Anderson Magazine (AM)- Can you share with us the importance of Pride Month and what message you want to share about the month?
PFLAG Anderson (PFLAG)- Some people think Pride Month is about indoctrination or forcing something on others. It’s actually the LGBTQ+ community celebrating each other. Our celebration about being able to express our identities openly and joyfully is important because queer people have had to be silent, secretive, and invisible, just for survival for so long. Pride is for us, by us, but anyone who has love for us, values diversity, or just wants to celebrate with us can join! If someone disagrees with Pride, just go about your day.
AM – What are some of the most important local/state and national issues that need to be addressed by government?
PFLAG – The government of South Carolina needs to stay our of healthcare for transgender people and women. Bill 4624 was just signed into law. This law prevents treatment of gender dysphoria in anyone under age 18. It also requires anyone working in a school to out a student to their parents. There’s a lot of misunderstanding about treatment of gender dysphoria, even with legislators. Doctors, therapists, and the transgender community understand treatment but the legislators chose to listen to those outside the community instead of the people who deal with gender dysphoria daily. South Carolina needs a hate crime law. At least 2 transgender people have been murdered in recent years. South Carolina and Wyoming are the only 2 states that do not have a state level hate crimes law. Some legislators, including Reps Thomas Beach and April Cromer sponsored a bill to remove DEI from colleges and universities. These programs serve minority groups, including queer students. South Carolina needs to help those who are underserved, not remove programs that help them. There’s also an issue with books featuring queer characters or themes. Some people simply do not want their children reading very much age appropriate books like this, and that’s ok. But they are trying to get schools and public libraries to remove these books. Reps Beach and Cromer have been involved with this as well. Removing books takes away a child’s chance to find a book they relate to or a book that teaches them about people who are different. This fight about books is not needed. Schools and libraries already have policies in place that allow parents to exempt their children from certain books, and public library policies require active parenting. Basically the local and state issues are people not allowing us to live.
AM – What are some of the biggest struggles the LGBTQ+ community faces?
PFLAG – Bigots have found ways around equal employment laws, fair housing laws, and equal pay. A person’s sexuality should not affect or determine not qualifying for a job, a pay rate, a home, or college. Lawmakers need to close these loopholes.
Acceptance in general is an ongoing struggle, especially in South Carolina. For whatever reason, some people think LGBTQ+ people should not have the same rights or simply should not exist. Queer people being married, adopting, having jobs, going to college, does not intrude on the lives of others.
AM – What events are being planned for this month across the South?
PFLAG – The South is big, so I’m going to list of some local and state events.
June 1: Outfest, Columbia
June1: Pride Month Celebration Picnic, Myrtle Beach
June 1: Charleston Pride Parade followed by Charleston Pride Festival
June 7: Gays Eating Garlic Bread, Anderson
June 8: Pridefest at Trinity Lutheran Church, downtown Greenville
June 20: LGBTQ Comedy Show, Velo Fellow Greenville
June 23: Pride Party with Upstate Pride, Traveler’s Taproom
June 29: Upstate Black Pride Parade and Festival, Downtown Greenville
June 30: Pride in the Park, Columbia
AM – How can everyone support these events?
PFLAG – Come celebrate with us! Bring friends, share events on social media.
AM – Who are the biggest allies of the LGBTQ+ community in the South (groups, politicians, individuals)?
PFLAG – There’s a lot of organizations and groups. Here are a few:
PFLAG Anderson
PFLAG Greenville
PFLAG Spartanburg
Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA)
Queer Wellness Center, Greenville
SC United for Equality and Justice
ACLU SC
WREN: Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network
Upstate LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Pridefest Collaborative
Campaign for Southern Equality
North Anderson Community Church
Trinity Lutheran Church
Greenville First Baptist Church
Jessicka Spearman for SC Senate District 3
Eric Childs for SC House District 6
South Carolina Progressive Politics
AM – What does Pride mean to you?
PFLAG – Pride means self-acceptance, self-love, and courage to live authentically. Pride is a celebration of diversity, the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, and achievements made. Pride is also a time to remember the struggle for equal rights, and the ongoing fight against discrimination and oppression. Pride celebrates love and the right of every individual to live freely and openly.
AM – How have things progressed (or have they) over the past 10 years for the LGBTQ+ community?
PFLAG – On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses. Otherwise, in SC, progress has been acceptance within society in general. The majority of South Carolinians support same-sex marriage. Most say the government should stay out of healthcare decisions for LGBTQ+ youth when parents are involved. This is why active allies are so important for the LGBTQ+ community as the the fight for equal rights still continues. In 2002, Governor McMaster said that he would enforce a same-sex marriage ban in South Carolina if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.
Also, a state hate crimes law has yet to become a reality. South Carolina is one of only 2 states that does not have a hate crimes law. Every year state legislators create new bills against the LGBTQ+ community. A big one that decimates gender affirming care for transgender youth was just signed into law. There’s a lawsuit pending in US District Court, filed in 2019 about same sex couples being allowed to be foster parents. The lawsuit claims that SCHHS, Governor Henry McMaster, and the Director of the SC DSS are violating the Establishment and Equal Protection Clauses of the U.S Constitution by authorizing and enabling the use of religious criteria by Miracle Hill to screen out would-be foster families because of their faith or sexual orientation. Miracle Hill is South Carolina’s largest state-contracted foster care agency.
AM – How can our readers be strong allies of the LGBTQ+ community?
PFLAG – Being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community is as simple as supporting a business owned by a queer person or fellow ally, respecting a person’s identity and pronouns, and standing up against discrimination and prejudice in all forms. A strong ally takes the time to educate themselves on LGBTQ+ issues, history, and the unique challenges faced by the community. The strongest allies are those who come to Pride events, advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in legislation, and self-reflect on one’s own biases in order to grow as a person and an ally.