Thread by @SCUnited_LGBTQ

🏳️‍⚧️❤️ The SC United team is here today in Columbia to #SupportTransYouthSC and defend everyone’s right to be their authentic self on their identification documents. Follow along as we testify against S627 and S623, two anti-transgender bills. 1/

This morning a panel of experts - including parents of trans youth, trans adults, medical professionals, and mental health providers - will testify against these bills (a second hearing will take place on 3/29 – RSVP to testify here: southcarolinaunited.org/updates/march29 2/

Here's what we're talking about: S627, which would prohibit trans youth from accessing medical care (and force teachers to “out” trans students) and deny public funding for transgender-related healthcare, and S623, which prohibits gender marker changes on birth certificates. 3/

We’re here and waiting for the Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee meeting to begin. 4/

The hearing is starting now and lawmakers are describing the bills – here's what we know: These bills are discrimination, dangerous, and have no place in #SouthCarolina. Please join us in opposing: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-s… 5/

Have you urged the committee to vote NO yet? Click here to send a message to all of the committee members and urge them to reject anti-#transgender bills in #SouthCarolina: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-s… 6/

S.627 is especially monstrous: It blocks access to life-saving healthcare for #transgender youth under 18, prohibits public funding from supporting ANY transgender-related care AND requires school staff to "out" trans youth. 7/

Senator Kimbrell justifies his support for S627 by comparing trans youth to his child, who liked dressing up as Iron Man as a 7-year-old. 🙄 The comparison is not only offensive – it ignores the lived reality of transgender young people. #SupportTransYouthSC

If you'd like to watch the full Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee hearing, you can watch here: (although please know that it will likely include harmful, hurtful language and you're under no obligation to watch: scstatehouse.gov/video/stream.p…

Sen Kimbrell says that 86% of trans people regret their transition – this is ABSOLUTELY false. Research shows repeatedly that a very small number of transgender people regret transitioning. Rates of regret regarding other medical procedures are far higher. jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-…

Speaking now is Dr. Elizabeth Mack (@emacksc), a pediatric critical care physician and President of the #SouthCarolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She's here to combat misinformation and share a powerful message: "Gender-affirming care IS the standard of care."

Dr. Mack is one of 150+ medical providers in #SouthCarolina who signed onto a letter opposing bills like S.627 and supporting best-practice gender-affirming care for #transgender youth: southcarolinaunited.org/updates/150-so…

Dr. Mack concludes her opposition to S.627: "Let’s respect parent’s rights and keep the patient physician relationship safe. Otherwise, we will lose children and we will not be able to practice standard of care." Thank you, Dr. Mack, for being here. #SupportTransYouthSC

If #SouthCarolina lawmakers care about protecting children, Dr. Mack says, then we must protect access to gender-affirming care. #SupportTransYouthSC

Speaking now is Dr. Debbie Greenhouse, who is sharing the high rates of depression among #LGBTQ youth – and that access to affirming care and supportive spaces can decrease those depression rates. Watch: scstatehouse.gov/video/stream.p… #SupportTransYouthSC

"Transgender children know who they are. This is NOT about a child who thinks they are Iron Man." Thank you, Dr. Greenhouse, for speaking out and being a voice for trans young people. #SupportTransYouthSC

"Puberty blockers are proven to be safe and effective. They essentially buy the adolescents time protecting their mental health while they have a chance to grow, mature and develop the ability to make more adult decisions about their future." Thank you, Dr. Greenhouse.

"If the ban on gender affirming care for youth in SC passes, my exam room will still be a safe space – But it will no longer be the affirming space that it has always been, bc I will no longer be able to diagnose & refer patients to the best of my ability." #SupportTransYouthSC

Speaking now is Prisha Mosley, who identifies as a detransitioning woman. The truth is that while regret is a part of all medicine, research studies on regret show a VERY small number of trans people regret transitioning. Regret among other procedures are FAR higher.

Let's be clear: Expecting a 100% non-regret rate for transgender-related healthcare 1) applies a double standard that we don't apply to the regret rate among many other procedures and 2) ignores the very high non-regret rate among transgender people.

Speaking now is Richard McCain, an orthopedic surgeon. He is citing widely debunked "studies" from Europe – but it's important to know: Gender-affirming care IS available to adolescents in the U.K., Sweden, Finland, and others when the provider deems it medically necessary.

McCain's talking about the "Swedish Study," which is widely-cited + hugely misinterpreted. The lead author has said it “DOES NOT say that medical transition causes people to commit suicide. It does say people who have transition[ed] are more vulnerable & we need to improve care.”

Sen. Hutto: Do you believe parents know what's best for their children?

McCain (who is testifying in favor of an anti-trans bill that would prohibit parents from supporting their transgender children with best-practice, life-saving medical care): *Always*

#SupportTransYouthSC

Sen. Johnson: "Why can't parents decide what is best for their children?"

This is what's critical: Medical decisions around gender-affirming care should be made by parents, patients, and medical providers – NOT politicians.