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2025 State Advocacy

SC Equality closely tracks state legislation through our active membership in the SC United Coalition, a collective of LGBTQ and affirming organizations dedicated to advocacy and legislative action. We also employ a dedicated lobbyist who maintains direct communication with legislators, providing critical insights and updates as bills progress. This dual approach ensures we stay informed and ready to mobilize in support or opposition, protecting and advancing LGBTQ rights in South Carolina.

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Anti-LGBTQ Youth Bills

H. 3118, H. 3011, H. 3638, S. 242, S. 243

 

This collection of legislation, deceptively labeled as "Parental Bills of Rights," seeks to undermine the safety and privacy of LGBTQ+ youth, deny all students access to inclusive and diverse education, and restrict parents’ ability to protect their children’s freedom to learn. While these bills differ slightly, they collectively represent an anti-LGBTQ agenda aimed at imposing harsh limits on LGBTQ+ young people and their families by elevating the rights of certain parents above others. The measures included would censor educational content, obstruct students’ freedom of inquiry, disrupt critical healthcare access for LGBTQ+ youth, and threaten the well-being of all students in South Carolina.

Anti-DEI Efforts

H.3476 ,  H.3184 , H.3572 , H.3927, & S.368

These bills are attempts to eliminate “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” initiatives from public education and government.

Leather Briefcase
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Anti-Trans Legislation

S.162, H.3095, H.3263 & S.199

Another set of bills directly targets the dignity and rights of transgender South Carolinians by unnecessarily interfering with existing administrative procedures. Specifically, S.162 and H.3095 aim to prevent individuals from updating the gender marker on their birth certificates, a crucial step for transgender people to secure accurate identity documents.

These bills would severely limit transgender South Carolinians' right to use restrooms safely and with dignity in public spaces, including state-operated buildings, schools, colleges, and correctional facilities. These measures represent clear efforts to marginalize and erase transgender individuals from public life.

Conversion Therapy

In April 2025, Attorney General Alan Wilson sent a formal letter to the City of Columbia, warning that its 2021 conversion therapy ban violated state and federal laws and threatening legal action if the ordinance was not repealed. Shortly after, Senator Josh Kimbrell introduced a proviso in the state budget that would strip funding from municipalities with such bans, putting millions of dollars in local funding at risk. This coordinated pressure campaign used both legal threats and financial consequences to force the city's hand. As a result, Columbia’s city council ultimately voted to repeal the ordinance to avoid costly litigation and the potential loss of critical state funds. These actions reflect a broader effort to undermine local protections for LGBTQ+ youth and limit cities’ ability to enact inclusive policies.

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We Need YOU!

Your donation to SC Equality’s 501(c)(4) fuels the advocacy and lobbying work that directly defends LGBTQ+ rights at the State House. With increasing attacks on our community, your support helps us fight harmful legislation, mobilize supporters, and ensure lawmakers are held accountable. This work cannot happen without grassroots investment. Make a contribution today and help us protect equality where it’s needed most.

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