Current Legislation

Bills under consideration in the 2009-2010 legislative session.

House Bill 88: Healthy Youth Act

PASSED! The original version of this bill would have required schools to offer both the current "abstinence only" curriculum and an abstinence-based comprehensive sex education program, giving parents the ability to decide which program their child would participate in. In the Senate, a single-track approach was substituted, which will have students get the existing abstinence until marriage program, followed by additional comprehensive information about contraception and disease prevention. Equality NC believes all students should get the complete, accurate information offered by a comprehensive curriculum, and is disappointed the final bill left in inaccurate and discriminatory language from the existing curriculum. However, it is still a huge step forward and will provide life-saving information to young people.

House Bill 100: Conform State Law to Lawrence v. Texas

This bill would reform North Carolina's unconstitutional "Crime Against Nature" law to bring it into compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down all sodomy laws nationwide. It would make clear that the law cannot be applied to consenting adults in a private place.

House Bill 207: Safer Communities Act

This bill would add age, gender, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity to the protected classes in the existing hate crime statute.

House Bill 361: Marriage Discrimination Amendment

This bill would amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage, civil union, domestic partnership or any similar relationship for same-sex couples.

House Bill 548: School Violence Prevention Act

This bill would require schools to adopt strong policies against bullying and harassment, including bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

House Bill 721: Carrboro/Housing Discrimination

This bill would amend the Carrboro Town Charter to allow it to adopt ordinances against housing discrimination based on familial status, handicap, sexual orientation, gender identification, or gender expression, in addition to the existing categories.

House Bill 776: Ineffective Bullying Bill

This bill would require local school boards to adopt weak, ineffective anti-bullying policies. Equality NC opposes this bill because it does not adequately address the needs of LGBT and other minority students by ensuring their protection with enumerated categories.

House Bill 1049: Non-Discrimination in State/Teacher Employment

This bill would protect state workers and school personel from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Senate Bill 221: Healthy Youth Act

This bill would require schools to offer both the current "abstinence only" curriculum and an abstinence-based comprehensive sex education program, giving parents the ability to decide which program their child would participate in. Equality NC believes all students should get the complete, accurate information offered by a comprehensive curriculum, but supports this bill as an important step in the right direction.

Senate Bill 272: Marriage Discrimination Amendment

This bill would amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage, civil union, domestic partnership or any similar relationship for same-sex couples.

Senate Bill 395: Carrboro/Housing Discrimination

This bill would amend the Carrboro Town Charter to allow it to adopt ordinances against housing discrimination based on familial status, handicap, sexual orientation, gender identification, or gender expression, in addition to the existing categories.

Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act

PASSED! This bill requires schools to adopt strong policies against bullying and harassment, including bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This bill will provide strong policies to protect all students from bullying. It is also the first time the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" appear in the North Carolina General Statutes.

Senate Bill 843: Non-Discrimination in State Employment

This bill would protect state workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Also in this section

2005-2006 Legislation

LGBT-related bills from the 2005-2006 legislative session.

2007-2008 Legislation

Bills introduced in the 2007-2008 legislative session.