Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Justice Department Sues North Carolina Over Transgender Bathroom Access

In a counter-suit to one filed by the governor of North Carolina (see prior posting), U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced yesterday that the Justice Department has filed suit against  the state of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety over H.B. 2, the state's new transgender bathroom law.  The complaint (full text) in United States v. State of North Carolina, (MD NC, filed 5/9/2016) seeks a declaratory judgment that in complying with H.B. 2,  defendants are discriminating on the basis of sex in violation Title VII and Title IX, and on the basis of sex and gender identity in violation of the Violence Against Women Act.  The suit also asks for injunctive relief.