The South Carolina Arts Commission just approved $3.7 million in grants for nearly 180 arts organizations, but it singled out two for extra scrutiny before they can get paid: the Greenville Gay Men's Chorus and the Proud Mary Theater Company. Both are LGBTQ+-focused, and out of 180 approved groups, they are the only two required to prove their "artistic merit" before receiving funds already promised to everyone else.

That wasn't the commission's original reasoning. In emails obtained by the Post and Courier through a public records request, board member Jessica Rourke wrote that she would not fund "organizations structured around specific sexual orientations, nor should public funds support drag performances." Only after the South Carolina ACLU raised concerns did the board's public justification shift to demanding proof of "artistic merit." In a separate email also obtained by the Post and Courier, board member Russell Parks argued it is "not the role of a state funded agency to promote" what he called these groups' "agendas."

Both organizations already passed the same grant review as the other 178 recipients. Now they must defend themselves again by October 15, with no explanation of what the commission wants to see. The funding at stake, just over $16,000 combined, is less than 1% of the commission's total grants. This isn't about the money. It's about whether a state agency can hold LGBTQ+ organizations to a different standard than everyone else.

"The idea that legislators can hand-pick certain art to put in or take out is unconstitutional and illegal," said Mary Adam, executive director of the Greenville Gay Men's Chorus, according to the Post and Courier.

The South Carolina Arts Commission board must reverse course and fund the Greenville Gay Men's Chorus and Proud Mary Theater Company on the same terms as every other approved organization. Sign the petition to demand equal treatment, before singling out LGBTQ+ arts groups becomes the norm.