North Carolina General Assembly Overrides Gov. Cooper’s Veto of Cruel Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
On Wednesday, August 16, the North Carolina House and Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of three anti-LGBTQ+ bills: HB808, which prohibits the initiation of all gender-affirming medical care for transgender people under the age of 18, including puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and surgery; HB574, which prohibits transgender girls and young women in grade school and higher education from participating in school sports; and SB49, a curriculum censorship bill that also requires school staff to “out” transgender students.
Equality NC said today:
“Our heart breaks for the many people, particularly trans youth and their families, whose lives will be harmed by this cruel legislation. The General Assembly passed these bills in the face of vociferous and highly motivated opposition, including thousands of letters, phone calls, testimonies, and protests. The disrespect and disregard shown for the people of North Carolina by this body is contemptible – and it all serves the purpose of bullying trans kids and their families in service of an extreme agenda. We know that the people of North Carolina want their legislators to focus on bread-and-butter issues – not on passing hateful copy-paste legislation from national hate groups.”
Allison Scott (she/her pronouns), Director of Impact & Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, said:
“We need to call this what it is: An all-out attack on queer and transgender youth in North Carolina. The NCGA is going out of its way to blatantly enact the far-Right’s anti-LGBTQ wish list, causing harm and discrimination to young people in every area of life, from school to the doctor’s office to the athletic fields. You would have thought that the NCGA would have learned its lesson from HB2 and the havoc it caused for our state and our communities.”
“We know this is a very difficult time for transgender youth and their families, and for the LGBTQ+ community and our supporters across North Carolina. I also know that no law can stop the transgender community from charting our paths to thriving and living authentically – our community will make sure of that. Right now, help is available: Please reach out to our Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project to better understand your options and how you can continue to access gender-affirming care in neighboring states. We are sending solidarity and love during this relentless time.”
Next Steps in the Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality in NC
The passage of this package of laws is outrageous and will cause long-lasting damage to LGBTQ+ North Carolinians and to our state at large. These laws establish the state government as one of the worst endorsers of discrimination and transform doctors' offices, sports fields, and our schools as sites of harm, exclusion, and hostility. We are grateful to everyone who took action during this grueling session, shared their story, attended a rally, and spoke out against these attacks. This fight is not over – and we will never stop working to support and stand with LGBTQ+ youth. Here are three immediate next steps you can take:
Attend a Community Town Hall About This Legislation
On Monday, August 21, advocates will come together for a Community Town Hall to discuss the impact of HB808, HB574, and SB49. There, we will share resources that trans youth and their families can access, discuss how to prepare for the implementation of these cruel anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and answer questions. Click here to RSVP.
Request Support from the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project
Families of transgender youth in North Carolina are now eligible to request support from the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP), a regional project of the Campaign for Southern Equality, led in partnership in North Carolina with Equality NC. The project helps transgender youth whose access to gender-affirming care has been disrupted by government policies. Through STYEP, families can receive accurate information about SB14; patient navigation to identify out-of-state gender-affirming care providers; and emergency grants of $500 for immediate needs, including travel, medication, and other logistics. Families can request support at www.southernequality.org/NCResources.
Please help us spread the word about the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project in North Carolina using this digital toolkit.
Donate to Support Trans Youth and their Families
With the ban on gender-affirming care for youth becoming law in North Carolina, it’s crucial that we make sure our youth can still get the care they need. If you’re able, we encourage you to donate to support STYEP’s work. Click here to make a donation.