North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Thursday signed the law that would repeal the state’s controversial House Bill 2, commonly called the “bathroom bill.”
“For over a year now, House Bill 2 has been a dark cloud hanging over our great state. It has stained our reputation. It has discriminated against our people and it has caused great economic harm in many of our communities,” Cooper said, according to CNN.
{mosads}House Bill 2 became law in March 2016 and has drawn widespread criticism from LGBT groups that said it allowed discrimination against transgender people.
The law required that people in government facilities use bathrooms that correspond to their sex at birth.
The governor’s action eliminates the rule on bathroom use while giving state legislators, not local officials, control over public restroom policy.
According to The Associated Press, the governor acknowledged that the compromise is not perfect and said it falls short of many of the state’s objectives. The measure has also been criticized by conservatives, who urged the governor to leave the “bathroom bill” intact.
A number of high-profile businesses and organizations, including NCAA, threatened to stop hosting events and opening new venues in the state if the law stayed in place.