A federal judge on Friday agreed to
hear arguments on a request to block provisions of North Carolina's
controversial law that targets the LGBT community while a legal
challenge proceeds.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas
Schroeder will hold a hearing on the request on Monday, August 1 in
Winston-Salem.
House Bill 2, approved during a 1-day
special session in March, prohibits transgender people from using the
bathroom of their choice in government buildings, including schools.
It also blocks cities and local municipalities from approving
ordinances that protect the LGBT community from discrimination.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Carcano
v. McCrory, are three transgender people, a lesbian and a lesbian
couple. They are being represented by the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU), ACLU of North Carolina, Lambda Legal and Jenner and
Block law firm.
“Every day that House Bill 2 remains
on the books, transgender North Carolinians suffer irreparable harm
at work, in school, and in other public places, simply because they
want to use public facilities safely just like everyone else, but
this hateful law prevents them from doing so,” the groups said in a
joint statement. “We are glad our clients will finally have their
day in court, and we hope that this discriminatory law's days are
numbered.”