North Carolina’s GOP Legislature Approves Transgender Athlete Ban—Likely To Survive A Veto From Democratic Governor

Topline

The North Carolina state legislature approved a bill Thursday prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in school sports, as an expected veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will likely be overridden by a Republican legislative supermajority, as the state joins a growing list of more than 20 other states that have passed similar legislation.

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to veto the bill.

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Key Facts

The bill—approved by the state Senate on Thursday—designates middle and high school sports teams by the “biological sex of the team participants,” which the legislation defines as “the student’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”

The proposed law—which does not mention transgender boys or men—also includes restrictions for state universities and community colleges, though restrictions do not extend into intramural college sports.

A provision allows any student “who is deprived of an athletic opportunity” to pursue litigation if they feel a transgender student violates the law.

State Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R) said the bill is “telling everyone that women’s sports are for women.”

Chief Critic

State Rep. Deb Butler (D) said the bill sends “a very strong message to a very vulnerable group of young people that says you are different, you’re not allowed to participate.”

Big Number

22. That’s how many other states have approved bans on transgender athletes in school sports, according to the Associated Press.

What To Watch For

The North Carolina state Senate will vote on a bill restricting access to gender-affirming care, after it was approved by the House earlier this week. It is unknown when the vote will take place.

Key Background

North Carolina is the latest state with legislation targeting transgender girls and women athletes, following similar bills passed by Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, Texas and Wyoming earlier this year. The Biden Administration proposed regulations in an effort to prevent future bans, including adding new language to Title IX that would prohibit gender-based discrimination in school sports, though they included a loophole that would allow school teams to develop their own policies. A discussion about transgender athletes in school sports has intensified in recent years. Some Republicans—including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis—have promoted the controversy surrounding transgender sports participation as a culture war talking point, with DeSantis claiming that allowing transgender girls and women to participate in school sports is an effort “to destroy women’s athletics.”