For Immediate Release

Nate Fischer | Equality NC | nate@equalitync.org

RALEIGH – Today, the NC House and Senate voted to override Governor Cooper's vetoes of HB 808 (a youth gender-affirming care ban), SB 49 (a "Don't Say Gay" bill), and HB 574 (a trans sports ban). These are dangerous bills which attack our communities, especially trans kids. They will now become law.

Our heart breaks for the many people, particularly trans youth and their families, whose lives will be harmed by this cruel legislation. The General Assembly passed these bills in the face of vociferous and highly motivated opposition, including thousands of letters, phone calls, testimonies, and protests. The disrespect and disregard shown for the people of North Carolina by this body is contemptible – and it all serves the purpose of bullying trans kids and their families in service of an extreme agenda. We know that the people of North Carolina want their legislators to focus on bread-and-butter issues – not on passing hateful copy-paste legislation from national hate groups.

In light of the attacks on gender affirming care, Equality NC has been partnering with the Campaign for Southern Equality to bring the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP) to North Carolina. Our vulnerable youth will now need to travel to other states to seek life-saving and scientifically recommended medical care, and the STYEP program helps provide families with the information and funding that they need to get proper healthcare access. Learn more about the STYEP program in North Carolina here.

We cannot reach lived equality when we have politicians passing policies that are designed to bully our communities. This is a dark day for North Carolina.

# # #

Equality North Carolina builds LGBTQ+ power through advocacy, education, and uplifting the stories of queer and trans North Carolinians in pursuit of racial and social justice. www.equalitync.org