North Carolina on track to become the 18th state to define “woman” in law
RALEIGH, NC — Today Independent Women celebrates the North Carolina Legislature for the passage of HB 805 as a major win in the legislative effort advocating for North Carolina to codify the definitions of female and male terms in state law to prevent sex discrimination and protect legislative transparency.
North Carolina is now on track to become the 18th state to define “woman” and “man” in law, codifying Independent Women’s model Stand with Women legislation. The bill now heads to Governor Josh Stein’s desk. He could become the first Democrat governor to sign legislation to define “woman” and break a streak of Democrat governors vetoing similar legislation. If he does veto the bill, the legislature will have to override his veto to ensure women’s safety, privacy, and fairness is safeguarded for generations to come.
Payton McNabb, Independent Women sports ambassador and former North Carolina high school athlete, said: “I was permanently injured in North Carolina because of the lunacy of gender ideology. By passing common sex-based definitions, North Carolina is becoming a safer and more sensible state for women and girls. I commend the legislature for their leadership in passing this bill and ask Governor Stein to please sign HB 805 into law.”
McNabb has played an integral role in the fight for women’s sports in North Carolina following the devastating injury she suffered at the hands of a trans-identifying male on the opposing team during a volleyball match.
McNabb first spoke out about her life-altering injury caused by a male athlete in 2023 where she testified before North Carolina lawmakers in support of HB 574, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, alongside Riley Gaines. Since then, her testimony brought more national attention to the issue, and North Carolina’s Stand With Women legislation is the next critical next step to defend women’s single-sex spaces.
Independent Women Features, the grassroots storytelling and original journalism project of Independent Women, recently highlighted McNabb’s story in a documentary — “Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb Turned Tragedy Into Triumph.
If HB 805 is signed into law by Governor Stein, North Carolina would join Kansas, Tennessee, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Georgia, and Texas in adopting laws inspired by Independent Women’s sex-definition model—positively affecting the lives of over 49 million women and girls.
For media inquiries or to book Payton McNabb please email [email protected].
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Independent Women fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well-intended, but actually preserve and advance opportunity and well-being.
