The work to safeguard our Jewish and LGBTQ+ rights has never been more urgent. Now is the chance to contact YOUR lawmakers in North Carolina to advocate for pro-LGBTQ+ bills and fight against bad bills. 

The North Carolina 2025 Legislative session is from January 8 -July 31. While LGBTQ+ rights are being attacked federally, our states must uphold protections. The torah teaches us to pursue justice, tzedek tzedek tirdofThis value is clear: Jews must work for a world in which LGBTQ+ people and all people can live in dignity.  

Equal rights and basic dignity for LGBTQ+ North Carolinians need to be protected. Judaism teaches us that: 

  • The Jewish vlaue Rachamim – Compassion teaches us to have empathy, especially for those facing discrimination, and to take action because everyone deserves to live safely and in dignity. 
  • Every person is created b’Tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image. 
  • The principle of pikuach nefesh – saving lives – demands that we act to protect LGBTQ+ youth and adults from harm. 

Resources

2025 Bills to Watch

(Information from the Trans Formations Project)

HB 171: Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI (-)

This bill attempts to ban the promotion, funding, and implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within state agencies and local governments including in hiring practices and training programs.

HB 244: Pride Flag Ban (-)

This bill attempts to ban the display of all flags other than the US flag, the North Carolina state flag, and municipal flags. This bill would prohibit the public display of identity flags such as the Pride Flag and is an infringement on Freedom of Speech.

HB 519/SB 759: Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights (-)

This bill seeks to expand parental access to their child’s medical records, examinations, and treatments, including discussions about gender identity. This bill would allow for the forced outing of LGBTQ+ youth.

SB 516: Trans Bathroom Ban and ID blocker (-)

This bill would bar trans people from using unisex restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters that correspond with their gender identities. It would also define gender as strictly “male” and “female” according to a person’s sex assigned at birth and would prohibit the modification of sex markers on birth certificates and drivers licenses.

SB 442/HB 560: Parents Protection Act (-)

This bill defines child abuse and neglect to exclude the refusal to acknowledge a child’s gender identity. It also prevents adoption agencies from selecting foster homes for transgender foster children where their identity will be respected and affirmed.

HB 595: Parental rights over curriculum and books (-)

This bills seeks to further restrict instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality by banning these discussions in kindergarten through sixth grade and only allowing them in seventh through twelfth grade with parent permission. This bill also makes it more difficult for schools to add new library and classroom books and allows more opportunities for public objection to these new additions. Additionally, it allows librarians to be charged with crime for “disseminating harmful materials to minors,” which is vague in nature and leaves room up for interpretation.

Pro-LGBTQ+ Laws

  • Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents in adoption and foster care
  • Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment and public accommodations
  • Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ state employees.
  • However, the state explicitly excludes transition-related healthcare in their state employee health benefits
  • Anti-bullying law protecting LGBTQ+ students
  • Conversion therapy ban covering LGBTQ+ youth
  • Protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system
  • State allows for changing of gender marker on driver’s licenses and birth certificates
  • Transgender Inclusive Health Benefits for State Employees

Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

  • No second-parent adoption for unmarried couples or confirmatory adoption
  • State family leave policies do not include inclusive definitions of spouse/partner/parent/child
  • No recognition for parents using assisted reproduction
  • No nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in housing, jury service, or credit/lending
  • The state has targeted religious exemption law that permits state and local officials to decline to marry couples of whose marriage they disapprove
  • No nondiscrimination law protecting LGBTQ+ students
  • State curriculum not required to be LGBTQ+-inclusive
  •  “Don’t Say Gay” law barring or explicitly restricting educators from discussing LGBTQ people or issues in schools
  • State Law prevents transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity
  • Forced outing of transgender youth in schools
  • No law providing LGBTQ-inclusive insurance protections 
  • Ban on best practice medical care for transgender youth
  • No “shield” law or policy protecting access to transgender 
  • No law providing LGBTQ inclusive insurance protections
  • State Medicaid Policy limiting coverage for transgender people
  • No hate crimes law protecting LGBTQ+ people
  • Gay/trans panic defense is not banned
  • No nondiscrimination law for Jury Service 
  • State criminalizes transmission of HIV
  • State law requires publication of name change announcement and additional restrictions for individuals with a criminal record. 
  • No gender-neutral options on driver’s license or birth certificates