Amid dueling demonstrations, bill filed to repeal LGBT law
RALEIGH, N.C. — While rallies circled North Carolina’s statehouse on Monday, for and against a Republican-backed law curtailing protections for LGBT people and limiting public bathroom access for transgender people, House Democrats filed a repeal bill that stands little chance of passing.
At least 18 protesters opposing the law were arrested Monday evening when they entered the office of a top legislative leader to voice their opposition.
Thousands of Christian conservatives and other supporters of the law known as House Bill 2 gathered on a grassy mall behind the Legislative Building on the opening day of the Legislature to praise the mostly Republican legislators and GOP Gov. Pat McCrory for passing the restrictions during a special session last month.
“It took great courage for them to establish this bill,” said Doug Woods, 82, of Raleigh. “They need to stand firm.”
The law blocks local and state protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and directs which restrooms transgender people can use in public buildings. Key lawmakers who pushed through the legislation also urged the rally attendees to contact colleagues and urge them to fight off efforts to overturn the law.
“The battle is about to be engaged,” said state Republican Rep. Paul Stam, a veteran of North Carolina’s cultural wars.
Later Monday, hundreds of protesters took turns sitting outside the offices of House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger to demand repeal of the law. Police arrested 18 people at Moore’s office, leading them away in plastic handcuffs. They will be charged with second-degree trespassing, acting General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock said. One man who had to be carried out by officers also will face a charge of resisting arrest.
Earlier Monday, people gathered on the grounds of the old Capitol building to hear speakers denounce the law. They carried boxes holding what they said were 180,000 prorepeal signatures on a petition for delivery to McCrory.
“HB2 compounds the discrimination and marginalization of the transgender community, who already have to fight every day for their survival,” said Joaquin Carcano, a transgender man who’s suing over the law. “Our privacy and safety matter, too. Our right to feel safe and protected in this world does not infringe on anyone else’s right to the same.”
The head of the state NAACP, the Rev. William Barber, called the law “Hate Bill 2.”
Democratic Rep. Grier Martin of Raleigh, a sponsor of the repeal bill, said the new law has stained North Carolina’s reputation and harmed it economically. Some companies have halted planned expansions because of the law, while many groups have canceled their scheduled conventions in the state.