NC Governor rejects bill banning male athletes from women’s sports.

North Carolina Governor Vetoes Bill Protecting Women’s Sports

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill that would have prevented males from competing in interscholastic sporting events designated for females, despite the bill earning bipartisan support in the state legislature.

On Wednesday, Mr. Cooper formally vetoed HB 574, titled the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” The bill stated that “athletic teams designated for females, women, or girls shall not be open to students of the male sex” at the middle school, high school, or college level.

HB 574 had passed in the North Carolina State Senate by a 31–17 vote with one Democratic senator joining the Republican majority. The bill also passed in the North Carolina House of Representatives on a vote of 62–43, again with one Democratic representative joining the Republican majority.

Similar legislation has been passed in other states, but opponents of such measures argue that they’re unfair to athletes who identify as transgender and wish to compete in the gender category that fits their identity.

“We don’t need politicians inflaming their political culture wars by making broad, uninformed decisions about an extremely small number of vulnerable children that are already handled by a robust system that relies on parents, schools, and sports organizations,” Mr. Cooper said of HB 574.

Twenty-two states have implemented bans on males competing in women’s sports including: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Further justifying his veto, the Democratic governor said, “Republican governors in other states have vetoed similar bills because they hurt their states’ reputation and economy and because they are neither fair nor needed.”

Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem had asked for changes to a 2021 bill barring male athletes from women’s sports that were rejected, preventing the bill from passing. She requested and passed a revised version of the legislation the following year. Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum similarly objected to a transgender sports bill in 2021 but signed two bills this year that bar male athletes from competing in women’s sports.

Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also both vetoed bills that would have blocked male athletes from competing in women’s sports. However, both Republican governors’ vetoes were overridden and the bans went into effect.

North Carolina lawmakers could try to override Mr. Cooper’s veto. North Carolina Republicans held a veto-proof supermajority in the state Senate before the start of this legislative session and gained a supermajority in the state House of Representatives this spring after State Rep. Tricia Cotham changed her party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.

Republican Rep. Erin Paré, one of HB 574’s primary sponsors, has already indicated a veto override attempt is forthcoming.

“As a mom of two teenagers who are both competitive athletes, I am not only a primary sponsor of this bill, but also an advocate for preserving the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring a safe and fair playing field,” Ms. Paré said in a Wednesday press statement. “NC Republicans will swiftly override this veto.”

NC Governor Vetoes Other Bills

In addition to vetoing HB 574, Mr. Cooper also vetoed SB 49, titled “The Parents Bill of Rights,” and HB 808, which regulates gender transitioning procedures for minors.

SB 49 specifies that parents have the right to direct the education and moral upbringing of their children and specifies that a parent has the right to “consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs,” the right to “seek a medical or religious exemption from immunization requirements,” and to access all textbooks and supplementary instructional materials being assigned to their child. The bill also imposes penalties against any state employee who “encourages, coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from his or her parent.”

Justifying his objection to SB 49, Mr. Cooper labeled the legislation a “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“Parents are the most essential educators for their children and their involvement must be encouraged, but this bill will scare te