North Carolina’s largest city passed a law Monday allowing transgender people to choose public bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity, which the governor had called a threat to public safety and warned that the General Assembly may step in.
The Charlotte City Council voted 7-4 to expand protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, making it the latest frontier in a national debate on how businesses treat gay, lesbian and transgender customers. One of the revisions to the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance allows people to choose restrooms corresponding to the gender with which they identify.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory — a former mayor of Charlotte, one of the 20 largest cities in the U.S. according to census figures — said in an email Sunday that changing the policy on restrooms could “create major public safety issues.”
“Also, this action of allowing a person with male anatomy, for example, to use a female restroom or locker room will most likely cause immediate State legislative intervention which I would support as governor,” he wrote in the email to two Council members.
The issue has been part of a national debate that included the high-profile defeat of a similar ordinance late last year by voters in Houston, and LGBT advocates worried bathroom-access fears would be used elsewhere to fight equal-rights measures. South Dakota legislators recently passed a bill requiring students to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex at birth, though it hasn’t been signed by the governor.
In North Carolina, the advocacy group Equality NC issued a statement criticizing McCrory for “perpetuating the same tired and debunked myths about transgender people and public safety.” Executive director Chris Sgro accused the governor and legislators of trying “to bully the Charlotte City Council with threats to strip municipalities of their rights to govern.”
During the meeting, about 140 members of the public got one minute each to give the council their opinions on the measure. Because the council chambers were filled to capacity, some speakers had to stay in an adjacent room and await their time.
Materials given to the council ahead of the meeting cited some residents’ concerns that sexual predators would use the ordinance to gain entry to women’s restrooms for assault or indecent exposure, but it also noted that staff researchers hadn’t uncovered any evidence of an increase in such crimes in cities with non-discrimination ordinances.
Before the meeting, several hundred people stood outside in a wind-driven rain to protest the proposal, holding signs with messages such as: “No Men In Women’s Restrooms” and “Keep Kids Safe.”
Chris Williams, a 30-year-old father of three, passed out “No” stickers to the crowd, saying most Charlotte residents “stand with religious values.”
“I don’t want my kids having to even question, ‘Why is there this person in the restroom?'” he said. “I don’t think they should even be faced with that question and that concern.”
The measure adds sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status as attributes protected from discrimination when it comes to public accommodations including restaurants, retail stores and other businesses. It would take effect in April. Public school would not be affected by the law.
A similar measure was narrowly defeated by the Charlotte City Council in March 2015, even after the removal of a provision that would have allowed bathroom use based on gender identity. Local officials later announced that transgender people could use the bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity in city- and county-owned facilities.
Members of Charlotte’s LGBT community said in a survey the changes are needed because they have been denied service, received poor service or experienced disparaging comments, according to supplemental materials attached to Monday’s Council agenda.
Opponents of the measure — including some clergy and business owners — have sent the City Council a letter saying businesses should have the right to refuse service based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
NO! NO! NO! You Go to Restroom According to what your PRIVATE PARTS YOU WERE BORN WiTH. I’ve already experienced, 3 months ago, a man in the women’s restroom and IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. I’m 75 yrs. old.
I would be o.k. with going with whatever their CURRENT anatomy is. Until committed enough to have it whacked off or sewed on, they can’t change.
And whatever happened to philosophy per the very wise Mr. Spock. “The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.”
The many need to feel safe from all the perverts who absolutely will use this just as soon as they get their heads or sweaty palms around the idea.
Buy a taser and zap their asses, just be gone before they wake up!
Naw. The taser-er would be charged with assault, although it is an idea.
