Athlete Ally Responds to SC Anti-Trans Athlete Bill
May 17, 2022 — Athlete Ally responded to news that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed a bill into law banning transgender students from participating in sports according to their gender identity. This makes South Carolina the 7th state this year, and the 16th overall, to pass legislation banning transgender youth from sports.
“It is clear to me that this is unconstitutional, and we’re not going to stop fighting just because the governor signed it,” says Ivy Hill, executive director of the South Carolina-based organization Gender Benders and community health program director at the Campaign for Southern Equality. “It’s a really terrible message that lawmakers have been sending to our youth and now the governor is also standing behind it. We’re going to continue to do everything that we can to protect trans youth.”
“We are heartbroken to see South Carolina become the 16th state to sideline transgender youth from the lifesaving power of sports,” said Joanna Hoffman, Director of Communications at Athlete Ally. “These bills are attempting to solve a problem that doesn’t exist, and in doing so are causing severe harm to our transgender youth who simply want to be a part of a team and play sports with their friends. We are grateful to the hardworking advocates in South Carolina fighting for transgender youth, and we will keep up the fight to ensure that transgender youth everywhere are safe, welcome and included in all parts of their life, including sports.”