version may 10 story correct update new name group glbtq legal advocate defenders gay lesbian advocate defenders sixth paragraph daniel trotta daniel wiessner legal battle transgender right state north carolina u.s. government move country close settle one last frontiers civil right law issue whether transgender people deserve federal protections extend group black religious minorities backers north carolina law require people use public bathrooms correspond sex birth certificate rather gender identity say protect women girls predators transgender advocate say claim unfounded ignore modern understand people identify gender one assign birth next step likely federal judge decision whether impose injunction temporary rule void north carolina law pending trial regardless judge might rule injunction case stand add grow body legal decisions tend side favor transgender right enough dissuade state like north carolina handful u.s. state cities attempt enact measure affect lesbian gay bisexual transgender right north carolina first state focus transgender people use public bathrooms absolutely critical moment term focus answer come case establish scope protections transgender people say jennifer levi lawyer glbtq legal advocate defenders north carolina law subject four lawsuits federal court two side u.s. justice department advocacy group american civil liberties union seek strike say law violate landmark civil right act 1964 jolt divide nation apply full right african-americans century abolition slavery north carolina governor legislature sue monday protect law say justice department try strike common sense privacy policy mean protect state public employees state officials also say obama administration want protections transgender people appeal congress amend exist laws least two provision federal law ban discrimination basis sex title vii civil right act cover employment title ix education amendments 1972. issue court whether sex also apply gender identity obama administration take firm stance transgender people protect point attorney general loretta lynch emphasize monday entire obama administration want know see stand everything protect go forward lynch tell transgender people remark news conference lynch also threaten withhold federal fund north carolina department public safety university north carolina legal case proceed north carolina stand lose 4.8 billion fund mainly educational grant back law accord analysis lawyers university california los angeles law school unless north carolina back rule trial judge would likely challenge end virginia-based federal appeal court weeks ago issue important rule favor transgender right court u.s. court appeal fourth circuit say transgender teen virginia could sue high school bar use boy bathroom court note federal education officials interpret title ix apply transgender people directly rule issue far one appeal court explicitly rule civil right act prohibit discrimination transgender people 2005 case bring police officer least five appeal court suggest agree case involve federal discrimination laws u.s. supreme court could help settle matter experts say unlikely take precedent-setting case time soon north carolina transgender battle could expand civil right law