I would not shop in a store that would allow a man to go into a womans rest room. More on line shoping for me. The MORALS of the country keep getting lower and lower. and the people that are making these decisions are the worse. They have no morals and enjoy inflecting their thought and beliefs on everyone else. I feel very sorry for these people on the day of judgement. And there will be a judgement day. Believe it or not. It is coming. God has promised this and no one knows but him when that day will be but it will be, and the immoral will suffer beyond words. And for that I wish I could do something to wake you up and set you on the right path to God. He does not wish anyone to suffer or to perish, but it is every ones choice which way we go down the path. Right or Left that is our choice. Good or Bad. And it seems more or going for the BAD. All I can say is GOD BLESS YOU
I am with you Barbara, you just told the truth. Any one can put on clothes of another gender and go in and molest children, rape women, play peeping tom. Just have a jolly good time at the expense of innocent women and children. The same goes for every gender. It makes you afraid to go to the bathroom. Just think of how dangerous it is for small children. These people making these laws have given their souls to Satan.. He comes to steal, kill and destroy.
Lana, I am in Total Agreement with you and Barbara. I am Appalled that the laws have sided with the gay and transgender community. Our own Supreme Court has proceeded to Destroy the Ethics and Integrity of this nation in favor of the Abhorrent Lifestyle of gays and lesbians! Our only hope is the Religious Freedom Act, which will not force Pastors of churches to perform marriage ceremonies for gays and lesbians. Other than that, this country is, as Barbara says, in control of Satan and it’s all downhill from here, unfortunately….just as the bible predicted it would be……
Amen u said the Truth! I know in these last days it’s not going be easy for us Christians. Look what’s going on for awhile now. But Praise the Lord He will protect His people. He gives everyone their own free will. They make the choice and it’s sad because they will have to take the consequences for their sin… God bless. ✝????⛪️❤️????????????????????
It’s not morals. It’s “liberalism” with their whacky social experimenting. Such people truly have an abnormal thought process, and a lack of common sense.
This is totally ludicrous..what happens
When a twelve year old girl visits a restroom and an old fiftyfive yr old man comes in.
Dont know if hes there for the thrill of
The situation or not. I will not shop or
Eat in a place that does not have
Vagina or penis on the door. For Christs
Sake get some common sense all you dufi.
Thats plural for dufus
i agree probably most trans genders would be docile,but there are the ones that say they are transgender that could be pedophiles or sick men and women just wanting to advance their agenda or make them feel good. God help this country. it is sick sick !
Talk about a war on women–this is it!!! Why the so-called feminists in this country keep talking about women’s rights to free contraceptives, abortion, and political correctness when the real issues are this topic and those that deal with Sharia law. I, too, was in a restroom recently when a young man came out of the stall area. I was not scared but I was surprised and later very angry that I did not confront him and give him a piece of my mind. There was a unisex restroom right across the hall from the ladies’ room! These people are either perverts or activists and need to be stopped. I think every young girl needs to learn self-defense tactics because we are living in a time when our elected leaders too often do not think like adults and leave us vulnerable.
what a bunch of sick people are running the city. I just can’t believe this is happening in our country.
we are losing everything this country is unreal !!!!
I can;t believe this is happening in our great country. or at least it was a great country.
That’s what you get when you force “white flight” to the burbs. Large cities run by the under-educated and unqualified, that are the most vulnerable segment of the population to be influenced by Progressive politics and PC culture.
You’re mainly correct except that the people running these cities are usually OVER-educated self proclaimed intellectuals who ‘believe’ sitting in a classroom for more years than anyone else studying useless majors means they are intelligent, logical, and wise but in reality they live in an alternate universe.
As a child I lived in Taiwan with my military dad and family. Most of the places we visited were on base and very Americanized. But to go out into the city, there was one bathroom, period, both genders. There was no exploitation or ugliness about it, people were private to themselves. But then rapes and assaults were not part of their lifestyle, and offenders were made to pay dearly. Our government is all to blame, they cater to the “poor” criminals and make excuses for them. They hand out light sentences if any at all and encourage the sickness of people’s sexual ideals. All of this is against God’s Law and should therefore be supported by our lawmakers. But, I’ll bet over half of them have same sex partners! Disgusting that we have to explain this BS to our children. Wish I knew the answer, it’s a real let-down. Politicians have no balls to stand up for human decency .
What a sick bunch of s.o.b’s are they going to put urnals in ladies room?
