CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – Advocates for Charleston’s gay and queer community say they’re excited about big plans and events this Pride month, despite what they say felt like an attack on the community by state legislators this session.
Chase Glenn is the director of Alliance For Full Acceptance. The North Charleston-based advocacy group does a lot of lobbying in the statehouse for and against certain bills that deal with gay, queer and transgender people.
“This year, there were 19 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in our statehouse here in South Carolina,” says Glenn.
The bill spawned in both the South Carolina House and Senate addressed a variety of LGBTQ+ issues, according to SC United for Justice and Equality, a group with which AFFA collaborates in its advocacy efforts. Many legislators who author the bills write in their proposals that the bills are to protect children and families.
“These bills range from a curriculum within schools to limiting the rights of parents to seek the health care their child needs, specifically our trans children. Anything related to changing your identity, there are all kinds of different issues that were addressed in some of these anti-LGBTQ bills that were introduced,” says Glenn.
While AFFA focuses on legal work, on the side We Are Family is a non-profit organization that provides programs and spaces for youth in the community. Jonatan Guerrero Ramírez runs the Closet Case thrift store and runs community events.
“Right now, more than ever, awareness in our community is so important, not just for queer people, but more important for these young people. This month is a time when many of them feel like they are seeing where they’re heard. We’re here to provide that space,” says Ramírez.
None of the bills introduced in the State House this year have passed. Glenn says some of the laws the community sees as threatening include banning discussion of sexual orientation in schools, banning gender-based care for people under the age of 26, and penalizing doctors and parents who seeking gender affirming care for minors. Ramirez agrees.
“The current climate right now in South Carolina is a little scary for a lot of our queer youth, a lot of our queer youth feel disenfranchised. But like I said, we’re fans and we’re here to deliver that space. We’re here to provide a knowledge base for these young people,” says Ramírez.
Another bill, Senate S.332, aimed to legally create a version of a marriage certificate that provided space for the bride and groom.
“The issues that we see happening here in our country and here in South Carolina through these bills are just this kind of alteration of our community, like singling out LGBTQ people and saying we don’t deserve the same rights and freedoms that everyone else. deserves for some reason, mostly because people might not understand us,” says Glenn.
She remembers growing up not seeing advocacy groups like AFFA or a community support system like We Are Family.
“I would challenge people that you don’t have to fully understand something to be able to have compassion and see the need for everyone to have equal rights,” says Glenn.
When it comes to Pride Month, organizations look forward to their events.
“There is nothing but love and positivity that goes into these events. When we plan these events, our intention is to have fun, raise awareness for our community, get resources to those in need, but most importantly, celebrate the love of celebrating what queer joy is, celebrating the future and how This is how far we’ve come as a community,” Ramírez says.
The Charleston Pride Parade will take place downtown on June 3rd at 9am. We Are Family has a list of events including family days with games and prizes, markets and an adult dance. on your website.
“I think every time I go into Pride, I’m always thinking about the young people and thinking about what it can feel like for them to not feel so isolated and feel so alone that at this time of year they can knowing that they are supported. and loved. And I hope we can expand that throughout the year,” says Glenn.
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