In federal court in Winston-Salem on Monday, the U.S. Justice Department and the state of North Carolina square off in an early round of arguments over House bill 2. The Justice Department says part of the controversial law discriminates against LGBT people.
House bill 2 made a variety of changes impacting the LGBT community. This case is focused on the part that requires transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to their birth certificate in schools and government buildings.
The Justice Department says that violates Civil Rights law. Its attorneys say in employment and educational settings, transgender people must be allowed to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity.
You can think of the arguments Monday as a mini-trial before the main event. The judge will be deciding whether to grant a preliminary injunction – basically, putting the law on hold while the full case plays out.
North Carolina's attorneys argue the lawsuit is a federal overreach and invasion of privacy. Attorneys for the UNC system are asking to be left out of it. They say the universities are not enforcing HB2.
