Battle over N.C. transgender law intensifies as lawmakers reconveneRALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - Thousands of people flocked to North Carolina’s capital on Monday to show both support and disdain for a law that has thrust the state into the international spotlight over its restrictions on transgender bathroom access and gay rights. Lawmakers returned to Raleigh to begin a short session  designed to address the state budget. But controversy over the new law, which has drawn reaction from U.S. presidential candidates, U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron among others, is expected to dominate. The measure puts the state at the center of a debate over equality, privacy and religious freedom as states propose legislation seen as discriminatory against gay and transgender people in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court last year ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. North Carolina became the first U.S. state to require transgender people to use restrooms in public buildings and schools that match the sex on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity.  Fifty-four people were arrested at the Legislative Building as they protested against the law on Monday, General Assembly police Officer Scott Cameron said. “Our state is a state of crisis,” Chris Sgro, executive director of the Equality North Carolina advocacy group, said earlier in the day before activists delivered petitions to Republican Governor Pat McCrory’s office demanding the law’s repeal. A group of Democratic representatives filed a bill seeking a repeal. But leading Republican lawmakers in the state have shown little willingness to back down, and they were greeted at a rally on Monday by thousands of people who came on church buses and held signs thanking them for the measure. Business leaders, entertainers and politicians including Obama and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump have come out against the law. Opponents contend it demonizes transgender people and limits government protections against discrimination for gays and lesbians.  Supporters including social conservatives and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz say it is needed to protect women and children from sexual predators in bathrooms. On Monday, singers Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas joined a growing list of entertainers who have canceled shows in the state. Lovato wrote on Twitter that she and Jonas were protesting “this hateful law.” As part of the backlash, companies and associations have relocated conventions and halted job-creating investment projects initially slated for North Carolina.  Republican State Representative Paul Stam criticized companies, including PayPal Holdings (PYPL.O), that have pulled jobs out of North Carolina over the measure. “They have offices in countries where homosexuals are executed,” he said. “The hypocrisy of those who oppose this bill is amazing.” politicsNews
battle transgender law intensifies lawmakers reconveneraleigh reuters thousands people blocked north carolina capital monday show support disdain law thrust state international spotlight restrictions transgender bathroom access gay rights lawmakers returned leigh begin short session designed address state budget but controversy new law drawn reaction presidential candidates president barack obama british prime minister david cameron among others expected dominate the measure puts state center debate equality privacy religious freedom states propose legislation seen discriminatory gay transgender people wake supreme court last year ruling legalized marriage north carolina became first state require transgender people use restrooms public buildings schools match sex birth certificate rather gender identity people arrested legislative building protested law monday general assembly police officer scott cameron said our state state crisis chris gro executive director equality north carolina advocacy group said earlier day activists delivered petitions republican governor pat mccrory office demanding law repeal a group democratic representatives filed bill seeking repeal but leading republican lawmakers state shown little willingness back greeted rally monday thousands people came church buses held signs thanking measure business leaders entertainers politicians including obama republican presidential donald trump come law opponents contend demonizes transgender people limits government protections discrimination gays lesbians supporters including social conservatives republican presidential candidate ted cruz say needed protect women children sexual predators bathrooms on monday singers demi lovato nick jonas joined growing list entertainers canceled shows state lovato wrote twitter jonas protesting hateful as part backlash companies associations relocated conventions halted investment projects initially slated north carolina republican state representative paul star criticized companies including papal holdings pulled jobs north carolina measure they offices countries homosexuals executed said the hypocrisy oppose bill politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Battle over N.C. transgender law intensifies as lawmakers reconveneRALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - Thousands of people flocked to North Carolina’s capital on Monday to show both support and disdain for a law that has thrust the state into the international spotlight over its restrictions on transgender bathroom access and gay rights. Lawmakers returned to Raleigh to begin a short session  designed to address the state budget. But controversy over the new law, which has drawn reaction from U.S. presidential candidates, U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron among others, is expected to dominate. The measure puts the state at the center of a debate over equality, privacy and religious freedom as states propose legislation seen as discriminatory against gay and transgender people in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court last year ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. North Carolina became the first U.S. state to require transgender people to use restrooms in public buildings and schools that match the sex on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity.  Fifty-four people were arrested at the Legislative Building as they protested against the law on Monday, General Assembly police Officer Scott Cameron said. “Our state is a state of crisis,” Chris Sgro, executive director of the Equality North Carolina advocacy group, said earlier in the day before activists delivered petitions to Republican Governor Pat McCrory’s office demanding the law’s repeal. A group of Democratic representatives filed a bill seeking a repeal. But leading Republican lawmakers in the state have shown little willingness to back down, and they were greeted at a rally on Monday by thousands of people who came on church buses and held signs thanking them for the measure. Business leaders, entertainers and politicians including Obama and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump have come out against the law. Opponents contend it demonizes transgender people and limits government protections against discrimination for gays and lesbians.  Supporters including social conservatives and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz say it is needed to protect women and children from sexual predators in bathrooms. On Monday, singers Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas joined a growing list of entertainers who have canceled shows in the state. Lovato wrote on Twitter that she and Jonas were protesting “this hateful law.” As part of the backlash, companies and associations have relocated conventions and halted job-creating investment projects initially slated for North Carolina.  Republican State Representative Paul Stam criticized companies, including PayPal Holdings (PYPL.O), that have pulled jobs out of North Carolina over the measure. “They have offices in countries where homosexuals are executed,” he said. “The hypocrisy of those who oppose this bill is amazing.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: battle transgender law intensifies lawmakers reconveneraleigh reuters thousands people blocked north carolina capital monday show support disdain law thrust state international spotlight restrictions transgender bathroom access gay rights lawmakers returned leigh begin short session designed address state budget but controversy new law drawn reaction presidential candidates president barack obama british prime minister david cameron among others expected dominate the measure puts state center debate equality privacy religious freedom states propose legislation seen discriminatory gay transgender people wake supreme court last year ruling legalized marriage north carolina became first state require transgender people use restrooms public buildings schools match sex birth certificate rather gender identity people arrested legislative building protested law monday general assembly police officer scott cameron said our state state crisis chris gro executive director equality north carolina advocacy group said earlier day activists delivered petitions republican governor pat mccrory office demanding law repeal a group democratic representatives filed bill seeking repeal but leading republican lawmakers state shown little willingness back greeted rally monday thousands people came church buses held signs thanking measure business leaders entertainers politicians including obama republican presidential donald trump come law opponents contend demonizes transgender people limits government protections discrimination gays lesbians supporters including social conservatives republican presidential candidate ted cruz say needed protect women children sexual predators bathrooms on monday singers demi lovato nick jonas joined growing list entertainers canceled shows state lovato wrote twitter jonas protesting hateful as part backlash companies associations relocated conventions halted investment projects initially slated north carolina republican state representative paul star criticized companies including papal holdings pulled jobs north carolina measure they offices countries homosexuals executed said the hypocrisy oppose bill politicsnews