Ban on public cash for inmate sex changes advances

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A legislative panel has approved a bill to prohibit state money from being used for sex change surgery for inmates.

Under current policy, the South Carolina Department of Corrections is obligated to pay for hormonal treatment and surgery for inmates who come into the prison system during the sex-change process.

A Senate subcommittee Thursday approved a bill to overturn that policy by removing public money from the equation. Senators did agree to allow inmates currently on hormonal therapy to continue treatment.

Corrections officials say they don’t think any inmates have ever gone through sex change surgery while in prison. Agency spokesman Clark Newsom says only one inmate has asked for the surgery but changed his mind after counseling.

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