South Carolina Governor Signs Law Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Minors
By Javar Juarez
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
COLUMBIA, S.C. (CUBNSC) — South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed a law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
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With this legislation, South Carolina joins 24 other states in restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors. The new law prohibits health professionals from performing gender-transition surgeries, prescribing puberty blockers, and overseeing hormone treatments for patients under 18 (H4624).
Additionally, school principals or vice principals are now required to inform parents if a child wishes to use a name or pronouns that differ from their sex assigned at birth. This places school administrators in a difficult position, balancing the law with the needs of their students.
The South Carolina Republican-led House continues to exercise its power in ways that many argue interfere with citizens' lives, risking lawsuits and potential imprisonment for those involved. LGBTQ+ rights groups have already signaled their intent to challenge the law in court.
While the bill was modified in the Senate to allow mental health counselors to discuss banned treatments and suggest where they might be legally available, it maintains strict prohibitions on gender-affirming care. Doctors can still prescribe puberty blockers for conditions like precocious puberty, which can affect children as young as four years old.
Furthermore, the South Carolina Medicaid Program will not cover or reimburse any prohibited practices under this new law.
Organizations like the Campaign for Southern Equality are mobilizing to support affected families, helping them find care outside of South Carolina and much of the Southeast, where similar bans are in effect. According to their website, 90% of transgender youth in the South now live in states with bans on gender-affirming care.
"Healthcare is a human right – and it breaks my heart to see lawmakers rip away life-affirming and often life-saving medical care from transgender youth in South Carolina," said Uplift Outreach Center Executive Director Raymond Velazquez. "No one should be forced to leave their home state to access the care that they need and deserve."
Governor McMaster defended the law, stating it aims to protect young people from making irreversible decisions. "If they want to make those decisions later when they’re adults, then that’s a different story," he said. "But we must protect our young people from irreversible decisions."
Transgender, or "trans," individuals do not identify with the gender typically associated with their sex assigned at birth. This umbrella term includes a variety of identities, such as transgender women, transgender men, agender, genderqueer, and non-binary individuals. These individuals often face challenges like gender dysphoria and non-affirmation of their gender identity, which can significantly impact their well-being. Gender-affirming healthcare is essential for addressing these concerns.
As the bill progressed, doctors and parents testified that minors in South Carolina do not undergo gender-transition surgeries and that hormone treatments only begin after extensive consultations. They emphasized that these treatments can be lifesaving, enabling young transgender individuals to lead more fulfilling lives. Research indicates that transgender youth and adults face higher risks of stress, depression, and suicidal behavior when forced to live as the sex assigned at birth.
Despite the new law, organizations dedicated to supporting transgender individuals vow to continue their efforts. Cristina Picozzi, executive director of the Harriet Hancock Center, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit, reassured young people and their parents, saying, "No law can change the fact that you are worthy of dignity, equality, joy, and respect."
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