North Carolina files lawsuit over LGBT law

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory makes remarks concerning House Bill 2, which limits protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, while speaking during a government affairs conference in Raleigh, N.C. McCrory shows no signs of backing down in the face of the federal government’s Monday, May 9, deadline to declare he won’t enforce the new state law. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on North Carolina’s LGBT law (all times local):

10:20 a.m.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is going to court in a fight for a state law that limits protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

McCrory is leading a lawsuit filed Monday seeking to keep in place the law the U.S. Justice Department said last week violated the civil rights of transgender people.

The Justice Department had set a deadline of Monday for McCrory to report whether he would refuse to enforce the last that took effect in March.

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3:05 a.m.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory shows no signs of backing down in the face of the federal government’s Monday deadline to declare he won’t enforce the new state law limiting protections for LGBT people – defiance that could risk funding for the state’s university system and lead to a protracted legal battle.

The U.S. Justice Department last week warned the new law violates civil rights protections against sex discrimination at work and in education for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The agency focused particularly on provisions requiring transgender people to use public restrooms matching their biological sex. The department says a lawsuit against the state is possible.

McCrory said Sunday on television that Obama administration officials are acting like bullies, but repeatedly declined to say what his written response would be.