A lesbian couple has filed a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over the recently introduced HB2.

Beverly Newell, 45, and Kelly Trent, 39, say that a fertility clinic turned them down based on their sexual orientation.

They have joined a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which alleges that the highly controversial HB2 has led to discrimination.

In a statement released on Friday, Newell said: “It’s unnerving to know that we could be turned away by any business for being a same-sex couple and have no recourse because of HB2.

“HB2 has encouraged this type of conduct and we no longer have the ability to file discrimination complaints when this type of thing happens in our home city of Charlotte. The bill has made it OK to harm LGBT people. The state of North Carolina is better than this.”

The lawsuit was filed last month in a US District Court in North Carolina, and was modified on Friday to include the names of the new plaintiffs.

Among others, Governor Pat McCrory was named as a defendant – he signed the bill, and has continually defended it against swathes of criticism from across the US and beyond.

“HB2 has exposed them to discrimination based on sexual orientation,” ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Gill told ABC News.

“It was their experience that all of the discussion about HB2 and its effects was basically giving license to businesses in the state to discriminate. They did experience discrimination and are worried it would happen again.”