Gay Rights Rally Set After Lawmakers Overturn Charlotte Act

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gay-rights leaders and civil liberties groups aren't giving up after North Carolina legislators and Gov. Pat McCrory overturned Charlotte's anti-discrimination ordinance and stopped other local governments from passing similar regulations.

The national Human Rights Campaign, state chapter of American Civil Liberties Union and Equality North Carolina was organizing a rally Thursday at a Raleigh church to discuss the law approved Wednesday by the legislature and signed by the governor.

Charlotte's ordinance was supposed to take effect April 1, but the Republican-led General Assembly stepped in and blocked it. They also stopped other cities and counties from passing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And public schools must require bathrooms or locker rooms be designated for use only by people based on their biological sex.

(Story by: Gary D. Robertson, Emery P. Dalesio, The Associated Press)