Visibility has a Cost. Resilience has A Future. We Need YOU to Help Power Equality

Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to live openly, to show up authentically, and to remain visible even when visibility comes with a cost. In South Carolina, being visible as an LGBTQ+ person — or as someone who loves and supports us — is an act of courage. But it’s also an act of hope. And it’s that hope that fuels our work at SC Equality, especially as we launch this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign.

We live in chaotic times. There is no denying that. The legislative attacks, the polarization, the misinformation campaigns — it all takes a toll on our community. But alongside that chaos, I’ve witnessed something else this year: an incredible amount of resilience, compassion, and commitment from people who believe, deeply and sincerely, that equal means everyone.

That belief guides everything we do.

Finding Strength in Community

One of the moments that stood out to me this year happened at the Famously Hot SC Pride Festival. I walked through the festival grounds surrounded by families, friends, couples, kids with rainbow flags draped around their shoulders like capes, elders who have marched for decades, and young people who are seeing their community celebrated for the first time. In that space — that temporary, beautiful, joyful bubble — you could feel what it means to be seen and safe.

That’s why we show up. That’s why we continue to do this work. Being visible shouldn’t come with fear or cost. It should come with connection, affirmation, and opportunity.

Showing Up Where It Matters

Visibility doesn’t only happen at Pride. It also happens in quieter, more challenging spaces — like the State House.

This year, I spent time talking with legislators who genuinely had no idea how some of the bills being proposed would impact real people. They hadn’t heard from parents terrified that their child’s health care might be stripped away. They hadn’t met a trans teen trying to navigate school with dignity. They didn’t know the fear families carry into doctor’s offices or public spaces.

But when they heard personal stories — when they heard honesty, vulnerability, and lived experiences — something shifted. You could see it in their faces. You could hear it in their follow-up questions. Conversations like these remind me that advocacy is not just about policy; it’s about people.

SC Equality, alongside our partners, worked tirelessly this year to stop a significant amount of harmful legislation from becoming law. These weren’t small victories. They were the result of community members showing up, advocates refusing to be silenced, and organizations standing shoulder-to-shoulder to protect what matters most.

A Wake-Up Call

But there were also reminders that progress is never permanent.

When the conversion therapy ban repeal was introduced in Columbia, it sent a shock through our community. It reminded us that even local protections, once celebrated, can be challenged. It was a wake-up call — a reminder that our work is never finished.

Advocacy is not a one-time action. Equality is not a guaranteed endpoint. The moment we assume our rights are secure, that’s the moment they begin to slip away. That repeal attempt showed us, clearly and urgently, why we must stay engaged, informed, and connected to our elected leaders.

Why This Campaign Matters

This Giving Tuesday, our theme is simple but powerful:

Visibility Has a Cost. Resilience Has a Future.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from people across the state — advocates, educators, parents, leaders, your neighbors, friends, and allies. These stories represent the depth and breadth of our community. They show the courage it takes to be visible and the strength it takes to keep going.

You’ll hear from families raising LGBTQ+ kids, from couples fighting to make a life here in South Carolina, from young people finding their voices, and from elders who paved the path long before any of us got here. These stories aren’t just testimonials — they are reminders of why this work matters.

And I will be sharing my own reflections, too. Because leadership is not just about strategy; it’s also about sincerity. I believe that when people understand the real experiences behind our advocacy, they are more willing to stand with us.

This Is Your Invitation

I want this campaign to feel like an invitation — not an obligation. An invitation to participate in whatever way you can.

Yes, giving financially is powerful. Donating helps us show up at community events, prepare testimony, mobilize voters, and keep a constant presence in the State House. It gives us the tools we need to respond quickly when harmful legislation appears. It helps us create moments of community safety and belonging, like the ones I felt at Pride.

But showing up isn’t just about giving money.

Showing up is:

• Sharing this campaign with someone who needs to hear it.

• Talking to your friends and family about why equality matters.

• Writing your legislator when a bill threatens LGBTQ+ youth or families.

• Volunteering your time at an event.

• Offering encouragement to someone who feels invisible or alone.

• Standing with us in the moments when visibility feels heavy.

• Every one of these actions strengthens our movement.

Why I Believe in This Work

I believe in this work because I’ve seen what happens when a community comes together. I’ve seen the relief on a parent’s face when they learn that someone in the legislature is fighting for their child. I’ve seen the hope in a young person’s smile when they realize they’re not alone. I’ve seen the courage of people who tell their stories publicly, even when it’s hard, because they want a better future for the next generation.

And I’ve seen that even in the most challenging political environments, resilience grows when people are connected.

That’s what we’re building with this campaign — connection, visibility, and resilience. Not fear. Not urgency. Not panic. But a grounded commitment to each other and to a vision of South Carolina where LGBTQ+ people are safe, supported, and celebrated.

A Future Worth Fighting For

As we launch this Giving Tuesday campaign, I hope you’ll join us in telling these stories, lifting up these voices, and showing what it means to stand together.

Whether you give, volunteer, share, or simply read and reflect, you are contributing to this movement. You are part of the future we are building.

Visibility has a cost. Resilience has a future.

And together, we can power equality for everyone.