President Barack Obama said North Carolina's law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people is wrong should be overturned.
Obama criticized the state law and others targeting the LGBT community, including forthcoming legislation in Mississippi, during a news conference in London.
"I... think that the laws that have been passed there are wrong and should be overturned," Obama said Friday. "They're in response to politics, in part; in part, strong emotions that are generated by people — some of whom are good people — but I disagree with [them] when it comes to respecting the equal rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation."
The president's comments came after the U.K. put out a travel advisory warning British citizens about possible discrimination if they travel to certain U.S. states.
"Our view on any of these things is we believe we should be trying to use law to end discrimination rather than embed or enhance it," said British Prime Minister David Cameron, who spoke alongside Obama.
Obama said Americans in those states are "wonderful people" and that British citizens should feel free to come and enjoy themselves. He said they'll be treated with "extraordinary hospitality."
Obama said the U.S. isn't unique in having a federal system where states can make their own policies.
