DOJ says North Carolina LGBT law 'violates civil rights,' but state refuses to be bullied
The U.S. Justice Department said the North Carolina law that prohibits transgenders to use bathrooms according to their gender identity violates the Civil Rights Act.
In a letter dated May 4, the department told North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory that by implementing House Bill 2, the governor and the state are in discrimination against transgenders and are violating civil rights.
"The State is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination against transgender state employees and both you, in your official capacity, and the State are engaging in a pattern or practice of resistance" against the Civil Rights Act, the letter stated.
The department notified the state that the transgender bathroom law should be remedied no later than Monday, May 9.
In response to the Justice Department, North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said the state legislators refuse to comply with the Monday deadline and will "take no action," a move that can cause the department to limit the state's federal funds.
"That deadline will come and go," Moore said, according to LA Times. "Obviously, we don't ever want to lose any money, but we're not going to get bullied by the Obama administration to take action prior to Monday's date. That's not how this works."
Aside from limiting federal funds to the state, the Justice Department can obtain a court order to ensure that the state complies with the law if it does not amend the transgender bathroom law and persists on violating civil rights.
Governor McCrory said he will study what the department has written and will decide on what to do next.
"The right and expectation of privacy in one of the most private areas of our personal lives is now in jeopardy," he said.
The North Carolina transgender bathroom law has caused an uproar from the LGBT community and their supporters. Some businesses have relocated to other states, while a number of celebrities have cancelled their shows in the state because of the controversial House Bill 2.
