North Carolina Governor Josh Stein issued a firm rejection of four controversial bills Friday that would have severely limited transgender rights and dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across the state. The governor, a Democrat and longtime supporter of civil rights, described the bills as “mean-spirited” and accused lawmakers of using vulnerable people as political pawns.
“These bills are not about solving real problems,” Stein said in a public statement. “They’re about division, distraction, and discrimination.”
The vetoes come at a time when Republican-led legislatures across the country are pushing similar legislation, often framing it as a response to “ideological overreach.” But for North Carolina’s transgender community and for DEI advocates in education and government, the bills represented a direct attack on their rights and safety.
Four Bills, One Message: Exclusion
One of the vetoed bills, House Bill 805, was initially framed as a measure to combat sexual exploitation. However, buried in the final version were provisions that would have barred incarcerated transgender people from receiving gender-affirming care, prohibited any changes to sex designation on state records like birth certificates, and reaffirmed legal recognition of only two genders, effectively erasing nonbinary people from state law.
Another three bills; House Bill 171, Senate Bill 227, and Senate Bill 364 took aim at DEI programs across public schools, universities, and state agencies. These bills would have dismantled DEI offices, restricted training on race and gender, and banned the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts” in classrooms. Critics say these moves would whitewash education, suppress inclusive dialogue, and punish programs meant to uplift historically marginalized communities.
“DEI is not a threat; it’s a tool,” said Jovita Lee of Advance Carolina. “It ensures that every student, employee, and citizen has access to opportunity, fairness, and safety. Dismantling it is a step backward.”
A Familiar Pattern in a New Era
The legislation echoes earlier efforts in North Carolina to marginalize LGBTQ+ people, including the infamous 2016 “bathroom bill” that barred trans people from using public restrooms aligned with their gender identity. That bill sparked nationwide boycotts and was partially repealed after fierce backlash.
For many transgender North Carolinians, the new legislation felt like history repeating itself, but this time, with more subtlety and a wider net.
“These bills didn’t come for us with slurs,” said Jamie Rodriguez, a trans student at UNC. “They came with bureaucracy and ‘family values,’ but the goal was still the same: to make us disappear.”
What Happens Next
Republican leadership in the state legislature has hinted at potential override votes, but doing so would require a three-fifths majority in both chambers. The GOP is currently just one vote shy in the House. A special session could be called as early as late July to try again.
For now, LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights organizations are treating the vetoes as a hard-fought win.
“Governor Stein didn’t just veto bad policy, he defended the humanity of trans people across this state,” said Kendra Mitchell of the NC LGBTQ+ Justice Alliance. “We’re still here, and we’re still fighting.”
The future of these bills remains uncertain, but the message from the governor’s office is clear: North Carolina will not use its laws to shame, silence, or erase its own people.
