Friends –

Yesterday was a big day in South Carolina: A federal judge entered a consent decree declaring South Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ curriculum law unconstitutional, barring its enforcement. The ruling means that students will finally be able to openly discuss LGBTQ life and relationships in health education classes and be free from a restriction that implied that being LGBTQ is shameful or harmful. 

The victory in the case comes just two weeks after we joined our partners in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the discriminatory law. We are honored to serve as an organizational plaintiff in this case on behalf of our LGBTQ youth members, alongside the Gender and Sexuality Alliance in Charleston and the South Carolina Equality Coalition, and we’re grateful for the legal team, including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, Womble Bond Dickinson, Brazil & Burke, and law professor Clifford Rosky.

At the heart of this case are the heroic LGBTQ youth in South Carolina who have led the effort and made us all so hopeful about what’s possible in the South. Eli Bundy, a 15-year-old sophomore in Charleston, showed tremendous leadership throughout the legal process, and we’re so inspired by their bravery.

This is what it looks like to win in the South: It looks like LGBTQ students finally feeling like they’re not being erased at school. It looks like community organizations coming together to say “enough” to oppressive and degrading policies. It looks like queer young people finding their voice, empowered to fight for the equality and dignity they deserve. 

That’s what we’re working toward every day at the Campaign for Southern Equality. Can you chip in $25, $10, or whatever you can to help build toward the next win? Click here to donate. 

Finally, as we share this news, we know that everyone is feeling the impact of COVID-19 in one way or another. We send our support and urge folks to stay up-to-date with the latest public health recommendations for your local community. We’ll share more information soon about what CSE’s programming will look like in the months ahead as we adjust to this new shared reality. 

In these times, we all feel especially grateful for good news like this victory in South Carolina. I hope it can bring some light and hope to your day.

Thank you,
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Campaign for Southern Equality