On June 2, Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney is scheduled to appear in Columbia at a fundraiser for the Palmetto Family Council. The mission and values of this group stand in direct opposition to those of the University and the student body. As stated in its inclusion policy, "Clemson University aspires to create a diverse community that welcomes people of different races, cultures, ages, genders, sexual orientation, religions, socioeconomic levels, political perspectives, abilities, opinions, values and experiences."

The Palmetto Family Council has a long history of activism that denigrates and harms LGBTQ South Carolinians. On their website, they "condemn homosexuality and other forms of sexual sin" and call homosexuality "physically, spiritually or emotionally damaging." They actively oppose marriage equality in the state and have pressured SC schools to drop LGBTQ books from their reading programs. In addition to the direct harms, these views and actions help to create and maintain a culture of hostility to LGBTQ people. As a prominent representative of the University, Dabo Swinney's appearance and fundraising for the Palmetto Family Council will serve to promote these ideas and actions which harm the mission and goals of the University and the interests of the student body. We, the petitioners, call on Coach Swinney to withdraw from his appearance at the June 2nd fundraiser.