The South Carolina Senate voted to pass H.4624 a broad intrusion into medically necessary healthcare for transgender South Carolinians. The bill bans medically necessary healthcare for transgender youth under the age of 18 in South Carolina including puberty blockers, hormone therapy & surgery. It also prohibits public funds & Medicaid from being used to cover the cost of transition-related healthcare for transgender people of any age which could result in providers of gender-affirming care who receive public funds to restrict care & will impact transgender people insured through the state employee healthcare plan. Chase Glenn, a leader in the SC United for Justice & Equality Coalition & Executive Director of Alliance for Full Acceptance stated, “Transgender South Carolinians are loved, accepted & supported in every corner of the Palmetto State. The Senate’s decision to pass the healthcare ban today is cruel, unnecessary & will do nothing to make South Carolina better for all of us. 71% of our friends, neighbors & loved ones resoundingly believe that the government should not interfere in gender-affirming care decisions for minors if parents are involved in the care. Lawmakers have gone against the will of the people in moving forward with this bill & those who voted to rip away this life-saving medical care will be held accountable at the ballot box.” The bill now heads to the House of Representatives which passed the bill in January for concurrence since multiple amendments were passed. Advocates across the state are making a final appeal to House members urging him to reject this attack on medically necessary care.
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