The advances that the United States have made regarding LGBTQ rights have been dealt a severe blow today, after the decision made by North Carolina to pass a sweeping law that effectively removes the civil rights of their LGBTQ citizens at a state-wide level. The Washington Post report that the bill was signed on Wednesday by Governor Pat McRory who said action must be taken quickly. The legislation has been roundly condemned by LGBT rights organisations who say that legislators in the state have deliberately gone out of their way to stigmatise and marginalise LGBTQ people, particularly transgender people who will now be forced to use the bathrooms that correspond to their assigned gender on their birth certificates. According to WNCN, politician Tim Moore stated: “North Carolinians have spoken loud and clear that they are deeply concerned about what this ordinance means for the safety and expectation of privacy for women and children. In all the years I have served in the General Assembly I have never seen such a negative reaction to an ordinance passed by a municipality.” The main problem critics had with the anti-discrimination laws was the fact that trans individuals would be allowed to use their preferred bathroom. This discriminatory legislation has been deemed transphobic and people are currently lobbying for this backwards decision to be overturned, with many corporations, individuals and public figures voicing their disappointment at this setback for LGBTQ rights in North Carolina.