NORTH CAROLINA: House Speaker To Call Special Session To Repeal Charlotte’s LGBT Rights Law

From the Charlotte News & Observer:

N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore said Saturday that he hopes to call a special legislative session within a week to repeal parts of a controversial Charlotte nondiscrimination ordinance.

The Charlotte City Council early this month voted to expand protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, including a provision that will allow transgender people to use the restroom and locker room facilities of the gender with which they identify. The ordinance goes into effect April 1.

Opponents said the ordinance effectively allows men to use women’s restrooms and locker rooms, and they said it will endanger public safety and possibly lead to sexual assaults. Moore said the safety concerns mean that legislators can’t wait until their regular session begins on April 25.

“We’re having discussions with the governor, and I’m having discussions with Sen. Berger about a potential special session this coming week,” Moore said Saturday, referring to Senate leader Phil Berger. “I would expect it would be toward the end of this coming week.”

Special sessions cost about $42,000 per day.