4 Big Updates on Anti-LGBTQ Legislation from the SC Statehouse
The past week has been a challenging one for the LGBTQ+ community in South Carolina, with a lot of moving pieces as anti-LGBTQ+ forces work overtime to pass discriminatory legislation this year.
We wanted to be sure you were up-to-date on what's been happening at the statehouse and had information on how you can take action now. Please read on for four things that have happened at the statehouse in the past week, and act now.
Senate Subcommittee Advances S.531, Anti-Transgender Student Sports Bill
Today a subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee advanced S.531, a bill that would prohibit transgender youth in middle school, high school, and college from participating in student sports. The bill is the same as measure that were rejected six times in the 2021 legislative session. It now heads to the full SC Senate Education Committee, and we need to take action to stop it. Please join us in sending a message to the full committee and urge them to vote NO on S.531.
Advocates Speak Out Against H.4608, Anti-Transgender Student Sports Bill
On Thursday, March 10, advocates gathered for the SC United Grassroots Lobby Day, and we were so grateful to see so many people attend and lend their voice to the movement for LGBTQ+ dignity and equality. We kicked off the day by testifying against H.4608, an anti-transgender student sports bill. So many people came out to testify that the subcommittee adjourned without voting on the bill. Now we have to keep the pressure on. Click here to send a message to SC House members about H.4608. And want to watch the speeches from our press conference outside of the SC Statehouse? Click here to view them all.
House Judiciary Committee Advances H.4776, "Healthcare Discrimination" Bill
On Tuesday, March 8, the House Judiciary Committee voted to amend and advance H.4776. The amended version limits some of the scope of this bill, but it continues to provide a concerning "License to Discriminate" in various health care settings, which could lead to mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people, people of color, women, and people of other faith backgrounds. We remain concerned about the potential impacts of this bill, as well as S.811 and the newly filed S.1130 (see below), on refusal of LGBTQ healthcare, sexual and reproductive health, and other health services. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. Please take action and urge the House to reject H.4776.
Lawmakers File New Versions of Healthcare Discrimination Bill and Anti-Abortion Bills
On Tuesday, March 8, extremist lawmakers reintroduced old bills under new names in an attempt to skip the committee process and push the bills directly to the Senate. These bills – S.1130, S.1127, and S.907 are attacks on bodily autonomy. S.1130 is a copy-cat version of S.811, a healthcare discrimination bill that would specifically sanction so-called anti-LGBTQ "conversion therapy" by prohibiting localities from passing local ordinances regulating the practice. S.907 is a medical misinformation bill that would require doctors to lie to patients about medication abortion. S.1127 is a total abortion ban that would criminalize people for performing or receiving abortion care. Please join us and our coalition partners at WREN by emailing your Senator and telling them to vote NO on all three bills. These "new" bills are just like the bad bills we've seen all session. Take action here.