North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory on
Monday announced that he would defend a state law that targets the
LGBT community.
McCrory asked a federal court to decide
whether a provision of House Bill 2 which limits the bathroom choices
of transgender people in government buildings violates the Civil
Rights Act as the Justice Department has determined.
The federal agency gave state officials
until Monday to confirm that they “will not comply with or
implement HB2.”
The Republican governor instead
criticized the Justice Department during the press conference where
he announced the lawsuit.
“The Obama administration is
bypassing Congress by attempting to rewrite the law and set restroom
policies for public and private employers across the country, not
just North Carolina,” McCrory said in a statement. “This is now
a national issue that applies to every state and it needs to be
resolved at the federal level.”
The Justice Department responded by
filing its own lawsuit against the state.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch
criticized the controversial law at a press conference.
“What we must never do is turn on our
neighbors, our family members, and our fellow Americans for something
they cannot control and deny what makes them human,” Lynch said.
“This law provides no benefit to society. All it does is harm
innocent Americans.”
“Let me also speak directly to the
transgender community itself. Some of you have lived freely for
decades. Others of you are still wondering how you can possibly live
the lives you were born to lead. But no matter how isolated or
scared you may feel today, the Department of Justice and the entire
Obama Administration wants you to know that we see you; we stand
with you; and we will do everything we can to protect you going
forward. Please know that history is on your side,” she added.