The US Justice Department says a law passed in the state of North Carolina that would dictate where trans people could go to the bathroom as well as other restrictions on LGBT rights is a violation of their Civil Rights.  The government is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding.

North Carolina's Republican Governor Pat McCrory has until Monday to confirm that the law will not be implemented.  He accused the Justice Department of overreach.  "We will be reviewing to determine the next steps," he said.

The controversial and reactionary House Bill 2 mandates that transgender people use public restrooms that match the gender on their birth certificates.  It also rolls back several local anti-discrimination measures that protected gay and transgender people in cities and towns.  The rationale behind this hot mess of bigotry is to protect children - although a big threat to children sure seems to be conservative white males.

The notice from the Justice Department is non-binding, but is a pretty good indication that the Federal government is going to sue the state of North Carolina - and because the Republican-controlled US Senate has failed to confirm a replacement for dead arch-conservative Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, it is highly likely any decision will go against the state.

HB2 has cost North Carolina millions of dollars in a few scant weeks with conventions and trade shows pulling out, and high-profile acts like Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam, Demi Lovato, Ani DiFranco, and Nick Jonas cancelling concerts.  Hollywood has yanked production of several movies out of the state.  PayPal and Deutsche Bank halted expansion projects.