The North Carolina General Assembly has successfully overridden Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. This act prohibits transgender girls and women in middle school, high school, and college from participating in women’s sports. The House and Senate voted to override Cooper’s decision on Wednesday night. In addition to the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, two other bills were also overridden. HB 808 prevents medical professionals from providing hormone therapy, puberty-blocking drugs, or gender-transition procedures to anyone under 18. SB 49, also known as the “Parents Bill of Rights,” requires teachers to inform parents when students question their gender or choose to use a different pronoun in class. These bills have been enacted into law and will take immediate effect.
Governor Cooper expressed his disappointment with the legislature’s decision, criticizing their choice to pass legislation that he believes discriminates and harms various aspects of society. He highlighted the need for a budget and other pressing issues, arguing that the legislature should have different priorities.
Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines celebrated the override of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. North Carolina becomes the 22nd state to ban transgender minors from accessing specific medical care, including hormone therapy, puberty-blocking drugs, and surgical procedures. The act prohibits students identified as male from participating in athletic teams designated for females, women, or girls. Initially, the act only applied to some public and private middle and high schools but has now been expanded to include intercollegiate athletic programs.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) will be required to comply with the new law after previously implementing a policy that allowed transgender athletes to participate based on their gender identity. Under the previous policy, athletes were required to fill out a form for review by a committee. The committee would approve or deny requests based on the student “genuinely” identifying as the gender indicated on the form. Since the policy was enacted in the 2019-20 school year, the NCHSAA received 18 requests, with 16 being approved, including 14 transgender boys requesting to participate on male sports teams. The NCHSAA will now have to remove this policy in compliance with the new law.
While these laws have been passed, there are some who disagree with them. Representative Sarah Crawford voiced her concerns, arguing that banning healthcare for transgender individuals violates the oath taken by lawmakers to uphold the constitution. On the other hand, Republican state Senator Vickie Sawyer believes that North Carolina must protect women and women’s sports, citing instances of women being defeated by transgender women in athletic events.
In April, the House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, with no support from Democrats. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy celebrated the passage of the bill, emphasizing its importance for fairness and female athletes. However, President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the bill, expressing concerns that it is discriminatory and does not consider competitiveness or grade levels.
Overall, the North Carolina General Assembly’s decision to override Governor Cooper’s veto has sparked various reactions and debates surrounding transgender rights and women’s sports.
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