North Carolina Governor Slightly Backtracks on Anti-LGBT Law

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory made minor changes to a state law denounced as discriminatory towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens with an executive order on Tuesday.

The governor's order expands protections against discrimination for state employees to include sexual orientation and gender identity. McCrory also asked lawmakers to restore the right to sue in state court for discrimination, an option taken away by the measure passed last month.

However, the Republican stood firm on a controversial provision restricting transgender bathroom access.

Related: Bruce Springsteen Protests North Carolina Transgender Law

McCrory said his order maintained the "common sense" provision barring transgender people from using bathrooms or locker rooms in schools and other public facilities that do not match the sex on their birth certificate.

“I have come to the conclusion that there is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion, a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina,” McCrory said in a statement. "Based upon this feedback, I am taking action to affirm and improve the state’s commitment to privacy and equality.”

The law's opponents said the governor did not go far enough to correct the damage done to LGBT citizens.

“Governor McCrory’s actions today are a poor effort to save face after his sweeping attacks on the LGBT community," said Sarah Preston, acting executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina.

Related: Mississippi Enacts Law that Allows Denying Services to Gays

Many companies, including the National Basketball Association, have threatened to boycott North Carolina and other states who have passed similar discriminatory laws. The economic pressure could have been a motivating factor in the governor's decision.

Last week, PayPal Holdings canceled plans to open a global operations center in Charlotte,North Carolina, and invest $3.6 million in the area, and rock star Bruce Springsteen canceled a concert in the state to protest the law.

The Office of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said it would not defend the anti-LGBT law, which Cooper referred to as a "national embarrassment."