RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge ruled weeks ago that the University of North Carolina must allow three transgender people to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. Now those plaintiffs want an appeals court to expand that preliminary ruling to cover everyone in the state, and in any public restroom.

North Carolina’s House Bill 2 requires people to use restrooms matching their birth certificates in schools and many public buildings, and excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide antidiscrimination protections.

A judge said two students and an employee at UNC challenging HB-2 will likely win on Title IX grounds requiring equal treatment in schools.

The plaintiffs want the appellate court to expand the preliminary injunction to protect constitutional rights as well. The state’s Republican governor and legislative leaders want the appeal dismissed.

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