NC Assembly moves closer to passing bills protecting parents raising kids according to birth sex

The North Carolina Assembly on Tuesday moved closer to passing its version of the Parents Protection Action, a bill that if signed into law would make sure parents cannot be accused of abuse or neglect for raising their child according to birth sex. 

House Bill 560 and companion Senate Bill 442 were approved Tuesday by multiple committees. The Democrat-controlled Senate plans to take its bill up on the floor Wednesday, according to the News&Observer newspaper.

Thursday is the Assembly’s “crossover” date for this year’s legislative session, or the day by which a bill must be approved by one chamber to remain in consideration for the rest of the session, the newspaper also reports.

The bills also state parents cannot lose custody of their children if there is disagreement of their sex when born and a potential gender identity claim and that medical decisions are the parents’ fundamental rights, according to the bill. In addition, potential adoptions or foster care would not be tied to prospective parents having to affirm gender identity.

Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, a primary sponsor of the bill, said bypassing parents leaves kids without support and pointed to analysis of similar statutes in Texas that she says shows better outcomes with parental involvement.

“Blue and red parents support this bill,” Balkcom also said.

Republican state Rep. Dean Arp said: "Parents have the right to make these choices with their children.”

Democrat state Rep. Deb Butler said the bill is "about politics, not health care,” arguing that if passes in the Assembly and signed into law minors would be stripped of rights."