The North Carolina General Assembly meets Wednesday to consider repealing the “bathroom bill” — also known as HB2 — that became law in March 2016.

Lame-duck Gov. Pat McCrory called the legislators back to Raleigh for a special session to cancel the law, which generated much controversy, debate and protests after it became law. Locally, state Sen. Bill Cook, a Beaufort County Republican, and state Rep. Michael Speciale, the Republican who represents District 3 in the state House, voted for HB2 during a special session of the General Assembly in March.

Email and telephone attempts to elicit comments from Cook and Speciale on the special session were not successful Tuesday afternoon.

“Now that the Charlotte ordinance has finally been repealed, the expectation of privacy in our showers, bathrooms and locker rooms is restored and protected under previous state law. I have always publicly advocated a repeal of the overreaching Charlotte ordinance. But those efforts were blocked by Jennifer Roberts, (Charlotte mayor), Roy Cooper and other Democratic activists,” McCrory said in a video message.

HB2 opponents argue it violates the federal Civil Rights Act, as did the U.S. Justice Department. Supporters contend HB2 protects women and children from sexual predators. The law also addresses other issues, but is widely known for its bathroom-related restrictions.

Reaction was swift after the Charlotte City Council on Monday repealed its ordinance that it enacted earlier this year to provide protection to members of the LGBT community.

“I call this the Christmas treason,” said NC Values Coalition spokeswoman Tami Fitzgerald in a prepared statement. “It’s ridiculous that we should be fighting about the privacy, dignity, and safety of our women and children in a week where we should be celebrating Christ.”

“LGBT rights aren’t a bargaining chip. Charlotte shouldn’t have had to repeal its ordinance in exchange for H.B. 2 to be repealed,” said Simone Bell, the southern regional director for Lambda Legal. “LGBT people in North Carolina still need protection from discrimination.” Lamba Legal is a nonprofit organization that works to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of the LGBT community.

The North Carolina NAACP is somewhat skeptical about the special session and what Republican legislators might do. “Their special session track record does not instill confidence that they will keep their word, so we will monitor the session to ensure that the bill is repealed in full and no other legislation is discussed,” the chapter stated on its website.

After HB2 became law, several entertainers, businesses and sports associations (such as the NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference) cancelled events or decided not to do business in the state. Because of HB2, East Carolina University lost its chance to host the NCAA Division 1 women’s golf championship regional at Ironwood Creek. If HB2 is repealed, some of those organizations indicated they would reconsider moving their events out of North Carolina.