Lawmakers in North Carolina voted Thursday to approve the repeal of the state’s controversial “bathroom law,” although the compromise bill has faced harsh criticism from LGBTQ and civil rights groups.
The North Carolina House of Representatives voted 70 to 48 in favor of the repeal bill after the state’s Senate passed the bill by a 32 to 16 vote earlier in the day.
The bill is expected to be signed by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who said the legislation is not perfect but argued it would begin to repair the state’s reputation.
HB2, commonly known as the “bathroom bill,” required people to use public bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.
The compromise approved by lawmakers today repeals HB2 but leaves regulation of multi-occupancy facilities to the state.
The bill also implements a temporary moratorium on local governments passing their own non-discrimination ordinances until December of 2020.
LGBTQ and civil rights groups criticized the legislation as a “fake” repeal that fails to protect transgender people from discrimination.
“Let me be clear: this is not a repeal,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “It’s a cynical ploy that will continue to hurt North Carolina and transgender people.”
She added, “Transgender North Carolinians are being squarely targeted by HB 2 and would continue to be targeted by the provisions of this new law.”
The repeal bill has also been criticized by conservative lawmakers and groups that supported the original legislation.
by RTT Staff Writer
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