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South Carolina has been criticised for passing a ban on gender-affirming care for trans young people, as well as imposing “extreme” restrictions on healthcare for transgender adults. On Tuesday (21 May), South Carolina’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, signed bill into law, which bans all gender-affirming care – including , hormone therapy and surgery – for those under the age of 18. The legislation also imposes restrictions on access to gender-affirming care for trans adults, by limiting which public healthcare and insurance providers can cover the cost of trans healthcare.

The law went into effect immediately, making South Carolina one of dozens of states to limit gender-affirming care for trans people since 2021. According to the (HRC), 39 per cent of trans youth aged 13 to 17 are living in the 25 states – including Texas, Florida and Ohio – that have banned gender-affirming care. Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and chief executive of LGBTQ+ organisation , branded the restrictions extreme, adding that politicians are aiming to “eradicate” transgender people’s ability to thrive.



“H4624 in South Carolina is one of the most extreme attacks on transgender Americans in the country and will hurt countless families and residents while helping no one,” she said. “Anti-transgender extremists claimed that their surge of attacks against basic access to healthcare were in the interest of protecting children, yet it’s clearer than ever that their goal i.

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