THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

The anti-trans measures ban gender-affirming care for minors, restrict how gender identity can be discussed in schools, and stop transgender athletes from competing on girls' sports teams.

Addressing the veto overrides, Cooper said, "These are the wrong priorities, especially when they should be working nights and weekends if necessary to get a budget passed by the end of the month."

In a statement Windy City Times received, Campaign for Southern Equality Director of Impact & Innovation Allison Scott said, "We need to call this what it is: An all-out attack on queer and transgender youth in North Carolina. The NCGA is going out of its way to blatantly enact the far-Right's anti-LGBTQ wish list, causing harm and discrimination to young people in every area of life, from school to the doctor's office to the athletic fields. You would have thought that the NCGA would have learned its lesson from HB2 and the havoc it caused for our state and our communities."

Families of transgender youth in North Carolina can now request support from the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP), a regional project of the Campaign for Southern Equality led in partnership in North Carolina with Equality NC. The project helps trans youth whose access to gender-affirming care has been disrupted by government policies. Through STYEP, families can receive accurate information about pertinent legislation; patient navigation to identify out-of-state gender-affirming care providers; and emergency grants of $500 for immediate needs, including travel, medication and other logistics. Families can request support at www.southernequality.org/NCResources.

—Andrew Davis