Success: Justice Department Says Bathroom Bill Violates Federal Law

Target: Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney General

Goal: Praise Justice Department for declaring that North Carolina’s bathroom bill violates federal law.

The Justice Department has declared that North Carolina’s infamous “bathroom bill,” which forces transgender people to use the bathroom consistent with the sex on their birth certificate, violates the federal Civil Rights Act. If North Carolina does not repeal this law, the state will lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

The bathroom bill, also known as House Bill 2, is one of the most regressive pieces of state legislation that has been passed this year. In addition to prohibiting transgender people from using their preferred bathroom, the law prohibits municipalities from passing measures which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. House Bill 2 carried North Carolina back in time at least 50 years. In protest of the law, petitions were published on websites like ForceChange, PayPal cancelled its plans to expand in North Carolina, and Bruce Springsteen cancelled his concert that was scheduled to take place in Greensboro.

Since North Carolina resisted these protests, the Justice Department thankfully stepped in and warned North Carolina that this law is grounds for a complete loss of federal funding. Hopefully this warning will encourage the government of North Carolina to repeal this law and restore protections for gay and transgender people.

Sign the petition below to thank the Justice Department for fighting for gay and transgender rights.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Attorney General Lynch,

I am writing to thank you for issuing a warning to North Carolina that House Bill 2 violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act. Ever since this law was passed, people around the country have been speaking out about how nonsensical and hateful it is. The leaders of North Carolina have ignored pleas and protests, steadfastly defending their bigoted law. Now, you have taken action which I sincerely hope will make a difference.

People should not be able to discriminate against others on the basis of “religious freedom.” Hate is still hate no matter what motivates it. I want to thank you for realizing that this bill’s claim of protecting religious freedom is just a ruse, and also for recognizing that the rights of gay and transgender people fall under civil rights and deserve all the protection that the United States government can afford to them.

Thank you for taking a stand against bigotry. I hope your actions see positive results.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: U.S. government