holding a
special session Wednesday in an attempt to block an LGBT protections
ordinance in Charlotte from taking effect on April 1.
Earlier this month, city leaders
approved the ordinance which prohibits discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, vehicles
for hire and government contracting.
State lawmakers were not scheduled to
return to Raleigh until April 25. Special sessions cost $42,000 a
day.
Republican House Speaker Tim Moore said
that he hopes the special session will last one day and that it is
necessary to protect women and children.
“When a local government goes on such
a radical course and a reckless course, we in the General Assembly I
think not only have the authority but actually the duty to do
something about it, and in this case we're going to,” Moore is
quoted as saying by the
AP.
Opponents of the measure claim that
they fear the ordinance will allow men posing as women to gain access
to women's restrooms.
Lawmakers are expected to introduce
legislation that would block local governments statewide from
approving similar measures.