After Hours of Testimony Almost Universally in Opposition, SC House Subcommittee Advances Anti-Transgender H.4624
Today the South Carolina House Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee voted to advance H.4624 favorably to the full Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. The bill would ban medically necessary healthcare for transgender youth under the age of 18 in South Carolina, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery. Further, it prevents public funds from being used to cover the cost of transition-related healthcare for youth and adults. A surge of anti-transgender legislation like this has passed all over the country in the past two years; until 2021, no state had laws that banned transgender youth from accessing this healthcare. A map of the current landscape is available here.
The vote on H.4624 came after 50 people testified on the bill – 49 people from all across South Carolina spoke against the bill, and only 1 person, representing the far-right group Alliance Defending Freedom (which has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center), testified in favor.
The subcommittee did vote in favor of two amendments that mitigate a small fraction of the damage of the bill. One amendment removes language prohibiting providers from “aiding and abetting” youth in accessing gender-affirming care and clarifies that the bill should not be construed to blockade any affirming mental health care (the original bill as written was so broad that it could be read as a way to block even talk therapy). Another amendment removes a clause requiring teachers and school staff to notify parents if they suspect a student of being transgender.
On Wednesday, January 10 advocates for transgender equality will again gather in Columbia with the following schedule:
9:00am – The full Family & Veteran Services Committee will consider S.882, a bill focused on prescriptions for minors. While the bill is primarily aimed at restricting access to birth control, discussion about medically necessary care for transgender youth came up in the subcommittee as well.
10:00am – The full Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee will consider H.4624. If they vote to advance the bill, its next stop is the full House floor.
Following adjournment of the 3M committee – Supporters of transgender equality will gather on the South Steps of the SC Statehouse (overlooking the courtyard, on the Pendleton Street side) for a rally and press conference about the anti-transgender bills and other anti-freedom bills. This is a core part of the Day of Action for Freedom in SC, a cross-coalition day of organizing. Advocates will end the day after this event with lunch and training on organizing strategies, as well as opportunities for healing and resilience and peer support.
RSVP: If you are a member of the media seeking to cover the rally (which should occur around 10:30 or 11am, as soon as the House committee adjourns), please contact Adam Polaski of SC United for Justice & Equality at 610-306-7956 or adam@southernequality.org.
Jace Woodrum, a leader in the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition who also serves as Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina, was one of the people who testified today. He said in response to the vote:
“I am so grateful for every transgender person and ally to transgender people who came out today to speak against this shameful and dangerous legislation. We heard from parents concerned about the health and safety of their children, a sister who saw the joy and independence that gender-affirming care brought to her brother, medical providers who know the science, and community members who spoke powerfully about their experiences as transgender South Carolinians. It is heart-breaking that even after such powerful testimony, lawmakers still voted to advance such a divisive bill that cruelly targets children.”
“Let’s be clear: Extreme lawmakers are moving so quickly with this discriminatory bill because they want us to be complacent, stay quiet, and think this fight is hopeless. But together, we will be there every step of the way to speak out and force them to look us in the eye while they harm our community. We will never stop sending a message of love, support, and solidarity to transgender young people in South Carolina.”
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.