N.C. Senate leader has no appetite to change new law

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on reaction to a new North Carolina law that limits LGBT protections in the state and prevents transgender people from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity (all times local):

2:20 p.m.

A top leader at the North Carolina legislature is knocking down any expectation changes will be made to last week's law limiting official protections for gays and lesbians and transgender people.

Gov. Pat McCrory and another key lawmaker suggested earlier this week tweaks could be made. The legislature reconvenes in three weeks.

Responding late Thursday to questions whether Senate leader Phil Berger has an appetite for changes, Berger spokeswoman Shelly Carver said no because "an overwhelming majority of North Carolinians we've heard from support" the law.

The law also has brought severe criticism of McCrory and legislative Republicans from gay-rights groups and corporate CEOs.

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina announced Friday more than 120 corporate executives have now signed on to a letter seeking the law's repeal. New executives on the list include those from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Qualcomm and EMC Corp.

__

1:10 p.m.

A rally is scheduled for opponents of North Carolina's new law addressing bathroom use and discrimination.

The rally is set for Friday evening outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh. That's where lawmakers approved a measure that blocked Charlotte's ordinance extending protections to gays and lesbians and bisexual and transgender people. The law also prevents other local governments from passing similar LGBT anti-discrimination rules and essentially directs people inside government buildings to use multi-stall bathrooms that match their biological sex.

Supporters of the new law held prayer vigils Thursday night in multiple locations in eastern North Carolina. One was held across from the Executive Mansion, the home of Gov. Pat McCrory, who signed the law last week.

__

11:15 a.m.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has banned city employees from official travel to North Carolina, joining a growing list of governors and mayors who've forbidden trips to the state.

The move was made because of a law signed last week by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory that requires transgender people to use public restroom facilities that correspond with their gender at birth. The law also excludes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from statewide protections against discrimination. The law is being challenged in federal court.

Bowser, a Democrat, signed an order on Thursday barring city employees from official travel to North Carolina until the law is repealed. Her order says the District government values "equal treatment for members of the LGBTQ communities."

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

The Gayly- 4/1/2016 @ 1:25 PM CDT