Pride Month in Columbia, SC

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June is Pride month. 🏳️‍🌈 ICYMI – last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act – which prohibits employment and workplace discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, and sex – also protects gay, lesbian and transgender workers. The majority (6-3) opinion was written by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.

Typically, Columbia hosts a Pride event in June, but thanks to the coronavirus, the third annual Outfest with SC Pride was added to our long list of cancelled events. But there is a chance to celebrate in October. The state’s largest Pride event, Famously Hot South Carolina Pride, currently has events scheduled for Oct. 16-17.

Although events may be limited this year, another great way to celebrate this month, whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or not, is to educate ourselves and become allies.

Pride Month provides those who identify as LGBTQ+ and their allies the opportunity to protest peacefully + raise awareness about the issues this community is facing. It also, in part, commemorates the Stonewall Uprising that happened in 1969.

If you’re looking to educate yourself about LGBTQ+ issues, learning about Stonewall is a good place to start. But there’s a lot more to take in about LGBTQ+ history, discrimination, rights, and the evolution of the cultural acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ+ people.

We reached out to the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center, a local nonprofit and resource, and asked how to best be an ally in Columbia. ⬇️

Quoteworthy

“Allyship is one of those needs whose effects bleed over into other facets of life for an LGBTQIA+ individual. Being an ally does not have a strict list of personal responsibilities nor is the experience the same for everyone.”

Actions for being an ally

Think about what you’ve been taught about the LGBTQIA+ community and how that affects reactions + interactions with people and content

Consider if what you’ve been taught is based on unconscious biases, education or personal experiences with the LGBTQIA+

Realize that the first step toward allyship is understanding your personal thoughts and attitudes

Work toward understanding and accepting others

(Source: Harriet Hancock LGBT Center)

Resources in our community

Click here for support and services from the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center.

Click here for a list of LGBTQ health care resources at Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group.

Click here to learn about or donate to SC Pride.

Click here to learn about or here to get involved with South Carolina Black Pride.

Click here for a list of resources from South Carolina Equality, including legal advice, faith communities, mental health resources and more.