Equality Brief: Edition 2
Welcome back to The Equality Brief
Your bi-weekly update on the policies, events, and actions shaping the fight for equality in South Carolina. This newsletter keeps you informed on legislative developments, AFFA’s ongoing advocacy efforts, and ways you can get involved. With major challenges ahead, staying engaged is more important than ever - read on for the latest updates and opportunities to take action.
Legislative Update: Bill S240 – We live to fight another day!
Over 70 people (pictured above) showed up at the State House yesterday for the subcommittee hearing for S 240, the legislature's latest attempt to restrict trans rights. The subcommittee ran out of time and the bill was not introduced. Our amazing allies on the subcommittee, Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine and Sen. Russell Ott did their part by asking lots of questions on the first two bills on the agenda, effectively running out the clock during the meeting. As a result, the hearing has been delayed for at least another week, and a new hearing date has not yet been set. Stay tuned for more details when they become available!
This delay gives us more time to mobilize. Now is the time to act - tell your legislators to oppose this harmful bill.
Legal Victory: Federal Judge Blocks Ban on Transgender Youth Medical Care
In a critical win for trans rights, a federal judge has blocked the enforcement of a Trump administration executive order that sought to restrict gender-affirming medical care for trans folks under the age of 19. The order, issued on January 28, aimed to withhold federal funding from healthcare providers offering puberty blockers and hormone therapy to minors.
This ruling temporarily restores access to these essential medical treatments while legal challenges proceed. This case highlights the ongoing fight to protect healthcare access for transgender individuals, and we will continue to monitor developments. Read more from the ACLU here.
Trump Administration Erases “Transgender” from Stonewall Monument Page
The National Park Service (NPS) has removed the word “transgender” and altered the LGBTQ+ acronym on the Stonewall National Monument’s webpage, first reducing it to “LGBQ+” and later to just “LGB.” These edits erase the crucial role trans and gender-nonconforming people played in the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history.
The Stonewall Inn and its nonprofit initiative condemned the changes as “a deliberate attempt to erase our history.” This follows Trump’s executive orders targeting trans visibility, which have led to similar removals from multiple federal websites. Advocates are calling for the immediate restoration of the original language. Read more at Them.
Get Involved: Become a Legal Observer
ACLU South Carolina’s Legal Observer Program is critical in ensuring the right to protest is upheld. If you want to be trained as a legal observer, you can sign up here.
If your organization is hosting an event and would like to request a legal observer’s presence, use this form.
Take Action: Upcoming Events
Advocacy 101 – February 22, 2025, 10:00 AM (Charleston, SC)
Your Rights, Your Power – Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, 6:00 PM (Virtual)
Stay Connected
Be informed – Follow AFFA and our advocacy partners for the latest updates.
Take action – Call your representatives, attend advocacy events, and amplify LGBTQ+ voices.
Support one another – Check in with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Get involved – Volunteer with AFFA, donate, and be a part of the movement.
A Final Note
Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us here at AFFA. We recognize that love - whether for our partners, friends, families, or communities - is a driving force in our work. AFFA remains committed to building a future where everyone’s love and identity are valued and protected.
In solidarity,
The AFFA Action Team
