South Carolina House OKs ban on gender-affirming care for minors, Missouri panel sees similar bills

By JAMES POLLARD and SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A proposed ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors has been approved overwhelmingly by the Republican-led South Carolina House. The measure would bar health professionals from performing gender-transition surgeries, prescribing puberty-blocking drugs and overseeing hormone treatments for patients under 18 years old. It goes next to the state Senate. The 82-23 vote comes as Republican-led statehouses nationwide are restricting transgender people’s access to health care, sports leagues and bathrooms that align with their identity. Also in Missouri, a House committee on Wednesday was debating a slate of anti-transgender legislation, even though Republican legislative leaders have said LGBTQ+-related bills are not a top priority this session.