NC Assembly to hold special session Wednesday on Charlotte bathroom ordinance

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Kellie Fiedorek regarding the North Carolina General Assembly’s decision to hold a special session Wednesday specifically to pass a bill invalidating a Charlotte City Council ordinance that allows men to share public bathrooms and locker rooms with young girls and women. The ordinance threatens businesses with substantial fines and potential jail time should they seek to protect their patrons’ safety and security:

“We commend the General Assembly for listening to the voices of thousands of North Carolinians and taking the common-sense action of ensuring that no women or young girls are forced to undress, shower, or engage in other private activities in the presence of men. An ordinance that allows this to occur ignores basic physical privacy rights and is especially insensitive to those who have experienced sexual abuse and may undergo additional trauma when forced to be with a member of the opposite sex in this setting. We anticipate Gov. McCrory will keep his promise to take ‘immediate action’ and ensure that North Carolina businesses, women, and children are protected.”

In a joint statement, Lt. Governor Dan Forest and Speaker Tim Moore stated, “We aim to repeal this ordinance before it goes into effect to provide for the privacy and protection of the women and children of our state.”