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North Carolina Is Fighting Desperately For State’s Rights
- The Justice Department has declared a North Carolina's law a violation of the U.S. Civil Rights Act.
- House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, puts in place a statewide policy that bans individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex.
- North Carolina has already experienced a blow-back of negative attention in the wake of passing the bill.
- It is a deeply divisive issue.
(CNN) – The Justice Department has sent a letter to the governor of North Carolina notifying him that the state's transgender law violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act, according to a Justice Department official.
House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, puts in place a statewide policy that bans individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex. The law also reserves the right to pass nondiscrimination legislation to the state government, saying state laws pre-empt any local ordinances.
CNN is seeking a response from Gov. Pat McGrory.
He signed the bill into law March 23 after the General Assembly went into special session earlier in the day to push through the legislation, a response to a nondiscrimination ordinance the city of Charlotte enacted that, among other things, made it possible for transgender individuals to use the public bathroom of the sex they identify as.
The move enraged civil liberties groups, Democrats and others in the state. A few days after passage of the bill, two transgender men, a lesbian, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Equality North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to declare the law unconstitutional and a violation of federal laws banning sex discrimination.
“It is now clearer than ever that this discriminatory law violates civil rights protections and jeopardizes billions of dollars in federal funds for North Carolina,” the ACLU and Lambda Legal said. “The only way to reverse the ongoing damage HB 2 is causing to North Carolina's people, economy and reputation is a full repeal.”
Earlier Wednesday, the Family Research Council, which favors the bathroom law, launched a social media ad campaign that questions why federal agencies are investigating.
“It's absurd that President Obama is directing the investigative power of five federal departments to investigate the repeal of a law that punishes businesses for having restrooms designated for men only and women only,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins.
By Ralph Ellis, CNN
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9 Comments
The last time that we fought desperately for our state’s rights resulted in the bloodiest, most destructive war in U.S. history.
De(Re)construction was supposed to have ended in 1877!
A MAN IS A MAN AND A WOMAN IS A WOMEN.
Every state should have the rights to make their own laws when the federal law and liberalism of the present administration is so absolutely ridiculous and goes against the morality og this country.
The Federal Government has no right to be getting involved with this issue, which does not first of all deny anyone their “rights”. Fact is, what ever is listed on your birth certificate is the bathroom you should be using period.
THE Federal government is not to be activists.They are to protect all citizens not bend to the few groups. One group of people it’s not more important than another. They are trying to get our children to accept things that they do not understand..They are being used as pawns in an argument that is not theirs.
Feel that young girls and women would be in danger from predatory men. The federal government needs to back off and allow states like North Carolina to protect its citizens.
We, the people have created this over reaching federal government. We can take it back thru a Convention of States meeting http://www.conventionofstates.com. This move by you and me will be the only way we get our voice back and stop this government reach into our back door. The movement is going strong.
Just read Bill of Rights Amendment 10