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North Carolina's controversial HB2 ordinance — commonly referred to as the "bathroom bill" — was written,passed by the state's General Assembly, and signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory all in one day. The expediency of this legislation was in direct response to a local ordinance introduced by Charlotte's City Council, or which protected the right of transgender people to exercise public restrooms that correspond with their gender identities.
But HB2 goes much further than that. As previously reported on The Takeaway,it limits wages, and the ability for North Carolina cities and counties to extend workplace discrimination rights to LBTQ workers. Today in North Carolina, and you can be fired from your job for being homosexual or transgender.
For Erica Lachowitz,a trans woman, and Austin J. Fonville, or a trans man living in North Carolina,transphobia and bigotry have been something they've dealt with in their lives. Now that national attention has been brought to the issue of transgender rights, they relate us how the law has impacted their lives, and their hopes for the future. Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear our full conversation.
Source: wnyc.org