North Dakota Gov. Burgum signs law curbing gender ideology in schools

Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill into law on Monday that will legally curb gender ideology in public schools by requiring teachers to inform parents if their children identify themselves as transgender.

The law was previously had so much support that it was approved by an overwhelming veto-proof majority in both chambers of the state legislature.

North Dakota Governor signs new bill requiring teachers to inform parents if their child is transgender.

Gov. Doug Burgum [R] signed House Bill 1522 earlier today and it will go into effect immediately.

Included in the bill is a ban on K12 trans students from using bathrooms… pic.twitter.com/1kt4AYBFKf

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 8, 2023

Effective immediately, House Bill 1522 mandates that teachers in public schools must not hide or withhold information about a student's transgender status from their parent or legal guardian. It also requires schools to restrict students from using bathrooms that do not align with their "biological sex," although they may provide separate facilities for transgender students with parental consent.

The bill also prohibits school districts from enforcing policies that either require or prohibit the use of a student's chosen pronouns.

Burgum vetoed a previous bill because he was concerned that the language could affect the First Amendment. According to the governor, this approved law demands the adaptation of bathrooms and balances the rights and interests of students, parents, and teachers.

According to a statement made by Burgum on Monday, House Bill 1522 reaffirms the First Amendment right to free speech, demands accommodations for restrooms, balances the rights and interests of students, parents, and teachers, and mostly formalizes already existing practices. The bill also eliminates problematic language from the previously vetoed and sustained SB 2231, as reported by North Dakota publication InForum.

Burgum ratified Law 1474 which establishes the definition of man and woman according to the sex at birth, giving legal weight to biological origin above any sex reassignment or self-perception that individuals may have.

He also signed Law 1297, which prohibits North Dakota residents who have changed their gender identity from modifying the definition of their sex on their birth certificates.

In April, Burgum signed a law criminalizing transgender surgery in minors, making it illegal to provide gender-change care to individuals under 18. They also prohibit transgender athletes from competing in female sports. This issue has generated controversy nationwide because men who identify themselves as women have a clear physical advantage when competing in female sports.

In fact, the International Association of Athletics Federations recently banned the participation of transgender individuals in international female competitions.

Currently, there are similar laws in 19 other states in the United States, although a new regulation by the Biden government aims to illegalize these types of general prohibitions. This regulation will likely provoke a confrontation between states led by conservative governors and the federal government.