Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster Signs Bill Banning Biological Males from Girls' Sports

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster Signs Bill Banning Biological Males from Girls' Sports

South Carolina has become the 16th state in the U.S. to ban biological males from competing in female sports.

Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, signed  Senate Bill 531, otherwise known as House Bill 4608 or the Save Women's Sports Act, into law on Monday.

"The Save Women's Sports Act is now the law of the land in South Carolina. We have to do everything we can to protect the young men and women in our state who choose to pursue athletic competition, and that's why I proudly signed this bill into law yesterday," McMaster said in a statement posted on Facebook.

"It's common sense, boys should play boys sports and girls should play girls sports," he concluded.

As reported by The Christian Post, McMaster was commended by Terry Schilling, president of the conservative American Principles Project, for "taking action to protect a fair playing field for girl athletes in the Palmetto State."

"Male athletes do not belong in our daughters' sports, period," Schilling said. "Biology matters, and no amount of gaslighting by woke ideologues will change that."

"With 16 states now having taken this step, there is no excuse left for those states that haven't, particularly those led by Republicans."

The progressive coalition South Carolina United for Justice & Equality, however, took issue with the bill’s signing.

"It pains us to see lawmakers in South Carolina, and now the governor, ignore the voices of thousands of South Carolinians – including parents, medical providers, students, faith leaders, and transgender people ourselves – who expressed loudly and clearly that this bill will harm young people in our state," coalition leader Ivy Hill said in a statement.

"Transgender youth are not a threat to fairness in sports, and this law now needlessly stigmatizes young people who are simply trying to navigate their adolescence, make friends, and build skills like teamwork and leadership, winning and losing."

Hill also commended the "thousands of supporters of transgender dignity" for speaking out and protesting against the bill and other related legislation this year.

"Despite this setback, we will never stop fighting on behalf of trans and queer young people, and our coalition will explore every strategy possible to surmount every barrier to equality," Hill concluded.

South Carolina joins other states that have banned biological males from girls' sports, including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.

Related:

Gov. Ron DeSantis Says He Supports a Ban on Sex-Change Surgeries for Minors in Florida

Florida Dept. of Health Releases Guidelines Prohibiting Transgender Treatments for Minors

'If the Good Lord Made You a Boy, You are a Boy': Alabama Gov. Signs 2 Transgender Bills

Biden Administration Endorses 'Gender Affirming Care' for Kids, Youth

Photo courtesy: Zach Lucero/Unsplash


Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.