In 2015, the United States of America saw history being made. For the first time ever, same-sex marriage was legal in all 50 States. This decision came in the aftermath of years of torture and discrimination against same-sex couples. People all over the nation were able to marry their loved ones no matter their gender--a tremendous victory for the LGBT community.

After the legalization of gay marriage, many conservative states fought back by treating those of the LGBT community with strife. Although not illegal, treating human beings any less than humane is downright despicable. However, in early 2016, North Carolina state legislator made the (disgustingly legal) controversial decision of the year. North Carolina passed the House Bill 2 which directly discriminated against people of the LGBT community. Although the bill laid out legal ways corporations and leisure places where employers could not hire and refuse to serve LGBT persons, the most notorious act was against the transgendered community. The House Bill 2 explicitly states that people must use the bathroom that corresponds with their biological gender (or the gender on their birth certificate). This, for most, is a very doable act. However, transgendered people have been struggling with the scary reality that they do not “match” their biological gender. Normally, they would just use the bathroom they feel comfortable in. Instead, a natural born male who feels he is a girl is forced to use the men’s bathroom under the House Bill 2. This does not seem right.

Instead of a place to just do your business and get on with your day, a bathroom is being used as a weapon against the humane side of the law. Is it right for a man to use a girl’s bathroom? Definitely not socially acceptable. But, what if that man is dressing as a woman and is currently transitioning into the gender they believe to be? Is that wrong? A woman using a woman’s bathroom?

In the wake of the passing of the House Bill 2, many corporations have backed out of doing business in North Carolina. This needs to happen more often. If the state legislator can explain why it is okay to have such hatred toward a group of individuals, they can explain why their economy is depleting. The fact of the matter is that there are people in this country that are afraid to go to the bathroom in their own state.

Because of the negative backlash, the act to repeal the bill was called into question for the 21st of December. People of the state rallied in an attempt to abolish the law that projects hate on so many people. However, nothing changed. The House Bill 2 is still in full swing, and parts of this nation are still as prejudice as ever.

The LGBT community is not just built for people who are not straight--the LGBT community is for all. All heterosexuals. All Americans. All humans. If it is an LGBT issue, it is an everyone issue. The atrocious bill that was recently passed in North Carolina needs to be repealed. We have fought too hard for LGBT equality on a legal standpoint; this bill puts us two steps back.