BREAKING: US Justice Department Rules North Carolina’s HB2 Violates The Civil Rights Act Of 1964

From the Charlotte Observer:

U.S. Justice Department officials Wednesday notified Gov. Pat McCrory that House Bill 2 violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act.

The department gave state officials until Monday to address the situation “by confirming that the State will not comply with or implement HB2.”

The letter says HB2, which pre-empted Charlotte’s anti-discrimination ordinance, violates Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination in education based on sex.

If that determination is upheld, North Carolina could lose millions in federal school funding. During the current school year, state public schools received $861 million in federal funding.

In the letter, Valita Gupta, principal deputy assistant attorney general, said, “The Department of Justice has determined that, as a result of compliance with and implementation of NC House Bill2, both you and the state of NC are in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 0f 1964…

“Title VII prohibits an employer from discriminating against an individual on the basis of sex and from otherwise resisting the full enjoyment of Title VII rights….

“Federal courts and administrative agencies have applied Title VII to discrimination against transgender individuals based on sex, including gender identity….”

UPDATE: From the Campaign For Southern Equality.

“This letter from the Department of Justice confirms what was clear from the start, HB2 is discriminatory and unconstitutional. We continue to call for the immediate repeal of HB2. We also call for the North Carolina General Assembly to pass full legal protections for the LGBT North Carolinians,” says Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality.

UPDATE II: From the ACLU and Lambda Legal.



“It is now clearer than ever that this discriminatory law violates civil rights protections and jeopardizes billions of dollars in federal funds for North Carolina. Governor McCrory and the legislators who forced through HB 2 in a single day were warned about these dire consequences, but they ignored the law and the North Carolinians it would harm and passed the bill anyway. The only way to reverse the ongoing damage HB 2 is causing to North Carolina’s people, economy, and reputation is a full repeal.”