COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina is facing a lawsuit following the signing of a controversial bill that bans gender-affirming healthcare.

Back in May, Governor Henry McMaster signed House Bill 4624. This bill restricts transgender youth and some transgender adults from receiving gender transition procedures and treatments such as puberty-delaying medications and hormone therapy.

The lawsuit Misanin v. Wilson, was filed with the U.S. District Court for South Carolina on Thursday. The case is brought by a family of two parents and two minors, who say they could be denied care when the law takes effect in January. Also joining the effort is the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina. Their goal is to overturn parts of the bill that would deny potentially life-saving healthcare.

“A law that takes away healthcare from people, that strips away the ability of parents to make medical decisions for their children, that criminalizes doctors who follow the established standards of care isn’t just mean-spirited and harmful – it’s also unconstitutional,” said Jace Woodrum, Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina. “Transgender South Carolinians should be able to get the medical care they need without politicians coming into their doctors’ offices with them. That’s why we’re challenging this dangerous law.”

Governor Henry McMaster has responded to the lawsuit by posting on "X" formerly known as Twitter, saying "I was proud to sign the Help Not Harm bill into law, and I will continue to support our state's efforts to fight back against those who wish to force harmful gender transition procedures on our children.

House Bill 4624 is set to go into effect on January 31st, 2025.