South Carolina has been criticised for passing a ban on gender-affirming care for trans young people, as well as imposing “extreme” restrictions on healthcare for transgender adults. 

On Tuesday (21 May), South Carolina’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, signed bill H4624 into law, which bans all gender-affirming care – including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery – for those under the age of 18. 

The legislation also imposes restrictions on access to gender-affirming care for trans adults, by limiting which public healthcare and insurance providers can cover the cost of trans healthcare. The law …