A Guide for Reporting SOUTHERN on LGBT People in STORIES South Carolina WE ARE A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE GLAAD SOUTHERN STORIES PROGRAM 800.789.5401 MGBWHOME.COM GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in South Carolina Getting Started 4 Terms and Definitions 5 South Carolina’s LGBT History 6 When GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance report revealed that levels of discomfort towards the LGBT community are as high as 43% in Terms to Avoid 10 America—and spike to 61% in the South—we knew we had to act. To accelerate LGBT acceptance in the U.S. South, GLAAD is telling the stories of LGBT people from across the region through our Southern Stories program. We are amplifying stories of LGBT people who are resilient in the face of inequality and Defamatory Language 11 adversity, and building a culture in which they are able not only to survive, but also to thrive. These are impactful stories with the power to change hearts and minds, but they are too often missed or ignored altogether. In South Carolina, the LGBT community is Best Practices in Media Coverage 12 making sure and steady progress, but the work to achieve full equality and acceptance is far from done. More and more, South Carolina sees communities of faith opening their arms to LGBT people; public officials listening to families, workers, and tax payers Pitfalls to Avoid as they voice their need for equal protections; 13 students creating supportive, inclusive spaces; and allies standing up for their LGBT friends, family members, and neighbors. This guide will serve as a useful tool for the media as it works to effectively share the stories of LGBT people so that all South Carolinians can Story Ideas 14 live the lives they love. Organizations 15 Sarah Kate Ellis GLAAD CEO & President GLAAD’s Assistance 16 3 GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in South Carolina Getting Started At first glance, South Carolina lags behind the rest of the country which would ensure workplace fairness and end discrimination when it comes to protections for LGBT individuals. However, based upon sexual orientation and/or gender identity at the state beneath the surface is a vibrant and diverse LGBT community that level. Similarly, South Carolinians have launched a statewide has built itself into an incredible force for change over the last advocacy group in South Carolina called Equality Means Business, few decades and is making significant progress to bring policy which highlights LGBT-friendly businesses that recognize the protections and cultural acceptance to LGBT people in the state. importance of LGBT customers and employees. Despite South Carolina having gained marriage equality, obstacles There are also no laws ensuring that transgender South Carolinians to exercising that achievement have popped up in the form of have access to medically necessary transition-related healthcare. several State Senate and House Bills. One such bill would allow People living with HIV in South Carolina face up to 10 years in certain state employees to deny issuing marriage licenses to same- prison and felony conviction if they do not disclose their status to sex couples if doing so would violate a “sincerely held” religious a consensual sexual partner, a law that has brought unintended belief. Another such bill would prohibit the use of taxpayer funds or negative consequences to untold numbers of citizens living with government salaries to pay for an activity that includes licensing or HIV in the Palmetto State. support of marriage for same-sex couples. Despite these challenges, LGBT people have formed communities Beyond marriage, there are still many areas of life where LGBT for support and advocacy. Many LGBT organizations, such as SC people are not afforded the same protections as their peers. For Equality, have a rich history and a robust presence in the state. example, in South Carolina schools, health education programs LGBT people can be found in South Carolina doing what all others are prohibited from discussing LGBT people, except when speaking are doing – they are raising families, serving their community, about sexually transmitted diseases. working at their jobs, and making the state an even better place. LGBT South Carolinians still lack a statewide law that bans The contents of this guide only scratch the surface of LGBT life discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender in South Carolina. Our hope, however, is that it empowers and identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. motivates media professionals to find and discover new stories, However, the cities of Columbia and Charleston have job new angles to existing stories, and a whole new framework for protections specifically in place for LGBT federal employees. reporting on LGBT individuals in the state. Additionally, Richland and Charleston are the two counties in the state that also have employment non-discrimination policies for government employees. To that end, South Carolina Equality has supported a bill pending before the General Assembly (H4025), Why the South? Why now? National Discomfort Southern Discomfort 27% Seeing a gay In late 2014, GLAAD commissioned Harris Poll co-worker’s wedding to measure attitudes towards LGBT Americans. 32% picture What we found is that even though 2015 has been an historic year for the rights of LGBT Americans, 29% Electing a gay beneath legal and policy progress lies a layer 35% politician of uneasiness and discomfort. While the public is increasingly embracing LGBT civil rights and 34% Attending a same-sex equal protections under the law, many are still wedding uncomfortable with having LGBT people in their 40% families and the communities where they live. Within these numbers we find that Southerners 43% Bringing a child to a feel significantly more discomfort about their 50% same-sex wedding LGBT families, friends and neighbors than is found in other regions of the country. 59% Learning my child was For more information, visit dating a transgender glaad.org/acceptance 61% person 4 GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in South Carolina Terms and Definitions Sexual orientation – The scientifically accurate term for Trans – Used as shorthand to mean transgender or transsexual - an individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional or sometimes to be inclusive of a wide variety of identities under attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex, including the transgender umbrella. Because its meaning is not precise or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations. widely understood, be careful when using it with audiences who Avoid the offensive term “sexual preference,” which is used to may not understand what it means. Avoid unless used in a direct suggest that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is voluntary and quote or in cases where you can clearly explain the term’s meaning therefore “curable.” People need not have had specific sexual in the context of your story. experiences to know their own sexual orientation; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all. Transgender man – People who were assigned female at birth but identify and live as a man may use this term to describe LGBT / GLBT – Acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual and themselves. They may shorten it to trans man. (Note: trans man, transgender.” LGBT and/or GLBT are often used because they are not “transman.”) Some may also use FTM, an abbreviation for more inclusive of the diversity of the community. Care should female-to-male. Some may prefer to simply be called men, without be taken to ensure that audiences are not confused by their use. any modifier. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers. Ensure that the acronym is spelled out on first usage. Transgender woman – People who were assigned male Queer – Traditionally a pejorative term, queer has been at birth but identify and live as a woman may use this term to appropriated by some LGBT people to describe themselves. describe themselves. They may shorten to trans woman. (Note: However, it is not universally accepted even within the LGBT trans woman, not “transwoman.”) Some may also use MTF, an community and should be avoided unless describing someone abbreviation for male-to-female. Some may prefer to simply be who self-identifies that way or in a direct quote. When Q is seen called women, without any modifier. It is best to ask which term an at the end of “LGBT,” it typically means queer and/or questioning. individual prefers. Homophobia – Fear of lesbians and gay men. Intolerance Transition – Altering one’s birth sex is not a one-step procedure; or prejudice is usually a more accurate description of antipathy it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. toward LGBT people. Transition includes some or all of the following personal, medical, and legal steps: telling one’s family, friends, and co-workers; using Marriage – An amendment banning marriage equality was added a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing to the South Carolina Constitution in 2006 following a referendum one’s name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and vote, but same-sex couples in the state now have access to possibly (though not always) one or more types of surgery. The marriage equality on both state and federal levels. Because a exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person. Avoid key section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed by the the phrase “sex change.” federal government in 1996, was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2013, legally married couples became Gender non-conforming – A term used to describe some recognized by the federal government.