Stay up to date with WRAL’s Gender issues news and reporting coverage
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist
We're still more than two years away from the 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A. However, potential changes to the Olympic gender policy could determine who's eligible to compete.
"You either have XX or XY chromosomes," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote Feb. 20 on X. "Those are the options."
Grace Abels, PolitiFact reporter
Both nationwide and in North Carolina, women are making 84 cents for every dollar paid to men, according to the Department of Labor.
The gap varies by location and job description, but the gender disparity remains.
Ali Ingersoll, WRAL Data Journalist
The state of Florida is making changes to bar transgender people from putting gender identity, instead of birth gender, on driver's licenses.
Bolstered by his famous name and family's legacy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign of conspiracy theories has gained an electoral and financial foothold.
Madison Czopek and Katie Sanders, PolitiFact reporters
The most popular PolitiFact NC fact checks of the year fall into one of two categories: claims about liberal ambitions or explanations of unexpected events -- in and out of politics.
Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter
A recently introduced wrestling coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is taking heat for comments made about female students on campus.
Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter
Much has been said and studied over the years about the pay gap between men and women in the workplace. One Harvard professor's research seeks to explain why the divide persists.
At least 20 other states have already passed laws banning some or all gender-affirming care for transgender teens.
Students planned a walk-out on Wednesday afternoon in protest of a policy that could potentially out young members of the LGBTQIA+ community to their parents.
Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter
The Moore County Schools Board of Education on Monday passed the Parents' Bill of Rights policy.
North Carolina Republicans have filed a flurry of bills aimed at transgender youth as they look to capitalize on their newly attained supermajority.
Republicans in the North Carolina legislature have filed at least six bills this week that would impact transgender participation in high school sports and healthcare for transgender minors.
North Carolina Republicans promoted at a news conference a bill to bar transgender high school students from playing sports based on their gender identity. Former UNC women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell also spoke in support.
Brian Murphy, WRAL reporter
Marianne Rafferty explains why rising temperatures are creating a gender imbalance among sea turtles and a look at its already devastating effects.
The North Carolina Senate on Wednesday voted to approve the so-called Parents' Bill of Rights--a measure that has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates who say it puts some students at risk.
Adam Owens, WRAL anchor/reporter, and Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer
The bill would ban any mention of sexual orientation or gender identity from the curriculum for kindergarten through third grade.
The North Carolina Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on House Bill 755--better known by sponsors as the Parents' Bill of Rights.
Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief
The proposal now heads to another Senate committee.
Under the proposed legislation, schools would have to notify parents if students seek to use a different pronoun to describe themselves or make use of counseling at the school, according to the draft bill.
North Carolina Republican leaders unveiled state legislation Tuesday that would limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
"Parents' Bill of Rights" bill would also require a range of parental notices, including if any student--from kindergarten through high school--wants to use different pronouns to describe themselves.
Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter
