RantCrush Top 5: December 22, 2016

Yesterday, politicians in North Carolina met for a one-day special session to decide whether or not to repeal the disputed HB2 bill, the one that essentially decides where people go to the bathroom. The Republican-controlled legislature voted against abolishing it, which means it will remain law. Governor Pat McCrory first signed the bill in March; it prohibits people from using public restrooms that don’t correspond with the sex on their birth certificate. Since then, NC has faced a lot of backlash from businesses and celebrities who don’t agree with the law and McCrory lost his seat as governor. NC Democrats have said they will keep fighting to repeal the law.

The legislature had a chance to do the right thing for North Carolina today, and they failed. pic.twitter.com/kOsYufSucg

— Roy Cooper (@RoyCooperNC) December 22, 2016

Republicans claim this issue is about privacy and a woman’s right to feel safe, while Democrats and advocates for LGBT rights say it’s plain discrimination.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.