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All you need to know about North Carolina's anti-Transgender 'Bathroom Bill'

Priyanka Mukherjee | Updated on: 24 April 2016, 23:20 IST

The US state of North Carolina has been in the news for quite sometime now for its new controversial 'Bathroom Bill' which mandates that people need to use the restroom and areas in public schools and government buildings in accordance with the the sex on their birth certificate.

This came close on the heels of the Charlotte City Council ordinance which allowed transgender residents to use either a men's or women's bathroom, depending on the gender with which they identify. The provision faced a lot of opposition, with some worrying about the safety of women and girls in a public bathroom with a transgender.

The issue further escalated when Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump slammed the law on NBC's show Today, saying, "People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There is so little trouble.

"There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go. They use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate."

Trans icon Caitlyn Jenner condemned the law and wrote on her website, "We all want safety and privacy in public bathrooms. But these anti-LGBT bills, like the ones in North Carolina and Mississippi, actually make us less safe, not more safe."

"They open the door to abuse, aggressive and confrontational behavior in bathrooms, and encourage strangers to demand that women and girls prove that they are actually female in order to use the restroom. No one wants that," she added.

What the politicians are saying

Republican nominee Ted Cruz supported the bill saying it would protect "young girls". He was quoted by a daily as saying, "Donald Trump is no different from politically correct leftist elites. Today, he joined them in calling for grown men to be allowed to use little girls' public restrooms. As the dad of young daughters, I dread what this will mean for our daughters - and for our sisters and our wives. It is a reckless policy that will endanger our loved ones."

However, United States' President Barack Obama spoke against the law asserting that the law should be overturned because it sets the stage for discrimination.

North Carolina loses business

Originally known as House Bill 2 or HB 2, this oppressive bill passed by North Carolina faced major repercussions from LGBT groups and businesses, including PayPal and Deutsche Bank.

Both the companies have pulled out major businesses and set aside their plans to create 400 employment opportunities in the state. The Guardian reported that Deutsche Bank, which employs 900 people in Cary, and had further announced a hiring plan for 250 by 2017, has now put all plans on hold.

Celebrated musicians including Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams and Pearl Jam have cancelled music concerts in the state.

Even a porn website, xHamster.com, refused to cater to the porn needs of North Caroliners on humanitarian grounds.

What does this mean for North Carolina?

North Carolina is facing what can be called an 'economic punishment'. Leading businesses have taken a stand against the anti-LGBT bill. According to media reports, the anti-LGBT law has cost the state a whopping $3m in tourism sector.

NBC estimated that North Carolina might have lost between $39.7m and $186m in revenue due to boycotts.

About time they revoked the law?

First published: 24 April 2016, 22:42 IST