winston-salem n.c. republican leaders north carolina thursday refuse back law regulate restrooms use transgender people federal government tell state law violate u.s. civil right act state lead republican lawmaker house speaker tim moore tell reporters raleigh north carolina would bully meet u.s. justice department monday deadline change law north carolina first u.s. state pass law require transgender people use public bathrooms correspond sex birth certificate instead gender identify republican legislators several state propose similar laws make transgender right hot-button social issue election year justice department challenge similarly unprecedented though agency past intervene behalf transgender individuals allege discrimination republican national committee urge state legislators january resist federal policies allow transgender people use restrooms choice public school justice department say letter north carolina governor pat mccrory state officials wednesday state monday decide would stop discriminate transgender state employees mccrory affirm support common-sense rule group business leaders wednesday night say know state would fight justice department office respond question thursday mccrory stand enforce law justice department civil right division could push court order federal judge side agency north carolina would comply face reduction federal fund thursday republican senate leader phil berger spokeswoman amy auth say state lawyers review letter berger wednesday say department position represent gross overreach north carolina secretary public safety officials university north carolina also receive similar letter wednesday margaret spell president university north carolina system say office would respond department letter deadline take determination seriously confer governor office legislative leaders counsel next step say justice department spokeswoman dena iverson would say whether department would take legal action state state law challenge federal court critics include american civil liberties union lambda legal advocate lesbian gay bisexual transgender lgbt right never see state something aggressive require mandatory discrimination transgender employees say peter renn attorney lambda legal phone interview reuters jillian weiss attorney argue federal court transgender right say justice department action north carolina show federal government will intervene state pass laws reduce right base gender identity sexual orientation weiss predict mississippi law allow businesses refuse service gay people take effect july department next target north carolina lawmaker dismiss u.s. deadline change bathroom law