[JURIST] North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper [official profile] on Tuesday stated during a press conference that he will not defend House Bill 2 [materials], which he considers to be discriminatory against the LGBT community. The bill, which was signed into law [JURIST report] last week, prevents local governments from enacting their own nondiscrimination ordinances. Under the new law, cities and counties will be unable to pass laws allowing transgender people to use the public restroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity. Cooper stated [ABC 11/AFP report, video], “We’re talking about discrimination here. … Not only is this new law a national embarrassment, it will set North Carolina’s economy back.” Senator Phil Berger and others are calling on Cooper to resign for not fulfilling the duties of the attorney general’s office.

Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity has been a controversial issue in the US. Two weeks ago the Georgia state legislature approved a bill to allow faith-based establishments, including churches, schools and other organizations, to refuse service or employment [JURIST report] to same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs, but the governor has vetoed the bill.. Earlier this month the Kentucky Senate approved a bill allowing businesses to refuse service [JURIST report] to gays and lesbians based upon their religious beliefs. Also this month South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard vetoed a bill [JURIST report] that would have required public school students to use the bathroom or locker room corresponding to their sex at birth. In December a judge for the US District Court for the Central District of California ruled [JURIST report] that sexual discrimination is prohibited under a law that protects gender-based discrimination. In November President Barack Obama expressed support [JURIST report] for legislation that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity through an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In July 2014 Obama signed an executive order [JURIST report] barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity but, despite pressure, did not include any exemptions for religious organizations.