North Carolina officials have been taking massive heat over their transgender bathroom bill, particularly from the federal government, but it looks like they’re about to start fighting back.
More states need to have this kind of boldness.
From CBS News:
Officials in North Carolina filed a lawsuit Monday against the Department of Justice over the feds’ demand that the state not implement its controversial LGBT law or risk losing federal funds.
The Justice Department had set a deadline of Monday for Gov. Pat McCrory to report whether he would refuse to enforce the last that took effect in March. McCrory’s defiance could risk funding for the state’s university system and lead to a protracted legal battle.
In a statement, McCrory said: “The Obama administration is bypassing Congress by attempting to rewrite the law and 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. They are now telling every government agency and every company that employs more than 15 people that men should be allowed to use a women’s locker room, restroom or shower facility.”
In his filing, McCrory cited the fact that he has directed state agencies to make a reasonable accommodation of a single occupancy restroom. The state also allows private companies to set their own policies for bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities.
“I’m taking this initiative to ensure that North Carolina continues to receive federal funding until the courts resolve this issue,” McCrory said in the release.
In letters, federal civil rights enforcement attorneys focused particularly on provisions requiring transgender people to use public restrooms that correspond to their biological sex. A federal lawsuit against the state is possible, the Justice Department said.
“It’s the federal government being a bully. It’s making law,” McCrory said on “Fox News Sunday.” The Justice Department is “trying to define gender identity, and there is no clear identification or definition of gender identity.”
It is about time a state fights for their rights. It is Constitutional to do so, and more states need to stand up to this tyrannical, over bearing federal government. Stay tuned….