NASW-NC Opposes Anti-LGBTQ Bills

The National Association of Social Workers North Carolina stands in opposition of the three anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed in the North Carolina General Assembly – two targeting transgender individuals (for denial of affirming health care and for exclusion from school sports), and one that would grant medical providers a broad “license to discriminate.”

The NASW Code of Ethics states, “Social workers should not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability.” All three bills go against social workers’ Code of Ethical Practice by discriminating against LGBTQ+ individuals.

NASW-NC Opposes the Following Bills:

HB 358, the “Save Women’s Sports Act” seeks to ban transgender youth from participating in sports. Research demonstrates this exclusionary approach is likely to cause harm to the health and well-being of youth.

NASW-NC Executive Director Valerie Arendt said, “Despite increased public awareness, transgender people face severe levels of social judgment, stigma, verbal harassment, and physical violence. Many transgender children and youth face harassment and violence in school environments, and those who do not feel safe or valued at school cannot reach their potential. We know that after passage of HB2 restricting transgender students’ access to facilities, calls to the Trans Suicide Prevention Lifeline doubled. This law would be detrimental to the transgender individuals of North Carolina.”

SB514 would prohibit transgender individuals under the age of 21 from receiving essential medical care. The bill would prohibit transgender young people from receiving any trans-affirming care and penalize medical professionals who provide transition-related care. It would also require state employees – such as teachers, administrators, or counselors – to “out” transgender students to their parents. In doing so, parents could then prevent their children from seeking mental health care. This bill also codifies the dangerous practice of anti-LGBTQ “conversion therapy,” the debunked practice of attempting to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Read NASW-NC’s information on supporting the Ban on Conversion Therapy.

SB515 would allow any medical provider to refuse care on the basis of conscience, including even providing information or referrals. This bill establishes a broad and dangerous “license to discriminate” against LGBTQ people, pregnant people, or people of differing faith backgrounds.

NASW-NC Supports Broad Protections for LGBTQ+ People in North Carolina

A group of lawmakers in North Carolina recently introduced four bills aimed at providing broad protections for LGBTQ+ people in the state. The package consists of three bills that Democratic lawmakers failed to pass previously.

HB450 would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ North Carolinians on a number of fronts, including employment, housing, and education.

HB451 would fully repeal the controversial anti-trans bathroom bill known as House Bill 2

HB452 would ban conversion therapy among minors and disabled adults. NASW-NC supported this bill in 2019. Read more here.

SB 439 The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would increase penalties for any crimes committed based on a victim’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin, origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation of the victim or a person or group associated with the victim.

Learn more and take action on these bills here.