Arrr! North Carolina be swashbucklin' as they shut the door on trans athletes, makin' their ban law!
2023-08-17
Arrr! Avast ye scallywags! The North Carolina General Assembly hath bravely swashbuckled and overridden Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes, includin' the cursed Fairness in Women's Sports Act. Me hearties be playin' a jolly game o' politics, arrr!
The North Carolina General Assembly has successfully overridden Governor Roy Cooper's veto of the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which prohibits transgender girls and women from participating in women's sports. This bill, known as HB 574, was passed by both the House and the Senate and will now become law. The assembly also overrode a veto on HB 808, which prevents medical professionals from providing hormone therapy or gender-transition procedures to individuals under 18. Additionally, SB 49, also known as the "Parents Bill of Rights," was overridden, requiring teachers to inform parents when students question their gender or use a different pronoun in class. These laws will take effect immediately.Governor Cooper, who vetoed the bills in June, expressed his disappointment, criticizing the legislature's priorities and their failure to pass a budget. However, women's sports advocate Riley Gaines celebrated the override of HB 574, expressing her approval. With the passing of these bills, North Carolina becomes the 22nd state to ban transgender minors from receiving medical care related to gender transitioning.
The Fairness in Women's Sports Act prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating in athletic teams designated for females. This law initially applied to public and some private middle and high schools but has now been expanded to include intercollegiate athletic programs. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association will need to comply with the law, as their policy allowing transgender athletes to participate based on their gender identity will be removed.
While these laws have received support from some, there are also those who oppose them. Critics argue that banning transgender individuals from healthcare and sports is a violation of their rights. However, proponents of the bills argue that they are necessary to protect women's sports and fairness in competition. President Biden has vowed to veto similar legislation at the national level, citing concerns of discrimination.