After Hours of Resistance from Supporters of Transgender Dignity, South Carolina House Passes Bill Attacking Transgender Youth

Today South Carolina lawmakers who support dignity and equality for transgender youth proposed nearly 1,000 amendments to H.4608, a bill that seeks to restrict transgender students in middle school, high school, and college from participating in school athletics. The legislature debated the bill for nearly eight hours. Ultimately, it was approved by the House and will remain under consideration in the SC legislature even after the April 7 crossover deadline. 

A Senate companion bill, S.531, is awaiting discussion on the Senate floor. 

This year marks the first time in years that explicitly anti-LGBTQ legislation has passed a full chamber in South Carolina. On Wednesday, a bill that would grant healthcare providers a “license to discriminate,” H.4776, also passed the full House. 

Ivy Hill, a leader in the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition who also serves as Executive Director of Gender Benders and the Campaign for Southern Equality, issued a statement on today’s actions:

“Today we witnessed a historic show of resistance in the South Carolina legislature in defense of trans lives, and we are grateful for every lawmaker and advocate who took action to block this shameful, dangerous bill.  Anti-trans forces brazenly illustrated their goals with H.4608 today when they rejected amendment after amendment that would have actually improved the state of women’s sports in South Carolina; they made it more transparent than ever that they only care about discriminating against transgender youth and scoring political points on the backs of an already vulnerable population. What a disgrace.”

“We didn’t win today – but I hope that every trans person and ally in South Carolina is taking solace in the knowledge that dozens of elected leaders went to the mat today in the name of transgender dignity. Lawmakers spoke powerfully about the discrimination that trans people already face and the harms of this bill and called out the hypocrisy of anti-trans legislators. Today’s actions demonstrated that there is a contingent of SC lawmakers ready to fight for trans rights. To every trans person living in our state – please know: You are loved, you are supported, and no action from any state legislature can stamp out your dignity, your courage, and your beautiful existence.

Advocates from the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition are available to speak with media about the legislation and its damaging impact on transgender youth. 

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In Final Weeks of South Carolina Legislative Session, Organizers Will Unite to Defeat Anti-Transgender Sports Bill and Healthcare Discrimination Bill

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On Transgender Day of Visibility, SC House Education Committee Advances Attack on Transgender Youth