Deal to end 'bathroom law' under fire from LGBT people
North Carolina's top Republican legislators and the Democratic governor say they have a deal to end the state's LGBT "bathroom law," which has brought negative national attention and made it harder to attract businesses and sporting events.
But they'll have to get enough votes in the House and Senate on Thursday to undo the law that is also known as House Bill 2. That could be a challenge because social conservatives would prefer to have HB2 stay on the books. Gay rights groups oppose the replacement measure because they say it would allow discrimination.
Just hours after the deal was announced Wednesday night, a dozen gay rights activists gathered outside the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, where Gov. Roy Cooper hosted Democrats, urging them to support the plan.
Cooper was narrowly elected with LGBT support on a platform that included repealing HB2.
"It's not a perfect deal, but it repeals House Bill 2 and begins to repair our reputation," Cooper said.
The deal passed an early hurdle Thursday morning when it was approved by a Senate committee. Full Senate and House votes were expected later in the day.
