Republican supermajorities in the North Carolina state legislature are set to overturn Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a ban on child sex changes.
North Carolina’s House Bill 808, which was passed 67 to 46 in June, would make it “unlawful for a medical professional to perform a surgical gender transition procedure on a minor or to prescribe, provide, or dispense puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to a minor.” Doctors who violate the bill would have their medical licenses revoked. (RELATED: Amanda Abbington Does Damage Control Over Resurfaced Tweets Reportedly Opposing ‘Over-Sexualized’ Drag Show For Kids)
Republicans will also vote on House Bill 574, which bars biological males from participating in female school sports. The bill also passed in June with a vote of 62 to 43. Cooper also vetoed a “Parent’s Bill of Rights” which states that a parent has a right to “direct the upbringing and moral or religious training of his or her child.”
Transgender rights take center stage in North Carolina again Wednesday as GOP supermajorities in the General Assembly attempt to override the governor’s vetoes of legislation banning gender-affirming health care for minors and limiting transgender… https://t.co/JZIYx7R3y7
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 16, 2023
The lawmakers will meet on Wednesday afternoon to vote on Cooper’s rejection of the bills. The GOP has held veto-proof majorities in the state House and Senate since 2018, when Rep. Tricia Cotham switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
“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 said in a statement after vetoing the bills. “Instead of scheming for the next election, Republicans should get to work investing in our public schools and teachers, lowering the cost of living and creating more stability for middle class families.”
North Carolina will be the 22nd state to pass bans on child sex changes, if Republican lawmakers succeed in overturning Cooper’s veto.
Louisiana Republicans overturned Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards veto of a bill banning child sex changes in July. Three Democrats voted with Republicans in the House to overturn the veto.
Republican lawmakers in Kentucky overturned Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto of a similar bill in May. Nineteen people were arrested and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing as protestors occupied the state Capitol in Frankfurt.