As students, parents, educators, and allies, we believe that North Carolina’s schools should be safe, supportive environments where all students can learn and grow without fear of discrimination, harm, or forced disclosure of their identities. 

Yet, our state’s Senate Bill 49 puts the mental health and very physical safety of LGBTQ+ students in danger. Passed in August of last year, this “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” bill forces teachers to report transgender and nonbinary students to potentially unsupportive or even unsafe families. This bill has caused so much damage to queer students, friends, children, siblings–and it continues to hurt kids like us.

Our call to action is individual, institutional, and legislative.

1. Individual: We urge voters to educate themselves and support candidates who champion the rights, dignity, and safety of LGBTQ+ youth in North Carolina–not the ones who put us in harm’s way.
2. Institutional: We call on school districts to protect LGBTQ+ students by refusing to comply with policies that violate their federal protections under Title IX and place them at risk. Faculty and administrators should prioritize student safety and well-being over harmful mandates.
   1. It’s important to note that for educators, there is a way out. Page seven of the bill itself states that teachers do not need to report students “when a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in the child becoming an abused juvenile or neglected juvenile.” Additionally, Title IX, a federal law, prohibits gender-based discrimination in schools. We, as well as our partners at the nonprofit Hope For Teens, would love to continue this conversation with district leaders about safer schools.
   2. We urge schools to implement policies that actively support LGBTQ+ students, including clear anti-discrimination measures, safe reporting channels, and educational programs to foster inclusivity. 
3. Legislative: We call on North Carolina’s lawmakers to repeal SB 49 immediately. This law violates students’ rights to privacy, safety, and dignity, and has no place in a state that claims to support its youth.

Senate Bill 49 is hurting our community, and it’s time we made our voices heard. Especially with the election just around the corner, now is a critical time to stand up and stand together for a North Carolina that values and protects its LGBTQ+ students, ensuring they have the right to a safe, inclusive, and affirming school environment. Please sign this petition to demand change, protect student rights, and create a safer future for all students in our state.

-SHINE North Carolina

Watch this short video: this is what SB 49 means to us.

You can learn more about Senate Bill 49 through our posts, research and resources at instagram.com/shine.nc24.