Ryan Foley : South Carolina Bans Gender Transition Surgeries for Minors

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South Carolina has become the latest state to prohibit hormonal and surgical gender transition interventions for minors, joining more than two dozen other states in protecting youth with gender dysphoria.

On Tuesday, South Carolina’s Republican Governor, Henry McMaster, announced through a post on X that he has signed the Help Not Harm bill into law. The legislation aims to safeguard the state’s children from irreversible gender transition procedures and prohibits the use of public funds for such interventions. Governor McMaster plans to participate in a ceremonial bill signing event in the Upstate region next week.

The newly enacted measure, officially known as House Bill 4624, states that healthcare professionals cannot provide gender transition procedures to individuals under the age of eighteen. These procedures include puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, and gender reassignment surgery.

Public Outcry and Legislative Approval

Governor McMaster’s approval of the legislation follows its passage by the Republican-controlled South Carolina House of Representatives in a 67-26 vote on May 9. The bill also received a 28-8 vote in favor from the Republican-controlled South Carolina Senate a week earlier. While most support for the measure came from Republicans, a few Democrats in both the state House and Senate broke party lines to support the bill.

In addition to barring gender transition procedures on minors, House Bill 4624 prohibits the use of public funds for such interventions. Healthcare providers found violating the law could face disciplinary action by the relevant licensing authority.

Impact on School Policies

Furthermore, the bill includes a provision that prevents public school officials from influencing or pressuring minors to withhold information from their parents about their gender identity. School administrators are required to notify parents if their children express a different gender identity at school and request to be addressed using pronouns that do not match their biological sex.

South Carolina now joins the ranks of 24 other states that have implemented bans on various forms of gender transition procedures for minors. These states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Concerns and Criticisms

The growing trend of restricting minors’ access to hormonal and surgical gender transition interventions reflects concerns about their long-term effects. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service recently recommended a pause on first appointments for individuals under 18 at gender clinics following a comprehensive review of treatment protocols.

The American College of Pediatricians has highlighted potential risks associated with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, such as osteoporosis, mood disorders, and cognitive impairment. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the adverse effects of gender transition surgeries, including irreversible changes to healthy body parts and the development of synthetic body parts.

Legal Challenges and Personal Testimonies

Detransitioners, individuals who have reversed their gender transition processes, have come forward to share their negative experiences with gender-affirming treatments. Chloe Cole, a detransitioner who underwent a double mastectomy as a minor, filed a lawsuit against medical professionals involved in her care, citing deep physical and emotional wounds, severe regrets, and a loss of trust in the medical system.

As debates over gender transition interventions for minors continue to unfold, South Carolina’s enactment of the Help Not Harm bill marks a significant milestone in the ongoing dialogue surrounding youth healthcare and gender identity.