The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website], along with several other organizations, asked a federal court [motion, PDF] on Monday block the enforcement of a North Carolina law that they claim targets transgender people for discrimination. The ACLU, the ACLU of North Carolina and Lambda Legal [advocacy websites] filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina [official website] to immediately halt House Bill 2 (HB2) [bill, PDF]. They claim [Lambda Legal report] that the law singles out the transgender community and legislates a person’s identity by insisting they “pretend to be something they are not.” Last week the US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against North Carolina for violating Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act [EEOC report], Title IX [DOL report], and the Violence Against Women Act [NNEDV report] hours after Governor Pat McCrory filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against the DOJ asking a federal court to determine that HB2 does not violate any federal laws.

North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” has generated significant controversy. In March North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper stated during a press conference that he would not defend [JURIST report] HB2, which he considers to be discriminatory. Earlier that week North Carolina individuals and civil rights groups filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against McCrory, claiming that the bill he signed one week prior was unconstitutional and discriminatory. Earlier that month the North Carolina governor signed the bill into law [JURIST report], preventing local governments from enacting their own nondiscrimination ordinances and making them unable to pass laws allowing transgender people to use the public restroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity. Last month McCrory issued an executive order [JURIST report] that he said was meant to clarify the controversial bill.