RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers are looking at two bills to restrict high school sports for transgender athletes.
Senate Bill 631, known as the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," says sports teams must be designated as either "male, men or boys," "females, women or girls," or "co-ed or mixed."
The bill says male students can not partake in athletics designated for women and girls. The sex would be based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
"Why are we putting women's sports under attack? This bill is not against anybody. But it is for all women," Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R), primary sponsor of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Bill, said.
North Carolina Republicans held a news conference defending SB 631 and invited two North Carolina coaches.
"I support transgender athletes," Sylvia Hatchell, the former head basketball coach for UNC at Chapel Hill, said. "OK, the right to gender identity as see[n] fit. However, competitive sport is one of the few places in our society where sex differences matter."
Hatchell resigned from UNC at Chapel Hill after a program review found concerns over "racially insensitive" comments and pressuring players to compete through medical issues.
The American Medical Association said in a report in 2022 it, "opposes athletic eligibility regulations that contribute to discrimination and stigma attached to naturally occurring differences in gender and sexual identity, sexual development and orientation."
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association allows transgender student-athletes to play sports based on their gender identification upon request.
Those interested have to submit a gender identity request form, and information about medications and treatments they're getting among other details.
The house is looking at a similar bill to SB 631 a companion bill -- House Bill 574.
Lisa Saab, a Huntersville parent, is against legislation targeting transgender youth.
“Unfortunately there’s a lot of ignorance about transgender people and transgender youth," Lisa Saab said. "So people are making decisions based on a loud minority of people complaining about things."
NC Republicans introduced six bills targeting transgender youth this week alone.
Lisa Saab's daughter Olivia said these bills are harmful to all transgender youth.
"Being trans in high school is a terrifying and isolating experience even in supportive environments like I had," Olivia Saab said. "These laws only serve to further isolate and bully trans kids."
The bills filed in the General Assembly range from limits on high school sports to medical treatments for transgender youth under 18.
"We've had years of counseling years of doctor's appointments, years, years," Amye Burks, the parent of three transgender kids in Statesville, said. "There's this weird rhetoric going around that it's easy to get hormones, and it's easy to get surgeries, it is not easy."
Burks said her kids are tired of their lives being legislated by lawmakers.
“What's a parent to do if the politicians won't let us have what the doctors say will save our children's lives?" Burks asked. "It is a matter of life and death."
As WCNC Charlotte has reported, the GOP now has a supermajority in both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, giving more legislative power to pass these measures.
"I just kept thinking we were safe in North Carolina, with Gov. Cooper," Saab said. "And unfortunately, with that other member trying to switch to being a Republican, it's apparently become something that can go through and it's really scary."
North Carolina State Representative Tricia Cotham has officially switched party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. This switch now gives Republicans a supermajority in Raleigh.
With a supermajority in both the House and Senate, Republican lawmakers can override a possible veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
"If Rep. Cotham votes in favor of these bills, she is exposing herself as so morally bankrupt that she would sell out vulnerable children in exchange for whatever personal benefit the corrupt North Carolina GOP offered her, " Olivia Saab said.
Bills targeting transgender athletes are being introduced all across the country.
On Thursday the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a 12-year-old transgender girl in West Virginia to continue competing on her middle school’s girls' sports teams while a lawsuit over a state ban continues.
Also on Thursday, the Department of Education moved to amend Title IX to include protection for transgender athletes.
Contact Shamarria Morrison at smorrison@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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