Republican governor threatens city over LGBT bill
North Carolina’s Governor has said he will impose “immediate state legislative intervention” if Charlotte City Council pass a bill to protect the LGBT community.
Pat McCrory is reported to have told two Republican members of the council that he fears the measures could have state-wide implications.
“It is not only the citizens of Charlotte that will be impacted by changing basic restroom and locker room norms but also citizens from across our state and nation who visit and work in Charlotte,” he is reported to have said in an email.
When addressing aspects of the bill that would allow transgender people to use the bathrooms of either sex, he is reported to have continued: “This shift in policy could also create major public safety issues by putting citizens in possible danger from deviant actions by individuals taking improper advantage of a bad policy.
“This action of allowing a person with male anatomy, for example, to use a female restroom or locker room will most likely cause immediate state legislative intervention which I would support as Governor.”
Democratic council member, Al Austin, said he wasn’t concerned by the Governor’s threats.
He said: “We are trying to show the world that Charlotte is an inclusive place.”
Supporters of the legislation have said it would give LGBT people additional protections in public places and make it clear that people who identify as transgender can use facilities associated with their gender identity.
Although the city does have laws in place to protect against discrimination, the ordinances don’t apply to LGBT people.
Recently, South Dakota became the first state to ban transgender people from their preferred bathrooms.
Although the bill passed both chambers in the State House, it’s still unclear whether the Governor will sign it into law.
