Dozens of South Carolinians Testify in Support of Transgender Youth and Urge Subcommittee to Reject Discriminatory Bill
Parents, medical providers, advocates, business leaders, educators, and transgender students delivered testimony against H3477, which would exclude transgender students from participating in middle and high school sports.
COLUMBIA, SC – Today the South Carolina Special Laws subcommittee held a hearing on H3477, a bill that would prohibit transgender youth in middle and high school from participating in student athletics. The hearing adjourned after around 90 minutes and is likely to continue on another day to account for the large number of people signed up to testify.
Powerful testimony was heard from supporters of transgender equality from all walks of life – including parents, medical providers, advocates, and transgender students directly impacted – spoke virtually against the bill. At least 75 opponents of H3477 additionally submitted written testimony.
Eli Bundy (they/them pronouns), a 16-year-old trans student in Charleston, was among those who spoke today (full testimony here). They said:
“This bill does nothing but harm transgender students, and I am both disappointed and unsurprised that young people such as myself are being told by our state legislature that we are not equal to cisgender students, that we do not deserve equal treatment under the law, and that we are a threat to the lives and livelihoods of other students. When you vote on this bill, please consider the lives of transgender youth that you are putting in danger.”
Dr. Elizabeth Mack M.D. (she/her pronouns), a pediatric critical care physician in Charleston, also testified. Tuesday morning Dr. Mack was one of 44 medical providers in South Carolina to publish an open letter opposing the bill. In her testimony (full testimony here) Dr. Mack said:
“This bill says to our trans youth, not just those interested in sports, a population already struggling through this pandemic: ‘We do not support you.’ I have seen far too many suicide attempts and completions in my career, but even more so in the last year – and the LGBTQIA+ population is at particular risk. This pandemic has laid bare the inequities in our society. Please join me in supporting ALL of our children and opposing H3477.”
SC United for Justice & Equality, a coalition of more than 30 organizations committed to LGBTQ equality in SC, is working with members across the state to express opposition to the bill.
Nijeeah Richardson (they/she pronouns), Executive Director of We Are Family, said today on behalf of SC United:
“I work directly with trans youth every day, and the last thing that these youth needed was their elected officials prioritizing this bill that seeks to exclude them even further. Much of the testimony from proponents of H3477 focused on elite collegiate and professional sports even though this bill specifically concerns middle and high school students who are transgender. This bill is harmful to trans youth and interferes with their basic dignity and humanity. These young people deserve to feel affirmed in their participation in school sports – not ostracized. I implore South Carolina leaders to reject H3477.”
The subcommittee did not yet vote on the bill but will likely resume for further testimony soon. If they vote to advance H3477, it moves to the House Judiciary Committee.