NC Senators send controversial LGBTQ bill to a vote after tense committee hearing

North Carolina’s so-called Parents’ Bill of Rights cleared a final committee hurdle in the state Senate Monday, following a meeting where dozens of parents, students and activists spoke out both for and against the bill.

The Republican-backed bill, which will now be voted on Tuesday by the full Senate, would ban teachers in much of elementary school from mentioning anything related to gender or sexuality.

GOP supporters say that’s a commonsense rule. Democratic critics say it would be used to ban books that are age-appropriate for young children, simply for portraying the existence of LGBTQ people — like a character who has two dads.

Republicans have said critics shouldn’t call this a “Don’t Say Gay” bill — a label critics have applied to similar legislation in other states. Proponents of the North Carolina bill emphasized that teachers wouldn’t be completely banned from talking about gender or sexuality. The bans only apply in kindergarten through fourth grade, said Sen. Amy Galey, a Burlington Republican who sponsored the bill. And it only applies to their official curriculum. So if a student asked a question, the teacher wouldn’t be banned from answering it, she said.

The bill would also force teachers in any grade to out some gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students to their parents, even against the wishes of the students. The bill would require notification of parents if a student asked to be called by a different name or different pronouns, or if there is a change "related to his or her child's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being."

Galey said that in general, the main goal of the bill is “placing a strong emphasis on communication between school and the home.”

Several LGBTQ students and adults came to oppose the bill Monday, including Callum Bradford, a 16-year-old high school junior who is transgender.

"Yes, parents do have rights in a school setting,” he said. “But what the senators fail to recognize is that students also have rights.”

Bradford’s parents have since talked about the changes with him, he said, but he's thankful he had the chance to figure out some things before coming out to them.

“Much of my processing about my gender identity came before I told my parents,” he said.

Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield of Asheville asked how schools would be able to keep students safe if the bill passes. "Not all families are the same,” she said. “We know this. Not all families are as tolerant as others."

"We're talking about kids from kindergarten to fourth grade. It's unclear to me how they would feel unsafe" by not having LGBTQ topics in their curriculum, she said.

Mayfield, however, said that’s not what she’s concerned about nearly as much as older kids who have started to ask questions they can’t raise at home.

“This bill makes school an unsafe place for a number of children who don't feel comfortable talking to their parents about everything, and also may not now feel comfortable talking to a trusted teacher or coach."

The bill also would require parental consent before students are given surveys that ask questions about mental problems, political affiliations, “sex behavior or attitudes” or criticisms of family members.

Wilmington Republican Sen. Michael Lee, another sponsor of the bill, said he thinks this bill will actually help many families. “It’s incredibly healthy for a parent to know what’s going on with a child in school, especially in regard to mental health,” he said.

The bill is expected to pass the Senate. It would then go to the state House, where Republican leadership in the chamber would need to decide whether to make changes or vote on it as-is.

Many supporters and opponents from the public also came to Monday’s meeting for public comments. The conservative group Moms For Liberty sent half a dozen representatives, who talked about their concerns with issues ranging from sex education to the “medical tyranny” of mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Parents should have the final say in all important decisions regarding their minor children," said Amy Kappleman, leader of the group’s Chatham County division.

Republicans picked up seats in the 2022 midterms, changing the equation for this session.

They now have a veto-proof supermajority in the Senate. And, assuming all members are present, House Republicans will need just one Democrat to flip to override Cooper’s veto.

Democrats have filed their own version of a Parents Bill of Rights in both chambers this session. The bills share some of the same broad goals of the GOP-backed Senate bill in terms of guaranteeing that parents can have more knowledge and input when it comes to schools. But the Democrats' version doesn't contain any of the language targeting LGBTQ issues that Republicans included in theirs.