Anti-Trans Bill Hearing on Thursday
What's happening?
The South Carolina Senate Family and Veterans' Services Child Welfare Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 AM in Gressette Room 307 to consider S240, the “Parental Rights to Affirm Biological Sex in Child Welfare and Placement Act.”
What's S240 about?
This bill seeks to amend South Carolina’s child welfare laws to mandate that affirming a child’s "biological sex"—narrowly defined based on anatomy and genetics—be considered a "positive factor" in child welfare, custody, and foster care decisions. It would prohibit courts and agencies from recognizing a caregiver’s refusal to support a child’s gender identity as evidence of abuse, neglect, or unfit parenting.
S240 undermines best practices in child welfare by restricting the ability of courts and professionals to fully assess a child's needs, disregarding expert medical and psychological guidance on gender-affirming care. It could also open the door to conversion therapy practices, which have been widely condemned as harmful.
Quite simply, this bill will further marginalize a group of children who are already marginalized. Oppose S240 and advocate for policies prioritizing the well-being and rights of all children in South Carolina.
What can you do?
Send a Message to the Senate Family and Veterans' Services Child Welfare Subcommittee Members: Click here to send a message telling them to reject S240.
Attend Wednesday's Hearing in Person: An impactful way to speak out is attending the subcommittee hearing on Wednesday in Gressette Room 308 at the South Carolina State House. The SC United Coalition and other partners plan to meet outside of Gressette at 8:30 AM so that we can walk in together.
If you're not able to attend in person, the meeting will be live-streamed here.
