Transgender Restrooms: Not a Federal Case

As the transgender restroom issue heats up, presidential candidates are weighing in. And they seem to be forgetting at least one very crucial fact: As important as this is as a national issue, it is not a federal issue.

 

The battle began in February when the Charlotte, North Carolina City Council passed an ordinance to allow men and women who “identify” as the opposite sex to use the restroom and changing room facilities matching their “gender identity.” North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory immediately spoke out against the ordinance and warned the Charlotte City Council via e-mail that it would “most likely cause immediate state legislative intervention which I would support as governor.” On March 23, the state legislature held a one-day specially convened session and passed HB2 (the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act) to settle the issue for North Carolina. The law, which went into effect on March 26 establishes a standard across the state, setting aside any ordinance — such as the one in Charlotte — requiring businesses to allow transgenders to use opposite-sex bathrooms.

 

Read More: Transgender Restrooms: Not a Federal Case