150+ South Carolina Medical Providers Join Letter Opposing Anti-Transgender Healthcare Bills Ahead of Subcommittee Hearing
Today, more than 150 South Carolina healthcare professionals released a letter calling on state lawmakers in SC to reject a series of bills – S.627, S.274, S.243, H.3551, H.3730 – that would block healthcare access for transgender people. The signers of the statement, which was released today by SC United for Justice and Equality, include physicians, nurses, physician assistants, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals. Many of the signers work directly with transgender adolescents or young adults.
This powerful show of support for the trans community by healthcare providers comes just as South Carolina lawmakers are set to take up discussion of several anti-transgender bills. On Thursday, March 23 at 9:00am, the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee will hear expert testimony on two bills: S.627 and S.623. The following week, on Wednesday, March 29, the subcommittee meeting will continue, with testimony open to the public.
S.627 would prohibit transgender-related healthcare for people under the age of 18 – including gender-affirming hormone therapy and puberty blockers – and require school staff to “out” transgender students to their parents, potentially before they are ready to share. S.623 would essentially prohibit people from changing the gender marker on their birth certificate, which can be critical for trans people to ensure that they have the correct identity documentation.
The letter released today reads, in part (click here for the full letter):
It is unprecedented and dangerous for the government to single out a group of people to deny them medically necessary care. Medical care should be prescribed and guided by doctors, not banned by politicians.
This view is shared and affirmed by nearly every leading medical expert and association. The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Medicine, all agree that supporting transgender people with affirming care is a medical best practice and critical to ensuring the health and well-being of transgender people.
In considering these bills, state lawmakers run the risk of dire consequences to the health and wellbeing of thousands of South Carolinians and their families – who you represent.
Elizabeth Mack, MD, MS, (she/her pronouns), President of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said today:
“As medical providers, we cannot stand by silently as lawmakers seek to single out our transgender patients to deny them life-saving medical care. Each of us took an oath to do no harm – and there is no doubt that if this legislation were to pass, it would inflict lasting harm on so many of our patients and their families. Our guidance to South Carolina lawmakers reflects the position of leading medical organizations affirming that supporting transgender people with affirming care is an evidence-based best practice.”
Elizabeth Serricchio LPCS, LPC, LAC (she/her pronouns), Founder and CEO of Amaryllis, said today:
“It’s disturbing that some lawmakers would double down on legislation that serves no purpose other than demeaning transgender youth. Transgender youth suffer from disproportionate rates of mental health struggles and suicide attempts – which no doubt stem, in part, from political attacks like these bills that villainize transgender people who simply want to access basic healthcare services. South Carolina lawmakers are literally risking the lives of transgender youth across the state – while disregarding the consensus of medical experts – by considering these bills, and we urge them to stop. The last thing transgender youth in South Carolina need right now is senseless bullying from the leaders who were elected to represent them.”
Rhys Chambers (they/them pronouns), Senior Organizing Lead of the Human Rights Campaign and a leader in the South Carolina United for Justice & Equality coalition, said today:
“The voices of medical providers speaking out against these dangerous bills help to paint a clear picture of what we’re facing in South Carolina: Extreme lawmakers playing politics with the lives of transgender people – with no concern for facts or medical best practices. South Carolina is battling a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and we’re grateful that our state’s leading medical experts are demanding that lawmakers listen to their concerns – and accepted medical best practices – before rushing through their anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.”