Rose opposes bill targeting transgender athletes in S.C.

On March 4, state Representatives Ashley Trantham, Garry Smith and John McCravy, along with Concerned Women of America, announced their support for the Save Women's Sports Act at the South Carolina statehouse. The bill would effectively oppose allowing transgender youth from participating in public school sports in South Carolina.

The bill comes less than four afters the S.C. High School League's decision to pass a policy allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' sports. The Save Women's Sports Act would also prohibit transgender athletes from participating at the college level, too.

Advocates for the legislation insist their goal isn't to prevent transgender athletes from competing, and that's why the bill outlines a co-ed division in which they would be able to compete IF schools chose to participate in co-ed sporting events.

Lawmakers who don't support the bill say the whole debate is a distraction. "I think we should be focusing our time on the critical needs we have in the state, and not trying to divide our members, said State Rep. Seth Rose, D-Richland.

The ACLU provided the following statement against the bill, too. "There is no evidence to prove being transgender gives girls who are trans an inherent advantage over girls who are not. Given that legislators who participated in today's press conference are the same people leading the fight against bodily autonomy in South Carolina, it is clear that this bill is nothing more than another form of political overreach driven by a desire to diminish our freedom," the statement said.

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