What Is H.4624, the Ban on Medically Necessary Care for Trans Youth, and How Do I Talk About It?

A new bill in South Carolina is moving fast through the state legislature.

The bill, H. 4624, bans medically necessary healthcare for transgender youth under the age of 18 in South Carolina, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery. It prevents all healthcare providers, including mental healthcare providers, from helping transgender youth access this care. Further, it prevents public funds from being used to cover the cost of transition-related healthcare for youth and adults – and it includes a provision requiring school administrators to “out” transgender students to their parents, potentially before they are ready to share.

It’s critical for advocates, parents, and South Carolinians to fully understand the bill so we can push back as hard as possible and defeat it.

We’ve developed two resources to help you understand. The first is a bill explainer, which talks through the various components of this dangerous legislation and why it’s so harmful.

The second is message guidance, which may help as you arrange meetings with lawmakers and submit testimony about the damage that H.4624 would do to trans youth across the state. Access both below.