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NC governor signs order amending law blocking protections for gays

by Jesse Byrnes - 04/12/16 4:02 PM ET

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed an executive order on Tuesday partially amending a controversial measure that blocked protections for LGBT people.

McCrory’s order expands state employment policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and it affirms the right of the local governments and private sector businesses to implement their own nondiscrimination policies.

{mosads}McCrory said he’d seek legislation to reinstate the right to sue for discrimination in state courts.

However, the most controversial aspect of North Carolina’s controversial law, which mandates that people use public restrooms that correspond to their biological sex, would remain intact.

“After listening to people’s feedback during the past several weeks on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina,” McCrory said in a video message and accompanying statement.

“But based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm the state’s commitment to privacy and equality,” he said.

McCrory acted after widespread backlash against the North Carolina legislation.

PayPal announced it would drop plans for a center in the state; Deutsche Bank said it would put expansion in the state on hold; and Bruce Springsteen called off plans to perform there.

McCrory defended his decision to sign the bill, which was aimed at preventing cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination ordinances after the Charlotte City Council approved an ordinance allowing transgender people to use bathrooms that correspond to their sexual identity.

The governor’s move Tuesday prompted a mixed response.

Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that the announcement “sends a positive message to businesses across North Carolina and to our economic development clients throughout the country and world that North Carolina and Charlotte understand the need to attract and retain diverse talent in our workforce.”

Sarah Preston, executive director of the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, called the actions “a poor effort to save face after [McCrory’s] sweeping attacks on the LGBT community, and they fall far short of correcting the damage done” by the law he signed.

Tags LGBT North Carolina Pat McCrory