SC House 3M Commitee on H. 4624
Click on timestamps below to jump to specific, selected parts of the video. Because of space constraints, not all testimony could be time-stamped. Pediatricians, mental health professionals, parents, and LGBTQ+ citizens testify on proposed bill H. 4624, banning gender-affirming care for minors and requiring forced outing of students (57 against the bill; 1 in favor).
Link to text of bill: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-...
Information from WREN: https://p2a.co/bVSrAuO
01:17 Bill sponsor Rep. John McCravy speaks. He makes a number of claims about puberty blockers and gender-affirming care that are not supported by medical consensus. (see links below)
01:29 McCravy references an FDA "warning" about "pseudotumor cerebri". The FDA warning was based on 6 cases in children, 5 of whom were taking the medication for precocious puberty, a recognized health condition not related to gender "transition". https://www.fda.gov/media/159663/download
01:27 McCravy cites the Endocrine Society, which has formally opposed bills like H. 4624. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocac...
04:10 While McCravy doesn't cite his research specifically, there is research to support the claim that most children on "puberty blockers" go on to take "cross-sex hormones". However, this could be used to support the argument that most of these children do continue to identify as transgender as they age into adulthood. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/26/1131398960/...
04:39 McCravy's claim that most people regret gender-affirming surgery is not supported by medical research. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurge....
05:10 An article about the "60 Minutes documentary" McCravy seems to be referencing: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-tr...
06:35 Representative JA Moore asks McCravy to cite his studies; McCravy declines.
08:02 Dr. Greenhouse, pediatrician and past president of SC American Academy of Pediatrics, testifies first, followed by Dr. Elizabeth Mack. Both oppose the bill, along with 55 other speakers.
13:54 Rep. Heath Sessions and others question Dr. Mack, and she clarifies or debunks many of the concerns raised by proponents of H. 4624.
21:37 Parents of a transgender child detail their seven-year experience of diagnosing and treating their child and answer questions from the panel.
30:30 A "public health professional" and "proud parent of a queer teen" testifies against the bill.
33:15 A pediatrician from Rock Hill, SC, testifies against the bill, and speaks to the health problems LGBTQ+ children face.
35:55 A resident of Spartanburg, SC, a cancer survivor, calls the bill "an assault on the medical freedom of trans people".
38:35 Registered nurse testifies against the bill.
40:51 ACLU-SC's Jace Woodrum, a transgender man, testifies against the bill.
43:16 Parent, ordained minister, and advocate speaks against the bill. She is also a transgender woman.
56:28 Philip Ford speaks in opposition to the bill, and offers a literal binder full of studies to debunk some of the claims made by proponents.
01:02:00 Pediatrician Dr. Michael O'Brien testifies against the bill.
01:13:00 South Carolinian testifies against the bill online.
01:21:23 School counselor from York, SC, testifies against the bill.
01:23:58 Rep. Thomas Beach asks his sole question (which he asks two different commenters), about who should out students to their parents.
01:15:17 Matt Sharp of the ADF testifies online from Arizona. SPLC has labeled ADF a Hate Group: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/ex...
01:55:28 Emily Mayer, former educator and current candidate for Bluffton Town Council, testifies against the bill.
02:05:50 ACLU-SC's senior advocacy strategist testifies against the bill and addresses legal issues raised by Rep. Moore.
02:11:17 Planned Parenthood's Vicki Ringer testifies against the bill, says "the makeup of the board indicates that nothing I say will matter. The fact that we have a full committee meeting [on the bill scheduled for] tomorrow suggests the same".
02:13:03 A former educator speaks testifies against the bill, specifically the forced outing requirements, and answers a question from Rep. Beach.
02:15:28 Immediately following testimony about the dangers of outing students, Beach asks a question, for the second time about who should out students. He acknowledges teachers "don't want to get in the middle of all this... but the law's the law". (Of course, the bill is not yet law.)
02:20:00 A college student tearfully testifies against the bill on behalf of a transgender sibling.
2:23:00 WREN is "in firm opposition to the bill, as you know". Laugther from the room.