Dozens protest North Carolina Governor’s mansion after anti-LGBT bill passed
After he signed into law a bill outlawing local LGBT ordinances, protesters have taken to the Governor North Carolina’s mansion.
Last night the US state of North Carolina passed the law which voids all local ordinances protecting LGBT rights.
The bill, HB 2, which was passed by the General Assembly with 83-24, and after only three hours of debate.
The Senate also passed the bill, which will went to Governor Pat McCrory.
As he called for the legislation, the Governor signed the bill, shortly after it was passed.
“The basic expectation of privacy in the most personal of settings, a restroom or locker room, for each gender was violated by government overreach and intrusion by the mayor and city council of Charlotte,” McCrory said in a statement, adding that the local ordinances “defy common sense and basic community norms.”
Dozens chanted “shut it down” outside McCrory’s mansion.
Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox also tweeted, saying “I am so disappointed in the governor and legislature of North Carolina. Overturn #HB2,” she tweeted.
Going on, she said: “Stay strong. This law is clearly unconstitutional and will not survive a court challenge. Let’s let this mobilise us.”
The bill was passed after lawmakers called a special session to debate it, rather than waiting until the next sitting at the end of April.
It specifies that all local nondiscrimination ordinances are now void.
The Charlotte City Council last month passed a bill that among other things, would have allowed people to use bathrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities based on their gender identity.
The measure – which passed 7-4 – would have also offered greater protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It is now void.
HB 2 also states all employment discrimination ordinances, minimum wage ordinances, and public accommodations ordinances must come from the state’s General Assembly.
This means local politicians are unable to provide protections in these areas.
North Carolina has been criticised by LGBT rights groups for moving hastily to try to end the protections.
As with similar legislation in other states, businesses have moved quickly to say the state will be boycotted now that the bill has passed, and been signed into law.
