North Carolina lawsuit challenges revised ‘bathroom bill’

RALEIGH, N.C. — The law that replaced North Carolina’s notorious “bathroom bill” may have a new look but maintains LGBT discrimination and prevents transgender people from using restrooms matching their gender identity, according to a lawsuit Friday.

The state took the “bathroom bill” off the books in late March after a yearlong backlash that hurt North Carolina’s reputation and caused businesses and sports leagues to back out of lucrative events and projects.

The compromise earlier this year between Republican legislative leaders and Democrats led by Gov. Roy Cooper eliminated the “bathroom bill” requirement that transgender people use restrooms in many public buildings corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates.

[...] the new law makes clear that only the General Assembly — not local government or school officials — can make rules for public restrooms from now on.