Three bills passed by Republicans in the General Assembly have not been signed off on by Governor Roy Cooper.
READ MORE: Legislation limiting transgender healthcare and sports participation makes headway in Raleigh
The governor stamped a veto on Wednesday on:
- House Bill 574: Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
- Senate Bill 49: Parents’ Bill of Rights
- House Bill 808: Gender Transition/Minors
H.B. 574 would ban transgender women and girls from participating in interscholastic women’s sports in middle and high schools, private and public, along with colleges and universities.
The S.B. 49 legislation addresses more parental curriculum oversight and tightened consent standards for students to participate in programs and surveys. It also contains provisions on LGBTQ pronoun usage and class discussions.
Lastly, H.B. 808 will not allow gender-altering healthcare, including surgery, puberty blockers or hormone therapy, for transgender minors.
“For campaign purposes only, Republicans are serving up a triple threat of political culture wars using government to invade the rights and responsibilities of parents and doctors, hurting vulnerable children and damaging our state’s reputation and economy like they did with the harmful bathroom bill,” Cooper wrote in a press release Wednesday.
In turn the governor suggested more attention be paid to issues of higher interest, including public schools and teachers, helping lower the cost of living and providing stability for middle-class families.
He continued that bills such as H.B. 574 have been vetoed in other states due to diminishing its reputation and economy. Cooper called the bill not fair, “nor needed,” similarly to S.B. 49.
“The rights of parents are well-established in state law,” he said of S.B. 49. “Legislators should help with better teacher pay and more investments in students.”
He added the lawmakers should also allow medical professionals and parents to continue choosing what’s best for their kids.
“Ordering doctors to stop following approved medical protocols sets a troubling precedent and is dangerous for vulnerable youth and their mental health,” Cooper said of H.B. 808. “The government should not make itself both the parent and the doctor.”
Equality NC applauded the governor’s move, calling the trifecta of legislation unacceptable and unfair to 382,000 North Carolinians that make up the LGBTQ population.
“Now we implore the NCGA to do the right thing and recognize that this entire package of bills is dangerous, cruel, and deeply unpopular,” Kendra Johnson, executive director of Equality NC, said in a press release. “These bills would tarnish North Carolina’s reputation as an inclusive and welcoming place to live, work, and visit — and they would cause immense damage to transgender and queer youth, who already experience significant disparities.”
In opposition, the N.C. Values Coalition indicated the bills protected women’s and children’s rights, decrying Cooper’s move and urging the GA to override the measures.
“Children are being indoctrinated in schools, girls are being denied a level playing field in sports, and minors are being chemically and surgically castrated to advance a dangerous LGBTQ agenda that the majority of the public does not support,” “North Carolinians are fed up with government schools and so-called medical professionals who advance the transgender agenda to the detriment of children,” NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald said in a release.
The GOP could still pass the bills by a supermajority override. When Tricia Cotham defected parties in April, it gave the Republicans power by one vote.
In 2023, Republicans have overturned the governor’s veto on:
S.B. 20: Abortion Law
S.B. 41: Guarantee 2nd Amend Freedom and Protections
S.B. 299: Reimburse Late Audit Costs with Sales Tax Rev.
S.B. 329: Retail Installment Sales Act Amendments.
S.B. 331: Consumer Finance Act Amendments
S.B. 364: Nondiscrimination and Dignity in State Work
S.B. 582: N.C. Farm Act
H.B. 750: Address ESG Factors
Have tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaily.com
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
