North Carolina Senate Passes Anti-LGBT Bill In The Name Of ‘Parents Rights’

The Republican-controlled Senate in North Carolina passed a law sanctioning public school teachers from calling students by new names or pronouns without first telling the student’s parents.

The proposal passed the Senate 29-18. It is heading for the South Carolina House, where Republicans remain one short of a supermajority. One Democrat would have to be swayed to the right to pass the bill.

While the bill looks unlikely to pass, the passage of the bill adds another example of legislative marginalization of the LGBT community.

Senators overlooked mental health professionals’ warnings claiming the law would be an undue burden on trans-identifying students.

Proponents of the bill have said that it is necessary to keep school curriculums in the hands of parents. Bill sponsor Sen. Amy Galey, a Republican from Alamance County, defended the bill on the Senate floor, saying the bill would not hurt LGBT students.

“Parents are the primary decision-makers with respect to their minor children, not their school or even the children themselves,” Galey said. “Parental rights are most important in matters of medical and health-related decisions.”

Democrats likened the proposal to Florida’s bill that was popularized as “Don’t Say Gay.” Senate Democrats offered another that they say protects both parents and students.