Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, passed a controversial bill Monday that allows transgender individuals to choose public toilets that correspond to their gender identity.
The Charlotte City Council passed the bill, loosely termed the "bathroom bill," in a 7-4 vote. "I'm pleased that Charlotte has sent a signal that we will treat people with dignity and respect, even when we disagree," Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said after the vote, reported The Christian Science Monitor.
However, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, the former mayor of Charlotte, was not in favor of passing the bill, which he feels could "create major public safety issues, according to Fox News. "Also, this action of allowing a person with male anatomy, for example, to use a female restroom or locker room will most likely cause immediate State legislative intervention which I would support as governor," McCrory wrote in an email.
The bill was passed after intense discussion at the Government Centre in Charlotte.
"If this went for a public vote, it would be profoundly defeated. And that makes you the bully. This ordinance is bad for Charlotte," Charlotte resident Jeanette Wilson said, criticizing the City Council, reported USA Today.
"There are countless deviant men who will pretend to be transgender who will use this to gain access to those they want to exploit," said Elaina Smith, who opposed the initiative.
"There hasn't been any gay or straight sex in the bathroom. No transgender person has exposed himself to children, a gay person hasn't hit on a straight person and a gay person hasn't harassed a straight person," said Juli Ghazi, who has already implemented a similar system at her restaurant, Pure Pizza.
