Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 18, 2023 / 07:39 am
North Carolina lawmakers this week upheld bans on sex changes for kids, granted parents more rights in the public school system, and set athletic standards that require students to participate in programs that align with their biological sex.
The Republican-dominated state House and Senate approved the measures during a veto session on Aug. 16. Lawmakers narrowly surpassed the 60% threshold to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes.
The House voted 74-45, and the Senate 27-18, to override Cooper’s veto on legislation that prohibits medical professionals from providing sex change surgeries or sex change drugs for children. The legislation had support from Republican leadership and opposition from Democrats.
As a result of the measures, doctors in the state will be prohibited from performing “gender reassignment” surgeries on minors, which is defined as any surgery designed to alter or remove a healthy part of the child’s body to create anatomical characteristics that would resemble the opposite sex. This includes both genital and nongenital surgeries.