Staff Reports
In a bold move, Republican lawmakers in South Carolina have unveiled a bill that would put the kibosh on irreversible, experimental transgender care for individuals under 18 years old. The state’s Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee took a decisive vote to push the bill, known as H.B. 4643, forward. If passed into law, this bill would make it illegal for doctors to perform gender transition surgery, prescribe puberty-blocking drugs, or oversee hormone therapy for anyone under 18. What’s more, Medicaid coverage for this kind of care would be off the table for individuals under 26, and schools would be prohibited from keeping parents in the dark about their child’s “gender identity.”
Another State Advances Bill Protecting Youth From So-Called ‘Gender-Affirming’ Care
https://t.co/wJB5OiBDuS— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 12, 2024
Republican state Rep. Jordan Pace emphasized the importance of keeping parents in the loop, citing his experience as an educator. He adamantly argued that concealing such information from parents would be a dereliction of duty. Rep. Thomas Beach echoed these sentiments, asserting that parents have every right to know what’s happening in their child’s life.
This effort in South Carolina comes on the heels of similar legislation in Louisiana, where the state legislature – overwhelmingly Republican – overturned a veto by outgoing Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards. The governor was not shy about expressing his disapproval of the decision, accusing lawmakers of prioritizing politics over people and failing to consider the practical implications of the bill. Nevertheless, the legislature stood firm, sending a clear message that they wouldn’t be swayed by his objections.
Meanwhile, in Ohio, Republican Governor Mike DeWine faced significant blowback after vetoing legislation aimed at safeguarding minors from these types of irreversible procedures. The governor subsequently caved to pressure and issued an executive order prohibiting transgender surgeries for kids. However, the battle didn’t end there, as the Ohio House moved to override DeWine’s veto, with the state Senate set to weigh in on the matter in the coming weeks.
South Carolina is just the latest battleground in the fight to protect young people from potentially life-altering transgender interventions. As conservative lawmakers across the country take a stand, the clash over parental rights, medical decisions, and the well-being of minors continues to unfold. Stay tuned as this saga unfolds in statehouses across America.
