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Gov. McCrory Signs "Bathroom Bill" Into Law

The law that goes into effect April 1 and overturns city and county anti-discrimination ordinances.

A bill introduced by state lawmakers in a special session in Raleigh Wednesday has now been signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory.

The 'Bathroom Bill' was passed by both the House and Senate before it was sent to Gov. McCrory.

The law that goes into effect April 1. It overturns city and county anti-discrimination ordinances.

Rep. Dean Arp: "It's common sense. Biological men should not be in women's bathrooms, showers, or locker rooms."

This stems from a recently passed ordinance in Charlotte that allows transgender people to use whichever public bathrooms they feel comfortable using.

Rep. Pricey Harrison: "This transgender issue that got started is a policy that's in place in 200 cities and states across the country. There have been no instances of increased sexual predator or sexual assault."

At the Green Bean on Elm Street, any customer can use either of the two bathrooms - not that unheard of, but you might not have seen these signs before.

The shop owner implemented gender neutral bathrooms last year, and so far the reaction has been really positive.

Other store owners are even asking where to get signs like these (the signs come from Greensboro company DECONSTRUCT).

"We want to provide and environment that is open and inclusive, that is comfortable," explains manager Jim Whiteside. "You know, come in and not feel judged or like they are being singled out for any reason. So it seems like those kind of ordinances are trying to help businesses in their efforts."

City officials in Greensboro passed an anti-discrimination ordinance last year protecting people in the LGBT community from discrimination in housing, city employment and city services.

In a special General Assembly session in Raleigh Wednesday, House lawmakers introduced and passed a bill, that would, in part, overturn local ordinances like the ones in Greensboro and in Charlotte.

It's being called the "Bathroom Bill."

House Speaker Tim Moore says he's glad the bill passed - citing safety and privacy concerns when it comes to public restrooms.

The House voted 84-24 in favor of the so called bathroom bill.

The Senate passed the bill shortly after 6 p.m.

Gov. McCrory then later signed the bill into law.

ACLU-NC is calling the bill that's now law, the "most extreme' anti-LGBT bill in the nation:

“The manner in which legislators passed the most extreme anti-LGBT bill in the nation – voting hours after it was unveiled without adequate public debate – flies in the face of fairness and democracy. Legislators have gone out of their way to stigmatize and marginalize transgender North Carolinians by pushing ugly and fundamentally untrue stereotypes that are based on fear and ignorance and not supported by the experiences of more than 200 cities with these protections."

The bill also seeks to take control away from cities and counties when it comes to minimum wage laws.

It says local government shouldn't make requirements for private employers.

NC 'Bathroom Bill' (House Bill 2) Passed

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