LGBTQ+ Advocates in South Carolina Condemn Cruel Adoption of State Budget with Anti-Transgender Proviso
Budget proviso prohibits the Medical University of South Carolina from using state funding to support gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Two other anti-LGBTQ+ provisos were rejected from the budget.
This morning the South Carolina Budget Conference Committee met to discuss the state budget and took action on three anti-LGBTQ+ amendments. The committee adopted Proviso 23.4, which prohibits the use of state funds allocated to the Pediatric Transgender Clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina to be used for trans-affirming healthcare for people under the age of 16. The proviso does not impact mental health services or apply to any other medical provider across the state.
Two other anti-LGBTQ+ attacks were removed from the budget and will not become law: One amendment (Proviso 1.48) that would have functioned as a curriculum censorship bill similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” law, and one (Proviso 27.1) that would have limited public libraries from carrying LGBTQ-related books.
Earlier this session lawmakers passed H.4608, which prohibits transgender students from participating in school sports. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill into law in May. Another bill, H.4776, which would grant medical providers a broad “license to discriminate” against LGBTQ+ people and others, is awaiting a conference committee report and is expected to be signed by Gov. McMaster.
Melissa Moore (they/them pronouns), a leader in the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition, said today:
“Today South Carolina lawmakers again chose to pick on transgender youth, this time by trying to insert politics into decisions that should be between transgender young people, their guardians, and their medical providers. We condemn this attack and send a message of love and support to every transgender person in our state. It is important to note that this proviso does not prohibit transgender youth in South Carolina from accessing trans-affirming care – trans young people should continue to consult with providers across the state, including at MUSC, to access the care they need and deserve.”
Domenico Ruggerio (he/they pronouns), Executive Director of We Are Family in Charleston, added:
“Thankfully, the committee rejected two other amendments that would have singled out LGBTQ+ youth for discrimination, ensuring that South Carolina will not follow in the footsteps of states like Florida that have chosen to create unsafe, unwelcoming school communities. There remains significant work ahead of us to protect LGBTQ+ youth in school and beyond, but it’s a relief that this year we will not be forced to grapple with broad curriculum censorship policies or a regressive library book ban.”
Transgender people seeking trans-affirming healthcare and legal services can consult the Trans in the South guide, a project of the Campaign for Southern Equality that serves as a directory of trans-affirming providers.