South Carolina wants to block trans people from using appropriate bathrooms

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

South Carolina has introduced a bill to limit the ability of trans people to use a gender-appropriate bathroom.

Following in the footsteps of North Carolina a bill was introduced in the South Carolina Senate yesterday.

South Carolina wants to block trans people from using appropriate bathrooms

The bill plans to stop local authorities from protecting the rights of trans people by requiring businesses to allow them to use a bathroom lining up with their gender identity.

Speaking to the State paper, Republican Senator Lee Bright, the bill’s sponsor said: “Men should use the men’s room, and women should use the women’s room – that’s just common sense… North Carolina is getting so much flak over what is common sense.”

The bill stops short of banning local anti-discrimination ordinances, like its North Carolina equivalent.

But opponents of the bill have warned that the state may see a backlash similar to other states where business leaders have already begun dismantling infrastructure in the aftermath of other similar laws.

Last month North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed law which voids all local ordinances protecting LGBT rights, as well as permitting businesses to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religious belief.

South Carolina wants to block trans people from using appropriate bathrooms

The new law also bans transgender students in public schools from using their preferred bathroom.

McCrory’s decision has attracted a legal challenge as well as a growing boycott of the state, with over 100 companies slamming the decision.

Yesterday it was announced that Lionsgate-produced Hulu comedy pilot ‘Crushed’ will be moved out of the state.

A statement from internet payment giant Paypal earlier this month announced that a planned new HQ in the state would be scrapped.

PayPal CEO Dan Schulman explained he could not move to the state in good conscience. Governor McCrory had previously personally championed the opening of the HQ.