Media Advisory: LGBTQ+ Advocates and Allies to Gather for Grassroots Lobby Day and Press Conference
On Thursday, March 10, LGBTQ+ advocates and allies will gather in Columbia a Grassroots Lobby Day to mobilize against legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in the South Carolina legislature. The day will feature a press conference at 10:00am ET on the steps of the Capitol. The event is being coordinated by SC United for Justice & Equality, a coalition of more than 30 organizations committed to LGBTQ equality in SC, which is working against anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year.
Advocates will speak to a series of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks that are currently under consideration by SC lawmakers. Speakers will include trans and queer leaders, parents of LGBTQ+ youth, medical providers, and faith leaders. Discriminatory bills in South Carolina include:
H.4608 / S.531, which would restrict transgender students from participating in school sports. Similar laws in other states have already been ruled unconstitutional by federal courts. In 2021 this bill was defeated six different times.
S.811, which attempts to sanction the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” which seeks to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
H.4776, which would enact a “license to discriminate” to medical providers and healthcare workers. The bill would allow for a broad range of healthcare workers – including receptionists, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, counselors, insurance companies, and more – to cite their personal beliefs to justify turning away or denying service to LGBTQ+ people, women, people of minority faiths, people of color, and more.
H. 4325, H. 4343, H. 4605, H. 4392, and H. 4799, various efforts to censor curriculum in schools related to racial justice, LGBTQ+ identity, and more. Some of the bills very specifically prohibit discussion of the LGBTQ+ community at all.
S.907 and S.988, broad attacks on reproductive freedom and access to abortion care.
Media are encouraged to attend the event. To RSVP, please contact Adam Polaski at 610-306-7956 or adam@southernequality.org.
WHO: Supporters of LGBTQ+ equality from the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition
WHAT: Press conference to discuss anti-LGBTQ+ legislative attacks in South Carolina
WHEN: Thursday, March 10. Press event begins at 10:00am ET. Advocates will gather for Lobby Day at 8:15am and engage in conversations with legislators until 1pm ET.
WHERE: Columbia Statehouse, South Steps of the Capitol
RSVP: Email adam@southernequality.org or call 610-306-7956
This press conference comes amid an unprecedented surge of anti-transgender attacks, including most notably in Texas, where the state is opening investigations into parents of transgender youth for “child abuse.” In many other states – including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, South Dakota, and more – discriminatory legislation has become law or advanced through a full chamber.