COLUMBIA – Leading medical and mental health providers, South Carolina families, and expert witnesses spoke out Wednesday against House Bill 4624, which denies medically necessary care to transgender youth. The number of people opposed to the bill greatly outnumbered those who supported it, flooding the Second Chamber and the state Capitol lawn.
The Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee met Wednesday morning to consider H.4624, which would ban hormone therapy. South Carolina is one of the only states in the region that still allows this medically necessary care, which is supported by major professional medical organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. I am. It would also prohibit the use of public funds and limit care to transgender individuals until age 26.
After the Senate subcommittee shut down speakers who wanted to testify, the ACLU of South Carolina and our solidarity partners held a packed testimony session on the south steps of the state Capitol. Archived video of the livestream is available on our Facebook page.
“Gender-affirming care is suicide prevention care that saves lives. As a pediatric critical care physician, my career has been dedicated to the welfare of children. The ban is not in the interests of children, but in the interests of hate groups. This is for the benefit of the Alliance to Protect the United Nations. ” Said Dr. Elizabeth Mack, M.D.President of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“After giving up 20 years of my life and spending over five years underwater in the Navy to protect the freedoms of everyone in this room, this state, and the United States of America, I am completely disgusted by this bill. “I never thought I would have to fight for my daughter's right to live.” david bella parent of a transgender youth from Charleston.
“To be clear, being transgender is not pathological. The mental health of TGD (transgender and gender diverse) people is affected by society’s response to their transgender identity. “We need to stop trying to erase the experiences of transgender people and start respecting them for who they are.” Adam Sauceda, MA, LPC-S, RPTCertified member of the World Association of Transgender Health Professionals.
“If you want to protect children, I strongly recommend that you do not pass this bill because it could harm them. Transgender children who are already in care with the support of their parents Think about it: They would be forced to stop that care and their well-being would be at risk.” Jace WoodrumExecutive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina.
“This cruel bill masquerades as a law to protect children, but is actually government overreach and an attempt to eliminate transgender people. Access to gender-affirming care. Restrictions put the well-being of transgender youth at risk and deny their families the freedom to make deeply personal medical decisions.” Kelly R. ParkerDirector of Communications for Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN).
The bill remains in the Senate Health Care Affairs Subcommittee, where lawmakers are scheduled to consider it on Thursday, February 15th.
Supporters of H. 4624 continue to repeat lies and distortions that are easily disproved. Here are some basic fact checks:
mythology: Ban on transgender care is meant to protect children
fact: A leading organization of doctors, pediatricians, therapists, psychologists, and other medical professionals agree that the most harmful thing for children is when adults reject them for who they are.
“AMA Strengthens Opposition to Restrictions on Transgender Medical Care,” American Medical Association, 2021. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-reinforces-opposition-restrictions-transgender-medical-care
“AACAP Statement on Efforts to Prohibit Evidence-Based Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth,” American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2019. aspx
“Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender Diverse Children and Youth,” American Academy of Pediatrics, 2018. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20182162/37381/Ensuring-Comprehensive-Care and Support
mythology: Gender-affirming care causes mental health problems for young people.
fact: “There is no evidence that these high rates of mental illness are in any way attributable to being transgender. Rather, these high rates are due to limited access to mental health services, limited access to experienced health care providers, “This bill would exacerbate all of these problems.” – Dr. Debbie Greenhouse, Columbia Pediatrician
Source: House Health, Military, Public and Civil Affairs Committee Hearing, January 9, 2024
mythology: A law is needed to prevent minors from undergoing gender reassignment surgery in South Carolina.
fact: “Gender reassignment surgery is not performed on minors here in South Carolina. None. So it's not something to worry about and you can safely cross it off the list of things to worry about for our young people.” – Dr. Elizabeth Mack, Pediatric Critical Care Physician and President of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Source: House Health, Military, Public and Civil Affairs Committee Hearing, January 9, 2024
mythology: If you can't get a tattoo if you're under 18, then you shouldn't be able to get gender-affirming care if you're under 18.
fact: Tattoos are cosmetics. Gender reassignment care is medically recommended and is provided only after a thorough medical examination and parental consent.
mythology: “Puberty blockers are not safe.” – Congressman John McCravey
fact: “Study found that puberty suppression in this population improved psychological functioning. Blocking puberty hormones early in puberty led to teenagers developing irreversible secondary sexual characteristics.” ” – Endocrine Society, 2019
https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2019/transgender-custody-statement
