Get Informed

SC Equality has been involved in some way in every piece of legislation that affects the GLBT community in our state.


An integral aspect of the mission of South Carolina Equality has always been to monitor and impact legislation and the political issues in South Carolina. Working at the local and state level, we strive to advance civil and human rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) persons, and their families.

In the last year, we’ve worked with the Charleston City Council and AFFA to pass ordinances that prevent discrimination in public accommodations and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This is in addition to getting similar ordinances passed in Columbia in 2008. We are now working to get these protections passed in other communities in the state. Also, in 2008, we worked with the state hospital association to get a hospital visitation bill passed. It was signed by the Governor in June 2008 and guarantees that the person designated as a Health Care Power of Attorney has full hospital visitation privileges.

In the recent legislative session, we were able to stop a Teen Dating Violence Bill that defined a dating partner only as a person in a heterosexual relationship. The original bill introduced in 2009 was gender neutral but was amended in the House with the discriminatory language at the end of that year’s session. In 2010, it passed the House and went to the Senate Education Committee, where we were able to stop it from progressing further. We expect the bill to be reintroduced in the next session, and will be prepared to work with the sponsors and our allies to get an inclusive bill passed. 
 

Generally, our work centers around five key issues:

Non-Discrimination

We concentrate our non-discrimination work in three areas: public accommodations, housing, and employment. To ensure GLBT individuals and families are protected in each area, we're working on the local, state, and national level. Learn more about the successes we've had in this area.

Safe Schools

We believe it is our moral responsibility to protect all of our state's children. That's why, in addition to the important work we're doing to help empower students to start life-saving Gay Straight Alliances, we're committed to passing legislation that will make our schools safer. Learn more about all we're doing to ensure our schools are safe and our students are healthy.

Adoption

Countless studies have shown that GLBT individuals and couples make great parents—just as good as straight people. But several states in this country have passed laws that prohibit adoption by GLBT people. That's why we remain vigilant and prepared to fight this kind of discriminatory legislation, should it pop up in our state. Learn more about what we're doing to ensure a discriminatory adoption law never passes.

Hate Crimes

The 2009 passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act has made life safer for all GLBT citizens.  Learn more about how this historic law affects you.

Relationship Protection

Although South Carolina does not currently provide marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples, we have fought—and will continue to fight—to ensure that GLBT couples are protected in several important ways. Learn more about how you're protected.