On the floor so you can squat !@!
goodbye America it was a good country a long while ago , true Christian and caring ,but no more.
I suggest that all stores have individual bathrooms without any gender designation. It’s safer than what is coming down the liberal road. I will not shop in stores that promote this moral decay. Nor visit cities that promote a policy that encourages this behavior and supports the very few at the expense of the many.
It’s sad to c how our country in the last several yrs has really gone down hill. I don’t understand why Congress etc don’t fight when they don’t get to vote on all the things they suppose to. They just let Obama do what He wants and don’t include congress etc. Obama is doing everything he can to get it passed before he leaves office. He don’t want no feedback etc from we the people or congress or senates approval. That’s what’s scary. But He forgets that God is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord’s. God has total control. I will not allow my Grand-kids to use public restrooms. A person should be able to use a public etc bathroom if he has men’s parts men’s bathroom same for women. No one is protecting America or us the people. That’s why I say TRUMP is our only Hope to save America and us the people. His a fighter. He loves Anerica. He won’t backed down when he knows something isn’t right he will go all the way for America. No one can buy him or bribe him. He has guts and is a leader not a follower. He tells it like it is not lying like some of them to win votes. No Trump No America! The other candidates can’t fight and make decisions to fight Isis and all our enemies. Trump has no fear. And that’s what we need! I hope and pray people come to their senses and vote for Trump. His not perfect but no one is either. The Truth will set us free! Vote for the right candidate this time voting is our last chance. if not we will lose it all.????????✝????????????????????????
Well when I visit other cities I will cross Charlotte off my list my wife or daughters will not go into a bathroom with a man in the next stall. I would think these city council members would want what good for there city not some small group of people who doesn’t know what sex they are let me tell you if you have penis you go into the men’s restroom and a vagina you go into the women’s restroom. This country is in a bad way if people does know that. Why not do away with his and her restrooms just put one stall in and make everyone wait in line to use it, it may be nasty but that solves the problem. Then the LGBT won’t complain since everyone would use the toilet. I know some men’s restroom are so nasty I would wait so can you imagine what a single toilet would be like. Go to a fine restaurant and maybe they would have two restrooms unmarked but still a line, do you think a women wants to go in after a man? But problem solved.
If a government agency passes a unisex bathroom law, they should also be held responsible for any molestations or rapes which happen.
It sounds like the city council is a lot like people I know in leadership positions. They are the pillars of the community on the surface but in reality they are filthy minded bully’s. Most will quote the bible, I call them, one hour a week Christians.
They will screw up and put the blame on some one else.
HUMMM, might have a mental problem in Charlotte.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24&version=NASB
A separate bathroom with a key for people who don’t know what gender they are.
Problem solved!
HEY, MEL. YOU GOT IT. 3 BATHROOMS. #1—FEMALE ONLY #2 MALE ONLY ,AND #3 TRANSGENDER–FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. THIS HAS TO BE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, TEENS, WIVES, AND EVEN OURSELVES. AMERICA HAS “ICHABOD” WRITTEN OVER IT BY ALMIGHTY GOD. “ICHABOD” MEANS—“THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED!!!!!”
An Illinois school tried that and got shot down. The kid felt “she” was stigmatized by having a private restroom and dressing room. Yes! I said dressing room. The born-male teen plays on the girls’ basketball team and want to shower and change in the girls’ locker room. The school district has been threatened with loss of federal funds if they do not comply.
What bothers me is the very high percentage of people that don’t want this and the very, very few that do, and then the city counsel telling the vast majority to more or less sit down and shut up.
Bill, so you’re just as confused as I am. When did the “majority rules” go our the window? I think we have all been too tolerant for too long. We need to elect someone whose going to tell them to “sit down and shut up” and I don’t care what tone he uses or how loud he says it, as long as he says it!
The right needs to rise up and smite the wicked left with extreme prejudice!
Looks like I won’t be visiting North Carolina … EVER!
Will not be shopping in Charlotte or spending any of my money there.!!! So glad I live up in Hickory area !!!