In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with human rights activist Amberlyn Boiter about the South Carolina House passing H.4608 a bill that seeks to restrict transgender students in middle school, high school and college from participating in school athletics. Even after powerful testimony from community members opposing the bill the subcommittee voted 3-1 to advance S.531 to the full committee with a favorable ruling. The bill is now awaiting discussion on the South Carolina Senate floor. This year marks the first time in years that explicitly anti-LGBTQ legislation has passed a full chamber in South Carolina. This is not the only state to consider or pass harmful legislation against our LGBTQ community. So far in 2022 legislative session dozens of states are considering similar legislation related to LGBTQ discrimination including Florida that passed House Bill 1557 known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law and Alabama’s governor signing a bill criminalizing transgender health care for minors. This marks the third state in the country to pass a restriction on gender-affirming care for minors and the first to include criminal penalties. The Alabama bill could put doctors in prison for up to 10 years for prescribing puberty blockers or hormonal treatment to trans kids under 19. It is crucial that our LGBTQ community and straight allies speak out against these horrific hateful bills and call out the hypocrisy of anti-transgender legislators. Already in Florida legal action has been filed challenging the “Don’t Say Gay” law. In his State Of The Union President Biden stated, “The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is simply wrong.” More affirmative action is needed and The Equality Act must be passed. We talked to Amberlyn about what action needs to happen to make this country safe for our transgender community and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.
Amberlyn Boiter is the Vice President of PFLAG Spartanburg, SC and a facilitator for Uplift Outreach Center - an LGBTQ+ youth center and safe space in the upstate of South Carolina. She is a fervent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and regularly works with various coalitions to affect policy in her home state of South Carolina. A trans woman who came out later in life Amberlyn was stalled by her upbringing in fundamentalist evangelical churches and encourages others to share their stories of religious trauma to bring more attention to the issue. She lives in South Carolina with her wife and daughter. For More Info… South Carolina United for Justice and Equality advocates for the passage of legislation to protect LGBTQ community members and opposes anti-LGBTQ legislation. For More Info…
1 comment:
Amberlyn has an incredible ability to state the case, not by preaching, but with heart and dignity and commitment. Thank you, Charlotte, for this very inspiring interview and messaging.
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