South Carolina Senate Begins Debate on H.4608, Anti-Transgender Sports Bill; Bill Advances to Third Reading

Today the South Carolina Senate began consideration of H.4608, an anti-transgender bill that restricts transgender students from participating in school sports in middle school, high school, and college. 

Senators began discussion of the bill and, led by Senate Democratic Leader Brad Hutto, exposed the bills’ many problems, including the ways that its conflict with Title IX’s sex discrimination protections put colleges’ federal funding in jeopardy; its erasure of intersex individuals; and the very fact that the bill addresses a manufactured issue in the first place.

Senators ultimately voted to advance the bill – and all of its amendments – to third reading – and reconvene on Wednesday. They will continue discussion as soon as Wednesday morning.

Throughout the day, nearly one hundred South Carolinians who oppose H.4608 came out to the Statehouse to show their strong support for transgender dignity and equality and oppose the bill. Advocates packed the Senate gallery to declare their support for trans youth and gathered outside of the Statehouse to center trans and queer joy, create art, and share their stories over video and through an open mic process. Attendees included medical residents from MUSC, feminist groups including WREN – Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network, trans and queer advocates, parents, trans youth, and more. 

SC United for Justice & Equality is a coalition of more than 30 organizations committed to LGBTQ equality in SC. 

Ivy Hill, a leader in the coalition who serves as Executive Director of Gender Benders and Community Health Program Director of Campaign for Southern Equality, said:

“Today I am so proud of how our community in South Carolina sent a strong message that when you attack transgender and queer youth, we will show up and make our voices heard. That’s what we did today, and it’s what we’ve done dozens of times in the past two years, and it’s what we’ll continue to do. South Carolina lawmakers have so many pressing issues that they should be spending time on – they should drop discussion of the anti-transgender H.4608 and focus on how to improve our state.” 

Domenico Ruggerio, Executive Director of We Are Family, added:

“We’re grateful for our allies in the Senate who are working so hard to defeat H.4608, which singles out transgender children for discrimination. The Senators who are pushing back against this bill are doing so because it has very real problems and has no place in the South Carolina legislature. As a leader in a youth-serving organization in the Low Country, I know that transgender young people are at disproportionate risk of mental health challenges, including depression, in part because of the way they are relentlessly attacked by politicians. We need to be doing everything we can to ensure trans youth have a fair chance to thrive – and that includes blocking discriminatory bills and reminding them again and again that they are loved, they are supported, and they belong.”

Discussion on H.4608 could be continued later this week. Media interested in covering the bill should be in touch for more information.

Advocates from the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition are available to speak with media about the legislation and its damaging impact on transgender youth.