NC GOP lawmaker says she’ll propose law to restrict attire for trans teachers

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

State Rep. Erin Paré is proposing legislation to regulate what transgender school employees wear in school after she says the Wake County school system hired a transgender music teacher.

In posts Monday on Facebook and X, Paré said she had received emails and phone calls about “the hiring of a transgender biological male, who dresses as a woman music teacher, in one of our local elementary schools.” Paré, a Wake County Republican, said she had contacted the Wake school system to raise concerns about the teacher’s attire on campus.

“May be time to introduce a bill requiring gender-appropriate professional attire for public school employees, as WCPSS does not have a policy addressing this issue — as far as I can tell,” Paré said in her Facebook post. “It is important that WCPSS policies regarding employee dress and appearance should protect children from being exposed to more complex and mature gender-identity questions and concepts at too young of an age.

“WCPSS can treat employees with dignity and respect, and at the same ensure young children aren’t exposed to age inappropriate concepts.”

The Wake County school system responded with a statement Tuesday to The News & Observer.

“Under Board Policy 1710, the district prohibits unlawful discrimination while taking into account all requirements in state and federal law,” Wake’s statement said.

Paré’s comments come at a time when the Trump administration has been launching a campaign to roll back protections for transgender people, including signing an executive order declaring that the U.S. government only recognizes two sexes, male and female.

But Rep. Julia Greenfield, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, said in a Monday Facebook post that she was disappointed in Paré’s comments. Greenfield said her Republican colleague is sending “a subtle but unmistakable implication that a transgender teacher is somehow a danger to children simply because they are transgender.”

“There is no evidence presented of misconduct, inappropriate behavior, or failure to do the job,” Greenfield said. “The concern appears to be based solely on this person’s identity and appearance. Public officials should be careful not to fuel fear or suspicion about an individual without facts to support it.”

Greenfield said teachers should be judged by how they treat their students and not by their gender identity or how they express themselves.

“When elected officials imply that someone’s identity alone makes them a concern for children, we aren’t protecting kids — we’re teaching them to fear people who are different,” Greenfield said. “If our priority is truly protecting children, let’s protect them from bullying, discrimination, and misinformation while ensuring every classroom is led by caring, qualified educator.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2026 at 4:51 PM with the headline “NC GOP lawmaker says she’ll propose law to restrict attire for trans teachers.”