N.C. to reconsider ‘bathroom bill’
Legislators to study law that restricts transgender bathroom access
RALEIGH, N.C. — Legislators who passed the North Carolina law known as the bathroom bill nine months ago head back to the Capitol today to consider repealing it. But there’s uncertainty over exactly what lawmakers will do, in part because this Republican-controlled Legislature has shown a willingness to go its own way, despite intense outside pressure to scrap the law.
Over the past year, there has been bitter fighting between Democrats and Republicans. Just last week, Republican leaders convened a surprise legislative session and passed two laws designed to limit Democratic Gov.-elect Roy Cooper’s powers when he takes office on Jan. 1.
Cooper blasted outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory over the law known as House Bill 2 during the governor’s race, and the fallout over the law — including job losses and canceled concerts and sporting events — contributed to McCrory’s narrow defeat. The wideranging law is best-known for requiring transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate in many public buildings.
The state’s Republican leaders say they’ve been willing for months to consider repealing the state law if Charlotte acted first to undo a local antidiscrimination ordinance.
The City Council gutted the ordinance Monday on a contingency basis, paving the way for the special session.
GOP Rep. Chuck McGrady supports repealing the entire law and said he believes a significant number of House members from both parties do as well.
House Republicans met by phone Monday and would meet in person in Raleigh later Tuesday, he said.
However, lawmakers were already under pressure from some conservative groups to keep HB2 in place.
House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger have only issued a brief statement Monday, saying they “would take up the repeal of HB2.”