Legal groups on Thursday condemned
passage of a bill in North Carolina that prohibits local
municipalities from approving ordinances that protect the LGBT
community.
Lawmakers on Wednesday called a one-day
special session at a cost of $42,000 to respond to passage of such a
law in Charlotte set to take effect on April 1. By the end of the
day, Republican Governor Pat McCrory had signed House Bill 2 into
law.
(Related: North
Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signs bill blocking Charlotte's LGBT
protections ordinance.)
House Bill 2 bars any city, town or
municipality from enacting a similar measure and makes North Carolina
the first state in the nation to prohibit students in public schools
from using the bathroom that does not conform to their gender at
birth. Similar attempts in South Dakota and Tennessee failed this
legislative session.
Lambda Legal, the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of North Carolina and Equality North
Carolina responded in a joint statement.
“Today was a devastating day for LGBT
North Carolinians and particularly our transgender community members
who have been subjected to months of distorted rhetoric culminating
in today’s display of bias and ignorance by North Carolina
lawmakers. We are disappointed that Governor McCrory did not do right
by North Carolina’s families, communities, and businesses by
vetoing this horribly discriminatory bill, but this will not be the
last word,” said Chris Brook, Legal Director of the ACLU of North
Carolina. “The ACLU, Lambda Legal, and Equality NC are reviewing
all options, including litigation.”
Rea Carey, executive director of the
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, called the new law
“outrageous” in a separate statement.
“It says a lot when the only thing
certain politicians have to offer in the market place of ideas in the
run-up to the general election are policies and laws based on
hatred,” Carey said. “Know that freedom, justice and equality in
[North Carolina] has only been delayed but it will not be denied.”