On disputed law, N.C. offers tweaks

But transgender restroom rule intact

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A law limiting protections for gay, bisexual and transgender people was left largely intact Friday by North Carolina lawmakers who chose only to make a minor revision to the wide-ranging legislation.

The North Carolina General Assembly voted to restore workers' right to use state law to sue over employment discrimination. But the change won't enhance workplace protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, nor does it affect other provisions decried by gay-rights advocates, business leaders and other high-profile critics.

The legislation heads to the desk of Gov. Pat McCrory, who pushed for the change. Legislative leaders have said they plan no other changes to the law in their yearly session. McCrory spokesman Josh Ellis said by email late Friday that the governor "is pleased the General Assembly has acted on his request."

Republican lawmakers showed no desire to undo a requirement that transgender people must use public bathrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates.

The law enacted earlier this year also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide anti-discrimination protections.

Democrats complained during floor debate that the most onerous provisions of the law weren't addressed.

"This was the lowest of the low-hanging fruit. It does nothing to fix the core discrimination in that law," said Rep. Grier Martin, a Democrat.

Rep. Chris Sgro of Guilford County, who serves as executive director of Equality North Carolina, said, "While this is important, it doesn't go nearly far enough."

Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican, said the change on workplace lawsuits answered requests from McCrory and business leaders. But he reiterated his belief that the bathroom-access provisions remaining in the law to protect public safety.

"Protecting the safety and privacy of North Carolina families by keeping grown men out of bathrooms, shower facilities and changing rooms with women and young girls has always been our primary objective," Berger said in a statement.

Pressure to change the law has come from business leaders, entertainers and the National Basketball Association, which has been weighing whether to keep the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte. Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that progress toward changing the law was needed this summer to ensure the event stays in the city.

The Legislature approved giving McCrory's office $500,000 to defend the law in court, transferring the money from a disaster-relief fund. The move drew gibes from gay-rights advocates.

The law also throws into question the state's viability as a host for NCAA sporting events. Weeks after North Carolina's law was enacted, the association passed a measure requiring host sites to demonstrate that they are "free of discrimination."

Entertainers including Bruce Springsteen have canceled concerts to protest the law, while scores of business leaders signed a letter seeking its repeal. Rallies to support the law, meanwhile, drew thousands of conservatives to Raleigh.

Advocacy groups led by the Human Rights Campaign signed a letter Friday saying that nothing short of a full repeal would fix the law.

"Any attempt to pass additional discriminatory legislation will be seen for what it is -- a shameful political ploy designed to give some lawmakers cover as the state continues to discriminate against its LGBTQ citizens," said JoDee Winterhof of the Human Rights Campaign.

A Section on 07/02/2016

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