South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has recently signed a law that prohibits gender-affirming care for minors, which has sparked criticism from opponents who argue that it is a “cruel and dangerous assault on trans youth.”
South Carolina Becomes the 25th State to Restrict Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
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In a decisive move, South Carolina has enacted a law that will have an immediate impact on the provision of gender-affirming care to minors. The legislation effectively prohibits doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or performing gender-transition surgeries for individuals under the age of 18. With this development, South Carolina joins the ranks of 24 other states that have implemented restrictions or outright bans on gender-affirming care.
“I have officially approved the Help Not Harm bill, a law that safeguards the well-being of our state’s children by prohibiting irreversible gender transition procedures and eliminating the use of public funds for such practices,” stated Governor McMaster, a member of the Republican party, in a recent post on X. He also expressed his excitement for an upcoming event where he will be signing the bill alongside legislators and supporters in the Upstate region.”
Governor Henry McMaster recently took a significant step to safeguard the well-being of children in his state by signing the Help Not Harm bill into law. This legislation aims to protect children from undergoing irreversible gender transition procedures and also prohibits the use of public funds for such procedures. Governor McMaster expressed his anticipation to join legislators and supporters at a ceremonial bill signing event in the Upstate region next week.
South Carolina’s recently passed law not only prohibits the prescription of puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgery but also restricts the use of public funds and Medicaid to cover the expenses associated with transition-related healthcare for individuals of all age groups.
Healthcare professionals in South Carolina who offer gender-affirming care to minors may potentially lose their licenses or become subject to civil lawsuits. If doctors perform gender transition surgery on minors, they could be charged with inflicting bodily injury and potentially face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Under South Carolina’s new law, school administrators are now obligated to reach out to parents when their children opt to use a name or pronouns that differ from their assigned sex at birth.
The Help Not Harm measure was approved earlier this month with a vote of 28 to 8 in the state Senate and 67 to 26 in the state House.
Critics strongly criticized H.4624, labeling it as a “significant encroachment on essential healthcare for transgender individuals in South Carolina.”
Chase Glenn of SC United for Justice and Equality expressed strong opposition to the bill, stating that it is both cruel and dangerous for trans youth and adults in South Carolina. He emphasized that the bill disregards the recommendations of all major medical organizations.
Glenn emphasized that South Carolinians are grieving over the passing of H.4624, which will significantly hinder the ability of transgender youth and numerous adults to obtain essential healthcare that is vital to their well-being. However, Glenn made it clear that despite this setback, the movement remains resilient and determined.
The Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project is lending a helping hand to transgender youth by providing emergency grants to assist them in finding out-of-state gender-affirming care providers and covering the associated costs.
“After lawmakers passed the ban, Raymond Velazquez, the Executive Director of Uplift Outreach Center, expressed his distress at the removal of crucial medical care for transgender youth in South Carolina. He believes that healthcare is a fundamental right and finds it heartbreaking to witness such actions.”
Accessing the care that one needs and deserves should not require individuals to be compelled to leave their home state.
