In a disappointing turn of events, transgender youth in North Carolina have been denied access to life-saving gender-affirming treatments. This decision came about after the Republican-controlled General Assembly overrode the veto of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper on legislation related to gender in sports and classroom instruction. The bill prohibits medical professionals from providing hormone therapy, puberty-blocking drugs, and surgical gender-transition procedures to individuals under 18, with few medical exceptions. While the policy is effective immediately, minors who had already begun treatment before August 1 may continue if deemed medically necessary by their doctors and with parental consent.
Unfortunately, North Carolina has now become the 22nd state to enact legislation restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. However, it’s important to note that many of these laws are currently facing legal challenges, and local LGBTQ+ advocates have vowed to fight against this ban in court. The Senate voted 27-18 in favor of overriding the governor’s veto, following a prior House vote of 73-46.
This bill has been regarded as particularly heartbreaking by Democratic Senator Lisa Grafstein, who is North Carolina’s only openly LGBTQ+ state senator. During the proceedings, some LGBTQ+ rights advocates in the Senate gallery were so incensed that they began yelling when Grafstein was cut off by Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Several individuals were subsequently escorted out of the chamber by capitol police.
The chief sponsor of the bill, Republican Senator Joyce Krawiec, argued that the state has a duty to protect children from irreversible procedures until they are mature enough to make informed medical decisions. In addition to the gender-affirming care bill, the House and Senate also overrode the governor’s veto on a bill limiting LGBTQ+ instruction in the early grades. This law mandates public school teachers to notify parents before using a different name or pronoun for a student and prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexuality in K-4 classrooms.
Furthermore, both chambers voted to override another veto by the governor, banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams from middle and high school through college. These decisions have been met with anger and emotion, and Democratic Representative John Autry, who has a transgender grandchild, became emotional while pleading with his Republican colleagues to reconsider their actions.
Governor Cooper expressed his disappointment in a scathing statement, condemning the chambers’ decisions as misplaced priorities. Meanwhile, parents of transgender and nonbinary children in North Carolina, such as Elizabeth Waugh, have been contemplating moving their families out of the state to ensure unrestricted access to gender-affirming care for their children.
It’s crucial to recognize that gender-affirming care is both safe and medically necessary, as supported by leading professional health associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the Endocrine Society. While surgical interventions for transgender minors are incredibly rare, hormone therapy and puberty-blocking drugs are commonly prescribed to delay puberty and help individuals align with their identified gender.
In a rush of votes, the House and Senate quickly proceeded to override multiple vetoes by Governor Cooper. This includes prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams, which has been met with criticism from those who see it as discriminatory and disguised under the guise of safety precautions. Supporters of the bill argue that it aims to protect the safety and well-being of young female athletes and preserve scholarship opportunities for them.
Overall, this decision by the North Carolina General Assembly has caused significant distress and disappointment among advocates for transgender rights. The battle to protect and uphold the rights and well-being of transgender youth is far from over, and legal challenges and advocacy efforts will continue in the pursuit of equality and inclusivity.
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