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

Today the South Carolina House Education Committee voted to advance H.4608, a bill that would prohibit transgender students in middle school, high school, and college from participating in school athletics. The bill now awaits discussion on the House floor. A Senate companion bill, S.531, is awaiting discussion on the Senate floor. 

Ahead of the event, transgender advocates came together on the steps of the SC Statehouse for a press conference to mark Transgender Day of Visibility and speak out against the bill. Click here to watch full video from the press event. 

Wynston Sanders (he/him pronouns), a leader of the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition who also serves on the teams at Gender Benders and the Campaign for Southern Equality, said today:

“I want lawmakers to know that no one and no thing – not even women’s sports – needs to be saved from transgender people. We are simply trying to live authentic, full lives. There are so many more stories about transgender people than the stories about these bills that try to target us and bring us down. Transgender people are more than the violence and oppression that extreme lawmakers push at us. We are more than the offensive conversations that obsess over our bodies. We are more than the disproportionate mental health struggles that are brought on by the constant threat of oppressive policies.  I am tired of being defined by the forces trying to bring us down.”

Ivy Hill (they/them pronouns), a leader in the SC United coalition who also serves as the Executive Director of Gender Benders and the Community Health Program Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, added:

“Today, on Trans Day of Visibility, I want to celebrate everyone who has been visible by taking the time and summoning the courage to share their story and speak out against discriminatory legislation. This year trans people in South Carolina have been more visible at the statehouse than ever before, and we are making an impact. We are not going to be silenced or erased or pushed aside by extreme lawmakers who say they don’t understand us or don’t care about us. We are going to continue to show up and continue educating them about our lives and our identities. We are going to refuse to be pushed away. We are going to be visible, every single day.” 

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.