North Carolina Softens Anti-Transgender Law

North Carolina moved Tuesday to curtail a law targeting gay and transgender people, but stopped short of ending limits to public bathroom access following a growing backlash from companies and celebrities.

In an executive order, Republican Governor Pat McCrory said he had "expanded" the southeastern US state's equal employment opportunity policy to include sexual orientation and gender identification.

He also vowed to seek legislation restoring the right to sue for discrimination in North Carolina.

But McCrory left intact the bill's most high profile and controversial provision -- which requires transgender people to only use public restrooms that correspond with the gender on their birth certificates.

"It maintains common sense gender-specific restroom and locker room facilities in government buildings and in our schools, and when possible, encourages reasonable accommodations for families and those who have unique or special circumstances," he said in a video message.

The governor defended the state law, which he signed last month, as necessary for responding to the "government overreach" of an ordinance in the state's largest city of Charlotte that expanded legal protections for transgender people.

"The private sector can make its own policy with regard to restrooms, locker rooms and/or shower facilities. This is not a government decision. This is your decision in the private sector," McCrory said.

But that had not been in doubt since the law's most controversial component dealt with public facilities, allowing the private sector to make its own decisions.

More