North Carolina governor vetoes ‘mean-spirited’ anti-trans and DEI bills
Democratic governor Josh Stein. (Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)
Democratic governor Josh Stein. (Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)
North Carolina Democratic governor Josh Stein has vetoed “mean-spirited” bills targeting trans rights and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
Stein, who is also pro-choice, vetoed three anti-DEI measures and one that would target trans rights.
The vetoed bill include Senate Bill 558, which focused on UNC System schools and community colleges, Senate Bill 227, which targeted K-12 education, House Bill 171, aimed at state and local government agencies and House Bill 805, which combined a collection of social agenda priorities including targeting trans individuals and providing parents with expanded rights to challenge school library books.
‘Stoking culture wars’
He said of his decision: “At a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises and people need shorter lines at the DMV, the legislature failed to pass a budget and, instead, wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us.
“These mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education. Therefore, I am vetoing them. I stand ready to work with the legislature when it gets serious about protecting people and addressing North Carolinians’ pressing concerns.”
The vetoed bills align with President Donald Trump’s agenda to dismantle DEI practices and target trans rights.
Trump has boasted about getting rid of so -called “woke cr*p”, including in which is DEI practices, which help provide equity for marginalised groups particularly in work environments.
He has also taken to continue his attack on LGBTQ+ people, particularly trans and non-binary people, including an order declaring that there are “only two sexes.”
However, in a small victory for the LGBTQ+ community, an anti-trans measure in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act was dropped at the last minute.
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