WND
STATE NIXES CITY'S OPEN-BATHROOMS ORDINANCE
Governor: 'Basic expectation of privacy violated by government overreach'
Bob Unruh
Republican North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory late Wednesday signed into law a bill that overturns a Charlotte measure that allows men who perceive themselves to be women to use public restrooms and other facilities designated for females.
The new law, which sets a statewide standard for anti-discrimination ordinances and requirements, was passed by state lawmakers in a one-day special session called by a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature. The bill was moved through the state House and Senate, including committees, in about nine hours on Wednesday.
In a statement released late Wednesday, McCrory said the “basic expectation of privacy in the most personal of settings, a restroom or locker room, for each gender was violated by government overreach and intrusion by the mayor and city council of Charlotte.”
Democrats in the GOP-controlled state legislature walked out of the debate on the bill before the Senate passed it 32-0. The House previously adopted it by a 84-24 vote.
“This radical breach of trust and security under the false argument of equal access not only impacts the citizens of Charlotte but people who come to Charlotte to work, visit or play,” the governor said. “This new government regulation defies common sense and basic community norms by allowing, for example, a man to use a woman’s bathroom, shower or locker room.”
McCrory said that while “local municipalities have important priorities working to oversee police, fire, water and sewer, zoning, roads, and transit,” the mayor and city council of Charlotte “took action far out of its core responsibilities.”
The Charlotte measure was to go into effect April 1.
“It is now time for the city of Charlotte elected officials and state elected officials to get back to working on the issues most important to our citizens,” McCrory said.
WRAL reported the new state law specifies that the state, not cities, shall set the requirements for nondiscrimination policies by prohibiting cities or towns from adopting regulations that are more strict that the state’s.
The bill was in direct response to the recent adoption by Charlotte council members of a transgender-rights measure that would have allowed people to use gender-specific public restrooms and locker room facilities “of their choice.”
A number of other jurisdictions across the U.S. have passed transgender-rights measures, including Houston, where voters overturned an ordinance initiated by the city’s lesbian mayor.
A man who states he is a woman, therefore, would have the legal right to enter a restroom for women, no matter who else is present.
The Charlotte ordinance was blasted by leaders such as Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which is headquartered in the city.
The new state Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act defines biological sex as “the physical condition of being male or female, which is stated on a person’s birth certificate,” and requires that bathrooms or changing facilities in schools to be designated for use “by students based on their biological sex.”
Other public agencies will be required to have bathrooms and changing facilities “designated for and only used by persons based on their biological sex.”
Additionally, the law states it shall “supersede and preempt any ordinance, regulation, resolution, or policy adopted or imposed by a unit of local government or other political subdivision of the state that regulates or imposes any requirement upon an employer pertaining to compensation of employees.”
WRAL reported among those testifying in favor was Chloe Jefferson, a junior at Greenville Christian Academy.
She said she was frightened by the prospect of a boy in the girl’s bathroom or locker room.
“It’s hard enough for young girls to deal with body image without having boys around when they change clothes,” she said.
“I am not the only girl scared,” she added.
The station also reported Heather Garofalo’s plea for the law.
“Business owners like myself, we would be forced to check our deepest-held beliefs at the door or suffer fines of $500, jail time, lawsuits,” she said. “I am asking for right to provide for my family.”
A transgendered persons who testifying in favor of the Charlotte ordinance contended that personal safety is an issue.
“I can’t use the men’s room. I won’t go back to the men’s room. It is unsafe for me there. People like me die there,” said a Raleigh resident who told of being bullied as a boy but who now goes by Madeleine Goss.
WRAL also noted the testimony of Skye Thomson, a 15-year-old transgender from Greenville.
“Imagine yourself in my shoes, being a boy walking into a ladies room. It’s awkward and embarrassing and can actually be dangerous,” Thomson said.
While LGBT activists have had their way in dozens of other cities around the nation, observers viewed the state action as a setback.
In advance of Wednesday’s session, Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Kellie Fiedorek commended the lawmakers for “listening to the voices of thousands of North Carolinians and taking the common-sense action of ensuring that no women or young girls are forced to undress, shower, or engage in other private activities in the presence of men.”
In a joint statement, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, president of the Senate, and House Speaker Tim Moore had said: “The Senate and House have received the necessary number of signatures from members of the general assembly to call themselves back into session. In accordance with the State Constitution, we will so call for a special session. We aim to repeal this ordinance before it goes into effect to provide for the privacy and protection of the women and children of our state.”
Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the North Carolina Values Coalition, commended Lt. Governor Dan Forest, Senate Leader Phil Berger and Speaker Tim Moore “for listening to the voice of their constituents, those who elected them to office, who believe it is common sense – no men should be allowed in women’s bathrooms.”
Franklin Graham previously wrote: “I hope they will take swift action to strike down this dangerous ordinance or bring it to a referendum for voters to decide. If this were put to a vote in Charlotte, I’m sure it would be overwhelmingly defeated by Democrats and Republicans alike.”
WND reported the vote by the city council was 7-4 in favor of the open-restrooms plan.
“Shame on Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts and the city council members,” Graham wrote then.
He praised council members Ed Driggs, Claire Fallon, Greg Phipps and Kenny Smith “for having the courage to do the right thing and vote NO.”
Just ahead of the vote, he said, “It’s hard to believe that such a ludicrous law would even be seriously considered – and even harder to believe that at least 8 of 11 council members have said they would vote for it!
“Are people just not thinking clearly? This law would allow pedophiles, perverts and predators into women’s bathrooms. This is wicked and it’s filthy. To think that my granddaughters could go into a restroom and a man be in there exposing himself … what are we setting our children and grandchildren up for? There’s not a public restroom in Charlotte that would be safe!” he said.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2016/03/governor-cancels-citys-open-bathrooms-ordinance/#DKqh5CHgM54SDOKw.99My comments: This so called, Open-Bathrooms Push, is an Example of how far the LGBT Crowd and their Democrat supporters will go. They are Ruthless and Relentless and in Defiance of God and His Word. Thank God for the North Carolina Legislature and the Governor for putting a Stop to this.
No comments:
Post a Comment