By Aaliyah Pamplin
Students gathered in the James A. Thomas Hall Upchurch Auditorium for an exchange of ideas. The question before them: Should it be illegal to provide gender-affirming care for minors?
On Nov. 5th, the Braver Angels Debate offered a unique forum for students to engage in open dialogue. Unlike traditional political debates that often spark division, Braver Angels events are designed to foster understanding across differing viewpoints. The discussion was hosted in collaboration with the Student Government Association (SGA), inviting students, faculty, and staff to weigh in on one of today’s most debated healthcare issues… gender-affirming care for minors.
The Value of Conversation
As students filled the auditorium, the debate opened with a reminder of its guiding principles; respect, curiosity and, most importantly, listening.
“I just hope people listen to what their peers are saying,” said Cara Smith, a Braver Angels fellow who helped organize the event. “You don’t have to agree, but it’s important to hear all sides and understand where others are coming from.”
SGA President John Squier began the discussion, speaking against the resolution to make gender-affirming care for minors illegal. Over the course of the evening, about 15 students took turns at the microphone, with some speaking multiple times. Only three spoke in favor of making Gender-Affirming Care for Minors illegal, while most opposed it.
Some participants referenced data, shared personal beliefs and asked questions. Some saw gender-affirming care as a form of parental abuse, while others described it as medical support.
One of the final speakers approached the topic from both sides, said, “I don’t exactly have an opinion on one side over the other. I just want to bring up some considerations. Personally, I think not all gender-affirming care should be illegal, but not all legal either. There has to be a middle ground here.”
What Does North Carolina Law Say?
The debate’s topic wasn’t just theoretical, it also reflected real legislation in North Carolina and other states.
In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 808, titled An Act to Prohibit Gender Transition Procedures for Minors. The law bars healthcare providers from prescribing puberty blockers, administering hormone therapy, or performing surgeries intended to change a minor’s sex characteristics.
Supporters of the bill argue that minors are too young to make permanent decisions about their bodies. Opponents, such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, argue restrictions deny young people access to evidence-based healthcare.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, gender-affirming care includes social, psychological and medical support that helps individuals align their bodies with their gender identities. For minors, this care typically involves counseling and reversible treatments such as puberty blockers.
The World Health Organization classifies gender incongruence as a condition related to sexual health, not a mental disorder, underscoring global recognition of gender-affirming care as legitimate healthcare.
What Is a Braver Angels Debate and Why Do They Matter?
If you’ve never attended a Braver Angels Debate, you might not know what makes them different. Rather than aiming to “win” an argument, participants strive to listen, understand and find common ground.
Each debate typically lasts one to two hours, with speakers alternating between supporting and opposing sides. A chairperson guides the discussion, enforces respectful dialogue and ensures questions are addressed in an orderly manner.
“Just come and listen,” Smith said. “Sometimes, by listening to other people, you’re able to form your own opinion. By hearing other people talk, it could inspire you to say what you feel.”
Planning the Debate
Smith said she was initially nervous before the debates.
“These topics generate a lot of passion on both sides,” she said.“I was a little worried that with our procedure that we used, that it was going to go off of that procedure, which it did a little bit, but we tried to keep it on track.”
The debate topic wasn’t chosen at random. Braver Angels conducts a student survey with several potential topics, allowing participants to vote and share their stance. The team then selects a subject that is both popular and balanced between viewpoints.
“If everyone agrees, it’s not really a debate,” Smith said. “We want both sides to be heard.”
Planning began in August, with the team spending about six weeks recruiting speakers, finalizing logistics and promoting the event. The collaboration with SGA came naturally, given both organizations’ shared commitment to student engagement.
“I reached out to John Squier from SGA about three weeks before the event,” Smith said. “He helped secure opening speakers, and he did say that he would do either one, whichever one we needed, so he was very gracious and took the affirmation because we couldn’t find anybody.”
Looking Ahead
The Braver Angels team plans to host more debates in the spring semester, both campus-wide and in classroom settings. Smith said faculty interest continues to grow across departments, including sociology, business and economics.
As national conversations on hot-button topics persist, events like these offer something often missing… A chance to talk with each other, not at each other.
Reflecting on the event, Squier said, “I think it was a wonderful experience… One of the questions on the survey was ‘were you able to explain the other different viewpoints? If you’re saying that you’re not really able to explain the other side, then what did you gain from this is the question I would beg.”
Sources:
- Interview with Cara Smith, Braver Angels Lead Fellow
- Braver Angels Debate Guide
- North Carolina General Assembly, House Bill 808 (2023)
- Association of American Medical Colleges: “What Is Gender-Affirming Care?”
- North Carolina Health News: “Bills Affecting Transgender Kids Move at N.C. General Assembly”
- World Health Organization: Gender Incongruence and Transgender Health
- KFF Gender-Affirming Care Policy Tracker
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Child Welfare Practice Guidance for LGBTQ+ Youth