South Carolina Arts Commission Withholds Funds from Two LGBTQ+ Groups Over 'Artistic Merit'
During its meeting on August 20, the South Carolina Arts Commission voted 6-2 to allocate $3.7 million in grants to nearly 180 arts organizations, but denied funding to the Greenville Gay Men's Chorus and Spartanburg's Proud Mary Theatre Company. Board member Russell 'Rip' Parks expressed concerns regarding 'artistic merit.' Internal communications indicated that board member Jessica Rourke opposed funding based on sexual orientation. The commission adopted a resolution asserting that grant recipients should not 'promote any ideology.' Critics like Ed Madden and Jeff Robinson labeled the decision as discriminatory. The organizations must demonstrate their artistic merit by the meeting on October 15. Allen Chaney from the South Carolina ACLU pointed out that a similar federal ruling was deemed unconstitutional. Both groups intend to persist in their efforts.
Key facts
- The S.C. Arts Commission voted 6-2 to approve $3.7 million in grants to nearly 180 arts organizations, but withheld funding from the Greenville Gay Men's Chorus and Proud Mary Theatre Company.
- Board member Russell 'Rip' Parks proposed the amendment, questioning the 'artistic merit' of the two LGBTQ+ groups.
- Emails obtained by The Post and Courier revealed board member Jessica Rourke's refusal to fund 'organizations structured around specific sexual orientations' or drag performances.
- The commission unanimously approved a resolution stating that grant recipients shall not 'promote any ideology' in funded works.
- The Greenville Gay Men's Chorus was set to receive $13,050, and Proud Mary Theatre Company $2,063 in grants plus $1,803 in bridge funds.
- Critics, including Ed Madden and Jeff Robinson, called the move discriminatory and a departure from the commission's mission.
- The groups must prove their artistic merit to the commission, presumably by its Oct. 15 meeting, but have received no instructions.
- The South Carolina ACLU's legal director, Allen Chaney, noted that a similar federal executive order was ruled unconstitutional in 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Ed Madden
- Jeff Robinson
- Russell 'Rip' Parks
- Jessica Rourke
- Ashley Kerns Brown
- David Platts
- Flavia Harton
- Sally McClellan
- Mary Adam
- Allen Chaney
- Lee Snelgrove
- Cindi Boiter
- Jada Denis
- Ben Zeigler
- Nikki Haley
Institutions
- South Carolina Arts Commission
- Greenville Gay Men's Chorus
- Proud Mary Theatre Company
- South Carolina Arts Alliance
- South Carolina ACLU
- The Post and Courier
- Free Times
- One Columbia
- The Jasper Project
- House Freedom Caucus
- Senate Education Committee
Locations
- Columbia
- South Carolina
- Greenville
- Spartanburg
- Edgefield
- Charleston