Dueling rallies held over North Carolina law limiting LGBT rights

RALEIGH, N.C. — Hundreds rallied Monday to defend a North Carolina law limiting protections for lesbians, gays and transgender people, using cheers and a booming public address system to drown out a smaller counter-protest across the street.

About 500 gathered on the grounds of the old Capitol in the largest demonstration yet by supporters of the law, seeking to strike back after more than two weeks of negative publicity along with condemnation from business leaders and other public figures.

Signs reading “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms” highlighted a single provision of the multifaceted law that has served as a major rallying point for conservatives: a measure requiring transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificate.

Rally attendee June House said she believes people should use the bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender at birth. The issue is important to the Fayetteville resident because she ran a fitness center before retiring and continues to swim frequently at another gym.

“When I come out of the shower, it’s a semi-nude situation. I think modesty and safety are not what they should be if cross-dressers are in there,” she said.

On a nearby sidewalk, nearly 100 people gathered in a counter protest, holding signs such as “Bigotry is Bad for Business” and chanting: “They are up there preaching hate! They do not represent our state!” The chants were overwhelmed by the larger group.

The dueling demonstrations reflected a fervor that’s expected to keep the debate stoked through the legislative session later this month — and likely through fall elections.