North Carolina To Hold Special Legislative Session To Ban All LGBT Nondiscrimination Ordinances

State lawmakers in North Carolina will meet today to pass legislation that will ban all LGBT nondiscrimination policies across the state.

The move seems to be in direct response to the LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance that was passed in Charlotte, which riled conservatives with the addition of a policy that would’ve allowed transgender people to use public bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity. North Carolina’s Governor Pat McCrory warned Charlotte that he would support attempts to nullify the policy, though today’s move is spearheaded by Republican House Speaker Tim Moore.

The New Civil Rights Movement has more:

The proposed bill is broad. Not only does it void LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances throughout the state, it attacks transgender citizens by revoking their right to use public restrooms based on gender identity. It also mandates that only the General Assembly is allowed to regulate public accommodations, such as restrooms.

But it goes even further, mandating that only the General Assembly can regulate employment discrimination ordinances – another assault directed at LGBT citizens.

The bill is entitled, “An Act to Provide for Single Sex Multiple Occupancy Bathroom and Changing Facilities in Schools and Public Agencies and to Create Statewide Consistency in Regulation of Employment and Public Accommodations.” According to WNCN, it will require “that multi-occupancy bathrooms be limited to just one gender, using anatomy and birth certificates as a guide.”

It “allows school districts to use single occupancy bathrooms to make accommodations for students in special circumstances,” but it’s unclear what those special circumstances are.

Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who threatened “immediate state legislative intervention” if Charlotte passed a nondiscrimination bill, is expected to sign the legislation.

Equality NC is trying to mobilize concerned citizens to call their legislators to halt the session, but that appears unlikely. A majority of Democrats, independents, and Republicans believe that Charlotte’s ruling should be left alone. It looks like “The Bathroom Thing” strikes again. If this legislation becomes law, equality advocates at the local level are going to have their work cut out for them when it comes to passing more nondiscrimination ordinances.

This is a blow for LGBT people in North Carolina and a wakeup call for advocates in other states.