Anti-LGBTQ+ Policy in Schools
LGBTQ+ students have the right to a safe and inclusive educational environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Unfortunately, those rights are being threatened by a national wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country and in North Carolina. Much of this legislation negatively impacts the rights, freedoms, and safety of LGBTQ+ youth. Instead of limiting resources, education, and opportunities, our schools should protect and support all students to learn and thrive.
HB805 — Anti-Trans/School Censorship Bill
HB 805 is an anti-trans bill that impacts transgender and nonbinary people throughout the state, while also limiting the curriculum and materials schools can provide to their students.
House Bill 805 includes multiple provisions targeting transgender and nonbinary communities, as well as schools, in the state. These provisions include:
Allowing parents to prohibit their child from checking out certain books in the school library for any reason.
Allowing parents to pull their child from any classroom activity or discussion that they believe burdens their religion.
Requiring schools to house children on field trips according to their assigned sex at birth.
Governor Stein’s veto was overridden on July 29, 2025, making HB805 law. HB805 also includes other harmful provisions that impact transgender and nonbinary communities beyond school settings.
Bills that became law in 2025:
Ongoing Laws Still in Effect:
SB49 (2023)
Public schools are required to inform parents prior to changing a student’s name or pronouns used in school records or by school personnel, effectively outing students against their will to potentially unsafe environments. Schools are not allowed to provide any instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality in kindergarten-4th grade.
HB574 (2023)
Transgender youth deserve the opportunity to engage in sports in an environment that fosters inclusivity and understanding. This law takes that away from transgender girls by banning them from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity.
L.W. v. Skrmetti/U.S. v. Skrmetti
In April 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, Lambda Legal, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP sued the State of Tennessee to block the state’s ban on medically necessary gender-affirming care for Tennessee’s transgender youth.
Samantha and Brian Williams of Nashville, TN and their 15-year-old transgender daughter challenged a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for transgender people under 18. Tennessee is home to over 3,000 transgender adolescents and the health care banned by this law is supported by the entire mainstream of the medical community.
On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court, by a vote of 6-3, allowed the Tennessee law to remain in effect. Subsequently, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case.
M.K. v. Stephen Fisher
On February 5, 2024, the ACLU of North Carolina and attorney Charles Johnson of Robins, Bradshaw & Hinson, PA filed a lawsuit against the Cleveland County Board of Education, alleging violations of the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and challenged the Board’s decision to ban a student group from playing a quiz game that highlights LGBTQ+ individuals' contributions to society. The Board deemed the activity "indecent," while allowing other student groups, such as the Bible Club, to discuss their topics freely.
On May, 8, 2025, the Court approved a settlement. The settlement required the Cleveland County Board of Education to permit M.K. and the Activism Club to participate in the game. It required the Board to post a statement on its website apologizing to M.K. for violating her First Amendment rights and acknowledging the importance of the LGBTQ+ community.
These bills are part of a troubling trend to censor, punish, and roll back the civil liberties of marginalized communities. They endanger the physical and mental wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth throughout the state. These new laws can make going back to school even more stressful, frightening, and uncertain for LGBTQ+ kids.