RALEIGH, NC – A new legislative proposal from State Representative Allison Dahle (D-Wake) has sparked both impassioned support and staunch opposition across North Carolina. The bill, House Bill 502, formally titled the Gender-Affirming Rights Act, seeks to repeal existing state prohibitions on gender transition procedures for minors and reestablish protections for gender-diverse individuals seeking health care.
Filed on March 24, 2025, the bill challenges the state’s previous stance, which banned gender-affirming medical care for individuals under 18 and prohibited the use of state funds for such treatments. Dahle’s legislation represents a shift toward recognizing gender identity decisions as fundamental rights and reframes the conversation around bodily autonomy and health care access.
What the Bill Proposes
House Bill 502, if enacted, would:
• Repeal Article IN of Chapter 90, known as the “Prohibition of Gender Transition Procedures on Minors Act.”
• Eliminate state restrictions on the use of public funds for gender-affirming care.
• Introduce a new section to state law, officially titled the Gender-Affirming Rights Act, defining gender-affirming care as medically necessary services prescribed by licensed health care professionals.
• Declare that “every individual has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about their own gender and related health care.”
The bill includes inclusive language, affirming the rights of individuals who are transgender, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, and gender diverse.
“This legislation is about ensuring every North Carolinian — especially our youth — can live authentically, safely, and with dignity,” Rep. Dahle stated during a press conference on Monday. “The government should not interfere with private medical decisions made between patients, their families, and their doctors.”
Repealing the Parents’ Bill of Rights?
While not mentioned in the bill itself, critics have connected HB 502 with a broader effort to overturn the North Carolina Parents’ Bill of Rights, a 2023 law that expanded parental oversight in schools, including restrictions on gender identity discussions and student privacy protections.
Opponents argue that repealing existing protections for minors could allow irreversible medical procedures at too young an age. In a statement, the conservative advocacy group Carolina Family Forum condemned the bill, saying:
“Representative Dahle’s proposal prioritizes ideology over children’s safety. Minors deserve protection from experimental procedures, not encouragement to undergo them.”
The Medical and Ethical Landscape
Supporters of the bill, however, cite leading medical organizations — including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society — which recommend gender-affirming care as safe and essential for youth experiencing gender dysphoria, when administered under professional guidance and in accordance with family decisions.
Dr. Anika Patel, a pediatric endocrinologist based in Durham, told The Bill City Citizen:
“This isn’t about pushing anyone into treatment. It’s about giving families the legal space to make informed, compassionate decisions without state interference. The mental health benefits are well-documented.”
Impact on Bill City and Beyond
Locally, HB 502 has reignited an ongoing discussion in Bill City, where LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have pushed for more inclusive policies in schools and healthcare. Local organizer and Bill City resident Julian Rivera, who works with the group Youth for Freedom NC, applauded the legislation:
“For our trans and nonbinary kids, this bill could mean the difference between being seen and being erased. Bill City has a chance to be a sanctuary for human rights in a state still finding its voice.”
Still, local opposition remains. School board member Karen Leathers expressed concern:
“We must balance compassion with caution. There is a real need for serious ethical debate when we’re talking about minors and irreversible treatments.”
What Comes Next
HB 502 now awaits referral to a committee in the North Carolina House. With a Republican majority, the bill faces an uphill battle — but it has already succeeded in drawing national attention.
Whether the Gender-Affirming Rights Act becomes law or not, its introduction signals a cultural and legislative flashpoint in the state’s evolving relationship with identity, medicine, and governance.
