North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) took a big step backwards on LGBT rights on Wednesday evening by signing House Bill 2, or the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, which forbids transgender people from using public bathrooms that correspond to their gender identities.
According to the bill, “Public agencies shall require every multiple occupancy bathroom or changing facility to be designated for and only used by persons based on their biological sex.” The legislature defines a person’s biological sex as what is listed on his or her birth certificate. The bill will therefore not affect transgender people who are able to update their birth certificates to reflect the gender they identify with.
Following the House’s vote, which passed the bill 82-26, Democratic members of the Senate walked out of the session in protest. The remaining members voted to pass the bill 32-0.
