Ohio city plans North Carolina travel ban over bathroom law

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus City Council plans to enact a ban on unnecessary travel to North Carolina in protest of that state's recently enacted law mandating which public restrooms transgender people are allowed to use.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Councilman Shannon Hardin plans to introduce the ordinance at a council meeting Monday. Hardin, who is openly gay, says council has been considering the ban for more than a week after Dayton and Cincinnati enacted similar legislation. Cuyahoga County, the state's largest county, has issued an executive order banning non-essential travel to North Carolina.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther says he supports the travel ban.

Voters in Columbus approved a charter amendment in 2014 that says the city won't discriminate or deny rights to people based on their sexual orientation.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

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The Gayly- 4/18/2016 @ 12:29 PM CDT