North Carolina’s controversial new anti-transgender law has triggered a cavalcade of criticism since it became law in March, with businesses, famous musicians, and even Donald Trump expressing disproval of legislation that forces schools and public buildings to discriminate against transgender individuals and their bathroom use.
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Also in Raleigh, the State Democratic Party called on Republican State Senator Buck Newton to apologize for a remark he made about HB2 where he said, “tell your friends and family how hard we must fight to keep our state straight”. We must say no.
“We urge all United Methodists to engage in prayer, in study of the issues, in patient listening and persevering conversation with others who hold differing opinion, and in courageous advocacy for what is right, just and good for all people in North Carolina”, they wrote.
Earlier in the day, thousands of Christian conservatives and other supporters of the law gathered on a grassy mall behind the Legislative Building on the legislature’s opening day to praise the mostly Republican legislators and the governor for passing the restrictions last month in a special session. The law directs transgender people to use restrooms in public buildings corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate, though it doesn’t spell out an enforcement mechanism.
Mara Keisling, director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said in a phone interview Tuesday that the stance of state Republican leaders toward transgender bathroom access is “nonsense”. Chanting and several sit-ins stages at various legislative offices went on into the night on Monday. One man had to be carried out.All but one were to be charged with second-degree trespassing, acting General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock said. One protestors was also charged with resisting arrest.
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Detention records show the protesters were released late Monday or early Tuesday on a written promise to appear or on bonds that were generally around $1,000.
