The U.S. Department of Justice counter-sued North Carolina Monday over its controversial anti-LGBT law, just hours after the state sued the federal government to keep the law and hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. A portion of the new law, which the Justice Department has claimed violates the Civil Rights Act, requires transgender people to use public restrooms associated with their biological sex in public agencies.
"They created state sponsored discrimination against transgender individuals who simply seek to engage in the most private of functions in a place of safety and security, a right taken for granted by most of us," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a news conference.
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"This is about the dignity and the respect that we accord our fellow citizens," Lynch said, later speaking directly to the transgender community: "We see you, we stand with you, and we will do everything we can to protect you."
This post has been updated throughout.
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