Today is the deadline the U.S. Department of Justice has given the state of North Carolina to cease and desist its enforcement of the HB2 transgender discrimination law.
Gov. Pat McCrory had asked federal officials for an extension of today’s deadline to declare that North Carolina will not comply with its newly enacted law restricting anti-discrimination protections. McCrory said the U.S. Department of Justice declined his request unless he was willing to admit that House Bill 2 was discriminatory.
State Rep. Paul Stam, one of the bill’s sponsors, told NPR yesterday he hoped that the governor would stand firm against the federal government enforcing an “Obama-type” bathroom policy.
After a Twitter debate with N.C. House Majority Leader Mike Hager about North Carolina’s HB2 transgender discrimination bill and whether the NBA All-Star Game would take place in Charlotte, former TV talk show host Montel Williams last week sent Hager a cake festooned with “#lovewins” and “#repealHB2” written in icing. Williams, a conservative who campaigned for Republican candidate John Kasich, opposes the law.
So….. as I write this, news is breaking that North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department.
UPDATE — Here it is:
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Open in new tab Here, to me, is the problem that the state has.
I’m not sure how one’s “bodily privacy” is affected by the presence of transexuals in the same restroom. That is, unless you hold the belief that transsexuals are “checking you out”. Which would be an interesting allegation to prove.
UPDATE #2:
#Breaking @CivilRights AG Loretta Lynch 2 announce law enforcement action against NC amid #HB2 back-and-forth #ncpol pic.twitter.com/Bw7SSowDan
— Nick Ochsner (@NickOchsnerWBTV) May 9, 2016
Here’s what happened at McCrory’s press conference earlier today:
In a press conference, McCrory said he did not seek out the issue but was responding to policies being made at the local level in the city of Charlotte.
Which matters…. how?
The governor also said that after DOJ sent a letter last week informing him the legislation violates civil rights law, the state was given just five days to reply.
So…. five times as longer than it took the NCGS to write, “debate”, vote on, and then have the governor sign the law.
He added that DOJ refused his request for an extension unless he publicly said he agreed with the agency’s interpretation of federal law.
“That is why this morning, I have asked a federal court to clarify what the law actually is,” McCrory said. “I anticipate our own legislature, other private sector entities from throughout the United States and possibly other states to join us in seeking this clarification because this is not just a North Carolina issue, this is a national issue.”
Yeah. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for other states to chime in. Mississippi, maybe.
UPDATE #4 – 4 pm —
US Justice Dept. files suit against North Carolina over law restricting use of restrooms by transgender people – AP https://t.co/3oMvAyR2gg
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) May 9, 2016
US Atty General Loretta Lynch (from North Carolina, coincidentally) says the DOJ retains the right to withhold federal funds from NC. The lawsuit is against the state as well as the university system for violations of Titles VII and IX.
Her speech was actually very human and touching. She reassured transgender people that the federal government has their back. Nice.