Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has aligned with a coalition of 24 state attorneys general to present a friend-of-the-court brief opposing a Biden-era rule. The rule obliges federal funding to cover sex-change surgeries and cross-sex hormone treatments for prison inmates.

"We cannot allow woke ideology passed down by activist judges or self-interest groups to dictate every aspect of our society,” Attorney General Wilson stated. He further argued that taxpayers should not be compelled to support policies that advance a radical agenda, emphasizing the importance of decisions being made by elected leaders rather than through cultural or political pressures. Wilson highlighted the importance of prioritizing the integrity of institutions and community well-being over a divisive and costly agenda.

Attorney General Wilson contends that the adoption of such a rule could establish a dangerous precedent. He urges the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to oppose this mandate on the grounds that the Constitution delegates the responsibility of permitting controversial medical procedures to policymakers. Additionally, Wilson argues that the Eighth Amendment does not restrict policymakers from making categorical decisions on disputed medical issues.

Wilson defends the constitutional right of states to regulate medical treatment and public funding, underlining that controversial or experimental procedures cannot be demanded by inmates at the expense of taxpayers. The brief stresses that decisions involving medical policy should be made by state lawmakers, especially when scientific debates and ethical concerns remain unresolved. The brief also cites studies pointing to serious risks associated with gender-transition procedures, including complications, regret, infertility, and increased suicide rates.

Attorney General Wilson collaborates with attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.