NC bill would ban treatment for trans people under 21

Three North Carolina Republican lawmakers introduced a bill Monday that would prevent doctors from performing gender reassignment surgery for transgender people younger than 21.

Senate Bill 514, dubbed the "Youth Health Protection Act," makes North Carolina one of 28 states considering legislation aimed at transgender youth. Unlike other states, however, North Carolina would classify adults between the ages of 18 and 21 as minors under its proposal.

Medical professionals who facilitate a transgender person's desire to present themselves or appear in a way that is inconsistent with their biological sex could have their license revoked and face civil fines of up to $1,000 per occurrence. The measure bars doctors from providing gender confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery.

"This bill is horrendous. It can lead to some really negative impacts for our young folks," said Rebby Kern, director of educaiton policy for LGBT advocacy group Equality North Carolina.

But Jere Royall, director of community impact and counsel for the North Carolina Family Policy Council, said studies have shown many people unhappy with their gender as teenagers change their minds as adults.

"Clearly, when you go through these procedures, these are permanent, irreversible changes that are involved in some of the situations," Royall said.

The bill also would compel teachers and state employees to immediately notify parents in writing if their child displays “gender nonconformity” or expresses a desire to be treated in a way that is incompatible with their biological sex.

"Sometimes, there are things that are happening within the school day that parents are not aware of, and I think it's, you know, for parents – they want to be aware of whatever is happening," Royall said.

LGBT advocates called such disclosure unethical and said it could make students feel isolated.

"This fear of being outed – to push school staff to disclose deeply private information to parents – it breaches trust, and it creates a completely uncomfortable, unsafe environment," Kern said.

Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, who wrote the bill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sens. Warren Daniel, R-Burke, and Norman Sanderson, R-Pamlico, also are primary sponsors of the proposal.

In Arkansas on Monday, the state’s Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson, vetoed a bill that would have made his state the first in the nation to ban gender confirming treatments or surgery for transgender youth under 18.

The proposal in North Carolina will almost certainly not become law, despite GOP majorities in both the state House and Senate. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger was not immediately available for comment on whether he supports the measure and wants it to go to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

North Carolina Democrats last week unveiled a legislative package aimed at ensuring LGBTQ residents have greater legal protections. Among the plans put forward was a full repeal of House Bill 2, the state’s so-called “bathroom bill” that was passed in 2016 and partially repealed a year later. State lawmakers also pushed to prohibit gay conversion therapy practices.

The bill introduced Monday by the three GOP senators would not allow the state or any licensing boards to punish people who provide therapy that is consistent with their conscience or religious beliefs.