Charlotte now lets trans people use their preferred bathroom—and state Republicans want to stop them

The Charlotte City Council officially passed an ordinance granting certain protections to LGBT citizens Monday night, which, as the Charlotte Observer noted, only marks the start of what will most likely be a battle in the North Carolina General Assembly to reverse parts of the ordinance pertaining to transgender people.

The state’s General Assembly wields authority over the City Council, and though the Council voted 7-4 in favor of the ordinance, all indications point to a statewide fight to pass a law banning transgender people from using their preferred bathrooms, especially after governor Pat McCrory wrote in an email on Sunday that he believed the state would take “immediate” action.

Via the Observer:

The most controversial part of the ordinance would allow transgender residents to use either a men’s or women’s bathroom, depending on the gender with which they identify.

The bathroom provision sparked the most opposition, with opponents mostly worried about the safety of women and girls in a public bathroom with people who were born male. Supporters said those fears were overblown, and that transgender people are at risk of violence in the bathroom.

Prior to the vote, “three hours of impassioned public comment” took place. Buzzfeed News reported that the council meeting was packed with citizens; the Observer said people on each side of the divide held up their own signs. Those opposing held up signs reading, “Don’t Do It Charlotte.”

BuzzFeed says it’s unclear when the General Assembly will choose whether or not they plan to override the ordinance, but that it may happen in the spring. As the Observer points out, though, the Republican-controlled legislature has “almost unlimited” power.