Last week the Department of Justice gave the state of North Carolina until Monday to respond to their letter which stated that law HB2 violates federal civil rights statutes. In response to the demand letter North Carolina filed suit against the United States Department of Justice in federal court on Monday. State officials are challenging the demand of the federal government that the state not implement their controversial law, which violates the civil rights of the LGBT community. The department of justice focused in on the provision that requires transgender people to use public restrooms that correspond to their biological sex. The law passed in March violates the civil protections against sex discrimination on the job and in education for LGBT people. The lawsuit called the DOJ’s position baseless and a blatant overreach of federal authority. In addition to this argument the state also argues that transgender people are not a protected class. The federal government has informed the state that if they implement the law they will risk losing millions in federal funds.
North Carolina Governor, Pat McCrory, challenged the federal government’s actions as being a broad over reach of federal authority. In an interview over the weekend, Governor McCrory provided his stance on the matter: “It’s the federal government being a bully. It’s making law trying to define gender identity, and there is no clear identification or definition of gender identity.” In a written statement on Monday Governor McCrory stated: ” The Obama administration is attempting to set restroom policies for public and private employers across the country, not just North Carolina. This is now a national issue that applies to every state and it needs to be resolved at the federal level.”
As for now we will have to wait and see if what the court decides on the matter. If the state continues to proceed with implementation of the law they could see a loss in federal funds that will affect things such as education and transportation, two areas that need the continued financial support of the federal government.
