2025 = Success | 2026 = Back in ACTION
The South Carolina General Assembly will reconvene on January 13, 2026, marking the beginning of the second year of our two-year legislative session. As we prepare for the work ahead, we want to reflect on the remarkable progress our community made over the past year and set the stage for the advocacy to come.
The first year of this legislative session gave us many reasons to celebrate: moments of progress, resilience, and unity that sprung from the advocacy, tenacity, and teamwork of our community and organizing partners.
Quiet Wins in the Legislature
In 2025, not a single anti-LGBTQ+ or anti-Trans bill passed in South Carolina. At a time when many states pushed harmful legislation, our collective action, testimony, organizing, and presence helped ensure those efforts did not advance here. These quiet wins were not accidents, they were the result of a community that refuses to be silent.
We also saw an important statewide effort gain momentum: the passage of Hate Crime Ordinances that reaffirm local commitments to safety, dignity, and accountability. These ordinances passed in Richland County (the first county in SC to do so!), Columbia, Richland, Orangeburg, Irmo, Georgetown, and Gaffney!
Growing Advocacy Power
This year we also invested heavily in building community leadership.
In February, we trained 50+ new advocates through our Advocacy 101 program.
We honored two legislative champions, Representative Heather Bauer and Senator Tameika Isaac Devine, with our Legislative Hero Awards for their unwavering commitment to protecting LGBTQ+ South Carolinians.
Election Day Victories
On November 4, South Carolinians elected leaders who support equality, fairness, and inclusion. We celebrate:
Aaron Polkey, elected to Charleston City Council
Tina Belge, elected to Greenville City Council
David Petty, elected Mayor of Lyman
These wins reflect a growing statewide recognition that LGBTQ+ rights and inclusive values resonate with communities from coast to mountains.
National and State-Level Wins
We also witnessed major victories beyond our immediate legislative battles.
Marriage Equality Protected: On November 10, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the 2015 marriage equality decision, allowing this landmark protection to stand.
SC Senate Bill 323 Defeated: At the November 18 hearing, the extreme SC Senate Bill 323 (a total abortion ban with wide-reaching consequences) failed to advance out of the Medical Affairs subcommittee by one vote.
This outcome protects:
IVF treatments for LGBTQ+ families
Access to contraception
Public school students from mandated anti-abortion propaganda
The privacy and autonomy of all South Carolinians
This was a direct result of coordinated community advocacy, testimony, and public pressure. It was a powerful reminder that engagement works.
Hope Requires Action
As we enter the second year of the legislative session, our hope remains clear: that South Carolina will continue to reject bills that threaten the rights, safety, or dignity of LGBTQ+ and Trans people. But hope is not passive. Hope requires action.
From January through May 2026, we will once again be fully present at the State House: monitoring legislation, meeting with lawmakers, amplifying community voices, and ensuring that equality stays at the forefront. When concerning bills arise, we will alert you immediately to ensure the public can mobilize quickly and effectively.
Thank you for your commitment and for standing with us through every victory, both quiet and loud. Together, we can ensure the progress of 2025 continues into 2026. Follow along for coverage of the 2026 legislative cycle through our newsletters, Facebook, and Instagram.
In solidarity,
The AFFA Action Team
