Raleigh, N.C. — Wednesday April 30, The NC Values Coalition held a press conference this morning in support of two controversial bills: House Bill 606, which would extend the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims by individuals who have detransitioned, and the Women’s Safety and Protection Act (Senate Bill 516/House Bill 791), which seeks to define access to certain public spaces based on biological sex.
Speaking at the press event, Tami Fitzgerald, Executive Director of NC Values Coalition, emphasized the organization’s goal to “roll back the harmful effects of gender ideology” in the state. “We must protect women and girls from policies that deprive them of safety and privacy,” Fitzgerald said. “And we must create a path to justice for detransitioners who have been taken advantage of and are now suffering irreversible harm.”
Personal Stories from Detransitioners
Two detransitioners, Prisha Mosely and Elle Palmer, shared personal stories of regret and lasting medical complications following gender transition interventions.
“Ten years ago, I was harmed in this state by doctors who believed me when I said I had been born wrong,” Mosely said. “The doctors are selling a scam.”
HB 606 aims to extend the statute of limitations for detransitioners to file medical malpractice lawsuits to 10 years, citing that the full scope of physical and psychological harm may not emerge until long after procedures are performed.
Advocates Call for Protection of Female Spaces
The press conference also included supporters of the Women’s Safety and Protection Act, which would define male and female based on biological sex in laws governing public accommodations, including restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters in schools, prisons, and crisis centers.
Among the speakers was Payton McNabb, a former high school athlete who suffered a traumatic brain injury during a girls’ volleyball match in 2022 when a biologically male athlete hit the ball into her face. More recently, McNabb said she was removed from her sorority and faced harassment after confronting a male in a women’s bathroom at Western Carolina University—a case she ultimately won with the school.
“No woman or girl should ever have to go through what I did for telling the truth,” McNabb said.
Other speakers included Stacy Metcalf from Moms for Liberty, Chloe Button, an 8th grader from Buncombe County, and Chloe Howe from NC Values Coalition, who shared the story of Asheville high schooler Ruby Leis.
Background and Legislative Context
Proponents of HB 606 argue that many individuals who undergo gender transition procedures as minors or young adults may not fully understand the long-term effects, which can include infertility, psychological trauma, and increased medical complications. By extending the statute of limitations to ten years, lawmakers hope to give those affected adequate time to pursue legal recourse.
The Women’s Safety and Protection Act would restrict access to certain facilities based on sex assigned at birth, not gender identity. Supporters argue this is necessary to ensure the privacy and safety of women and girls in vulnerable environments such as schools, prisons, and shelters.
The bills are currently under consideration in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Video of the full press conference can be viewed:
