(The Center Square) – Recognition of only two sexes, including how to define, is in North Carolina legislation to be sent to first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein on Friday.

Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors, known also as House Bill 805, passed 65-43 in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening and 29-16 in the Senate on Tuesday evening. Notable to be in favor were Democrats Dante Pittman of Wilson County in the House and Dan Blue of Wake County, Paul Lowe of Forsyth County and Gladys Robinson of Guilford County in the Senate.

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Democrats in favor is notable because the majority of the party, both state and nationally, has favored policies that support the notion that a peron’s chosen gender may be different from the one assigned at birth. For example, in many congressional hearings, Democrats or their nominees have struggled to answer the question, “What is a woman?”

In declaring there are two sexes, the bill language says it is “without regard to an individual’s psychological, chosen or subjective experience of gender.” It defines gender identity as “a term that means an individual’s self-declared identity that may not align with biological sex and being a subjective internal sense, shall not be treated as legally or biologically equivalent to sex.”

The House agreed to Senate modifications of religious objections for school assignments; parental limits on school library books that can be borrowed; and library book databases in each school district.

If enacted, the law would become effective Jan. 1.

The law aligns with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, both in giving definitions and in the effort to protect women’s spaces. One of his guests for the State of the Union was Payton McNabb, a former high school athlete in the state.

“I was permanently injured in North Carolina because of the lunacy of gender ideology,” McNabb said in a release from the Independent Women’s Forum immediately after the General Assembly passage. “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 HB805 into law.”

McNabb joined Riley Gaines, the Kentucky all-American swimmer who makes Tennessee home, is lobbying the Legislature for the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act in 2023. Gaines, mostly unknown outside collegiate swimming during her career, has become the face of the fight for protecting women’s spaces.

On social media, Gaines wrote Wednesday night, “All that’s preventing North Carolina from becoming the 18th state to define the word ‘woman’ in law is Governor Stein’s signature. We’re waiting and watching.”

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There were no Republicans in either chamber against the measure. If presented as intended on Friday, that would be Day 0 toward 10 days for Stein to either sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature.

Should he veto, the Legislature can try to override. Each chamber would have to give three-fifths approval among those voting. The Senate is 30-20 Republican majority; the House is 71-49 Republican majority.