A “hostile” start for this legislative session with two anti-transgender bills filed.
February 11, 2020
By Jeff Ayers
Unfortunately, South Carolina has joined seven other states facing anti-transgender bills this legislative session seeking to limit transgender health care for minors to preventing transgender students to play on the athletic team that matches their gender identity.
Some of these politicians in Columbia are trying to capitalize on fear, misinformation and prejudice around a particular population. It’s fundamentally troubling that they are going to decide to take on kids and families that are doing their best to support their young people who already face so much stigma in the world.
There have been policy meetings among groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and The Heritage Foundation, who have long had a mission of pushing anti-LGBTQ policies, to push these two types of bills this year across the country. The two Republican legislators below obviously take their marching orders from these groups.
Legislators in South Dakota sent a strong message this week by defeating similar bills in their state. With your help, we can do the same here in South Carolina.
We’ve done before and we can do it again this year.
Just click the “Take Action Today” button above and send your
Senator and Representatives an email OPPOSING these two discriminatory bills. Your voice matters.
H.4716 – “YOUTH GENDER REASSIGNMENT PREVENTION ACT”
At the beginning of the session, Representative Stewart O. Jones ( Republican – Laurens, District 14 – Greenwood & Laurens Counties) filed H.4716 “Youth Gender Reassignment Prevention Act” which seeks to prevent someone under the age of 18 from undergoing gender-affirming medical treatment, including the use of puberty blockers. The bill also targets health care professionals who treat transgender children. Under the bill, they could face having their medical license revoked. It is outrageous that conservative legislators like Rep. Jones would threaten transgender youth’s health and safety. Medical Professionals, not politicians, should decide what medical care is in the best interest of a patient. Forcing a doctor to deny best practice medical care and deny support to transgender youth can be life-threatening.
Read the full bill text Click Here
S.1087 – “INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ACT”
This is a discriminatory bill targeting transgender high school students. It would restrict participation in high school athletic activities to the gender listed on a person’s birth certificate. The bill is another attempt to codify discrimination against transgender youth under state law. The sponsor of this bill is Senator Richard J. Cash ( Republican – Anderson, District 3). All young people should have the opportunity to play high school sports and have their personal dignity respected. Transgender students are no different. No one is harmed by allowing transgender students to compete consistent with who they are. Senate Bill S.1087 is clearly fueled by a fear and misunderstanding of transgender youth in our state.
Read the full bill text Click Here
Legislators see SC Equality at the Capitol every single day, demonstrating the vigilance, persistence, and expertise required to make certain South Carolina laws protect and enhance the lives of all LGBTQ South Carolinians. We have built personal relationships with legislators and demonstrated the ability to work across the aisle when needed. W need you to stand with us by taking action today and tell legislators to protect transgender kids!
Just click the “Take Action Today” button above and send your
Senator and Representatives an email OPPOSING these two discriminatory bills. Your voice matters.
February 11, 2020
By Jeff Ayers
Unfortunately, South Carolina has joined seven other states facing anti-transgender bills this legislative session seeking to limit transgender health care for minors to preventing transgender students to play on the athletic team that matches their gender identity.
Some of these politicians in Columbia are trying to capitalize on fear, misinformation and prejudice around a particular population. It’s fundamentally troubling that they are going to decide to take on kids and families that are doing their best to support their young people who already face so much stigma in the world.
There have been policy meetings among groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and The Heritage Foundation, who have long had a mission of pushing anti-LGBTQ policies, to push these two types of bills this year across the country. The two Republican legislators below obviously take their marching orders from these groups.
Legislators in South Dakota sent a strong message this week by defeating similar bills in their state. With your help, we can do the same here in South Carolina.
We’ve done before and we can do it again this year.
Just click the “Take Action Today” button above and send your
Senator and Representatives an email OPPOSING these two discriminatory bills. Your voice matters.
H.4716 – “YOUTH GENDER REASSIGNMENT PREVENTION ACT”
At the beginning of the session, Representative Stewart O. Jones ( Republican – Laurens, District 14 – Greenwood & Laurens Counties) filed H.4716 “Youth Gender Reassignment Prevention Act” which seeks to prevent someone under the age of 18 from undergoing gender-affirming medical treatment, including the use of puberty blockers. The bill also targets health care professionals who treat transgender children. Under the bill, they could face having their medical license revoked. It is outrageous that conservative legislators like Rep. Jones would threaten transgender youth’s health and safety. Medical Professionals, not politicians, should decide what medical care is in the best interest of a patient. Forcing a doctor to deny best practice medical care and deny support to transgender youth can be life-threatening.
Read the full bill text Click Here
S.1087 – “INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ACT”
This is a discriminatory bill targeting transgender high school students. It would restrict participation in high school athletic activities to the gender listed on a person’s birth certificate. The bill is another attempt to codify discrimination against transgender youth under state law. The sponsor of this bill is Senator Richard J. Cash ( Republican – Anderson, District 3). All young people should have the opportunity to play high school sports and have their personal dignity respected. Transgender students are no different. No one is harmed by allowing transgender students to compete consistent with who they are. Senate Bill S.1087 is clearly fueled by a fear and misunderstanding of transgender youth in our state.
Read the full bill text Click Here
Legislators see SC Equality at the Capitol every single day, demonstrating the vigilance, persistence, and expertise required to make certain South Carolina laws protect and enhance the lives of all LGBTQ South Carolinians. We have built personal relationships with legislators and demonstrated the ability to work across the aisle when needed. W need you to stand with us by taking action today and tell legislators to protect transgender kids!
Just click the “Take Action Today” button above and send your
Senator and Representatives an email OPPOSING these two discriminatory bills. Your voice matters.
