South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed a bill banning gender reassignment surgery and hormones for minors.
House Bill 4624, dubbed the “Help not Harm” law by lawmakers, would ban anyone under the age of 18 from undergoing gender reassignment surgery or any form of puberty blockers or hormones.
The Associated press reports that the bill also requires principals or vice principals “to notify parents or guardians if a child wishes to use a name other than the legal name, or a nickname or pronouns that do not correspond to the gender assigned at birth .”
“I signed the Help Not Harm bill into law, which protects our state's children from irreversible gender transition procedures and prohibits public resources from being used on their behalf,” McMaster wrote in a statement on X on Wednesday. “I look forward to next week to join lawmakers and supporters at a ceremonial bill signing in the Upstate.”
I signed the Help Not Harm bill into law, which protects our state's children from irreversible gender transition procedures and prohibits public funds from being used on their behalf. I look forward to joining legislators and supporters for a ceremonial bill signing in the Upstate next week. pic.twitter.com/7RTDYGGGDU
— Governor Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) May 21, 2024
The law took effect immediately after being signed by the governor.
There are a few exceptions, such as for children with certain medical conditions that cause them to enter puberty prematurely.
South Carolina is now the 25th state to ban the controversial procedures for minors.
