North Carolina Mom: HB 2 Is 'Emotionally Killing' Trans Kids

A North Carolina mother is speaking out for her transgender child.

Hope Tyler of Raleigh shared her family's experience at a Wednesday press conference at the North Carolina Legislative Building.

"In the short time that Pat McCrory decided to pass HB2, it's painfully obvious that he did not think about how this would affect our transgender children," Tyler said in an emotional speech, which was reported on by The Charlotte Observer.

In March, Gov. McCrory signed House Bill 2, which strikes down LGBT-inclusive municipal antidiscrimination ordinances and prohibits cities from adopting any new ones. It also expressly requires transgender people to use public bathrooms and locker rooms, in public schools and other government buildings, that do not match their gender identity.

According to Tyler, the law has also dealt an emotional blow to LGBT families in the Southern state.

"He had comfortably begun to settle in until discussion of HB 2 came along," Tyler said of her 15-year-old trans son, who had recently transitioned. "Suddenly, everyone in the trans community had a spotlight on them when there was never an issue before."

"This bill is emotionally killing our children," she said, noting that the number of calls to suicide support lines had doubled since the law passed.

"To the transgender community: You are not alone. We are going to repeal this bill," she concluded.

Watch her speech below.