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DOJ files lawsuit against North Carolina over bathroom law

by Rebecca Savransky - 05/09/16 3:57 PM ET

'We stand with you," Attorney General Lynch tells the transgender community. "History is on your side." https://t.co/WGW6etemNL

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 9, 2016

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday filed a federal lawsuit against North Carolina over the state’s controversial bathroom law, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced.

{mosads}The lawsuit says state entities violate provisions in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX the Education Acts Amendment of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.

“This action is about a great deal more than bathrooms,” Lynch said when announcing the lawsuit.

“This is about the dignity and respect that we accord our fellow citizens.”

Earlier Monday, North Carolina filed a suit against the federal government over the law, which requires that transgender people use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex.

The suit against the federal government said the DOJ’s position is “baseless and blatant overreach,” NBC News reported.

That lawsuit came after the DOJ sent a letter to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) saying the state’s law violates the Civil Rights Act. The DOJ ordered McCrory to respond by Monday to confirm “that the State will not comply with or implement HB2.”

But McCrory said Sunday the state was given an “unrealistic” deadline for response and accused the federal government of “being a bully.”

Lynch said because of the actions taken by North Carolina, the DOJ decided to move forward with its civil rights lawsuit, declaring that the North Carolina law is discriminatory.

Lynch spoke directly to transgender people during the press conference. She said no matter how alone “you may feel today,” know that the DOJ and Obama administration “want you to know we see you.”

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