South Carolina is poised to potentially vote on a bill which would force trans and gender-nonconforming students in schools to use bathrooms that correspond with their biological sex at birth.
This bill is reminiscent of a bill that was passed in North Carolina in 2016 — House Bill 2, also known as HB2 — and would make it so public school restrooms facilities with access to multiple people have to be designated for individuals of one sex. The bill defines sex of someone to be the “anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth,” which has raised some concerns among LGBTQ+ activists across South Carolina.
“Anytime a bill like this is filed, whether it is targeting access to healthcare for trans folks, access to restrooms, anything like this, it has a real emotional toll on the community,” Chase Glenn, the executive director of Alliance for Full Acceptance, explained to ABC News 4. “At this point, our community sees that these bills are filed. There’s a negative impact knowing that there are people out there who are targeting them.”
The bill was written by Upstate Republican Rep. April Cromer, and on Jan. 18, another representative named themselves as a sponsor for the bill. In addition to the clause regarding bathroom use, the bill also states school activities involving spending the night somewhere wouldn’t allow students to share bedrooms or restrooms with those of the opposite sex unless members of the same family. This portion also uses the same definition of “sex” as the bathroom section.
Glenn told ABC News 4 that legislators such as Cromer need to take a step back and remember why they were sent to the state’s capitol: to advocate for ALL South Carolinians.
“Precedent has already been set in the courts on cases like this,” Glenn said. “The courts have said students have the right to use a restroom that they need to use. So, putting a bill like this into play is a waste of time. This is just a political issue and a way to win political points. The courts have been clear– trans students have the right to use the restroom they need to use.”