by Penna Dexter

Over the past few months we have witnessed the emergence of a controversy over an issue most of us never saw coming. We have seen local governments, and now the federal government attempting to force schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations to open the showers, changing facilities, locker rooms, and bathrooms designated for women and girls, to biological males and vice versa.

No elected official I know of has asked to be faced with this issue. But I met one the other evening who confronted it with great resolve and courage. He is Pat McCrory, Governor of North Carolina.

The governor described the day Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, sat in his office and told him that North Carolina was the epicenter of his organization’s efforts to make gender identity the means for people to enter restrooms and locker rooms. What the HRC wants, says Governor McCrory is a third status in addition to ‘male’ and ‘female’: Questioning. They want the few who are questioning whether they really want to be the sex they are anatomically, to be able to use the facility of their choice.

The HRC had already gotten to the city of Charlotte which had placed a mandate on all private businesses to allow bathroom/locker room use based, not on a person’s biological sex, but on the gender identity they choose to identify as.

The state swung into action to stop this craziness and to protect the security and privacy of its citizens. The legislature passed HB2, the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, and Governor McCrory signed it. It affects public facilities. Private businesses, and private universities and non-profits can establish their own practices. The governor says North Carolina’s schools and its rest stops were top of mind for him. How could he leave people using those bathrooms vulnerable?

The response from the Human Rights Campaign was swift and sharp. Chad Griffin said to North Carolina: “You won’t know what hit you.” He wasn’t kidding. Scores of companies said they’d rethink doing business in North Carolina. PayPal cancelled a contract to build a 400-person call center. Deutsche Bank froze a 250-job expansion. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said HB2 must be changed if the league’s multi-day 2017 All-Star festivities are to remain in Charlotte. Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr cancelled concerts. Conventions and events in the state were cancelled.

The federal government threatened to pull millions in education funding. Governor McCrory got wind of a civil rights lawsuit coming from the U.S. Justice Department. He sued them first, citing their  “baseless and blatant overreach” in violation of the 10th Amendment. He was joined by 21 other states. Hours later, the Justice Department counter-sued.

The Left brought the issue to us, not the Right. Many politicians have caved to these demands. But this governor is to be commended for standing strong.