Facing a Justice Department deadline to throw out the “bathroom bill,” Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina has instead filed suit against the federal government, reports NBC News.
On May 4, the Justice Department told the state that it had until May 9 to confirm that the state “will not comply with or implement HB2,” the name of the law that not only requires transgender people to use the restroom that corresponds to the sex listed on their birth certificate, but also prevents local governments from passing non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people.
The suit filed against the federal government, which lists McCrory and other state officials as plaintiffs, called the Justice Department's position on the law "baseless and blatant overreach."
North Carolina's suit said that Title VII, which the Department of Justice said House Bill No. 2 violates, doesn't recognize transgender status as a protected class. "If the United States desires a new protected class under Title VII, it must seek such action by the United States Congress," the suit said.
…The divisive new law has already led to a nationwide fallout, and multi-billion-dollar companies continue to withdraw investment from the state as some residents decamp to "friendlier" locations. Founders and chief executives of more than a hundred companies — including Apple, Twitter and Alphabet — urged McCrory to repeal the legislation, while high-profile entertainers like Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam have canceled appearances in North Carolina.
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