On July 29, 2025, the North Carolina General Assembly overrode Democratic Governor Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 805, enacting broad restrictions aimed at transgender people and parental control over schools. What began as a bipartisan effort to curb online sexual exploitation evolved into a controversial culture‑war vehicle loaded with anti‑LGBTQ+ provisions
From Pornography Reform to Two‑Sexes‑Only Law
Originally introduced as a measure focused on age‑verification for explicit content online, HB 805 garnered initial bipartisan support. That all changed in the Senate, where lawmakers tacked on sweeping language defining legal sex strictly by reproductive anatomy and genetics, explicitly excluding gender identity from state policy.
Under the new law, only two sexes are acknowledged in North Carolina. Trans individuals must submit their original birth certificate, and incarcerated people are barred from accessing gender‑affirming care via state funds. The statute of limitations for malpractice suits over gender‑transition procedures for adults is extended to ten years.
The Tipping Vote: A Democrat Crosses Party Lines
Unusually for a veto override, one Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Nasif Majeed (D‑Mecklenburg), joined Republicans in supporting the measure, delivering the narrow House margin required: 72–48. The Senate followed with a 30–20 vote. His decision drew sharp criticism from Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates, particularly given that freshman Rep. Dante Pittman had resisted pressure to switch sides.
Statewide, advocates say Majeed’s switch made a devastating difference:
“I had some moral issues… those sentiments spoke to me,” he later said. One community leader called the bill “mean-spirited,” arguing it reinforced institutional harm against vulnerable trans people.
What the Law Does And What It Targets
Civil liberties advocates warn the implications of HB 805 go far beyond definitions:
- It restricts gender‑affirming care in prisons, even though no such surgeries have occurred historically.
- Schools must publish catalogs of library books and allow parents to block their children from checking out certain titles.
- Parents can opt kids out of activities based on religious or moral objections, prohibit overnight dorm-sharing by “biological sex,” and shield instruction on LGBTQ+ topics.
Critics argue these provisions open the door to censoring queer stories, deadnaming transgender students, and delegitimizing their identities.
A Broader Backlash: Beyond Trans Issues
HB 805 wasn’t the only veto override lawmakers enacted. On the same day, the legislature passed laws allowing armed personnel in private schools, repealing Duke Energy’s interim carbon‑reduction goals, boosting ICE cooperation, and curtailing DEI programs. In total, 8 of Stein’s 14 vetoes fell in the override session.
Governor Stein blasted the session as a “divisive distraction,” urging lawmakers to focus on the state budget, not broad‑sweeping culture‑war bills.
The Bottom Line
North Carolina now braces for legal action. Civil‑rights groups aim to challenge the constitutionality of the gender definitions, funding restrictions, and school provisions. The state’s LGBTQ+ community vows continued resistance. As HB 805 takes effect, many fear it will contribute to increased stigma, censorship, and barriers to care.
TransVitae stands in solidarity, committed to spotlighting these changes, elevating trans voices, and sharing resources for affected communities in North Carolina.
