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LGBT Rights in South Carolina State

    Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal

Recent surveys in South Carolina indicate a moderate level of acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights in specific areas.

History

Homosexual activity in South Carolina

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Homosexual activity in South Carolina is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
Sources:
Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003)
Added by garrettdietz  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until 1873
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
South Carolina was the last state to repeal the usage of capital punishment for homosexuality.
Added by Jackninja5  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in South Carolina

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Same-sex marriage in South Carolina is legal.

Current status
Since Nov 20, 2014
Legal
Supreme Court allowed same sex marriage to commence
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in South Carolina

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Censorship of LGBT Issues in South Carolina is no censorship.

Current status
Since Mar 11, 2020
No censorship
The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina entered a consent decree that declares South Carolina’s 1988 discriminatory anti-LGBTQ curriculum law unconstitutional and bars its enforcement.
Added by _it4_  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1988–Mar 11, 2020
State-enforced
An archaic 1988 law "banning homosexual or gay topics within school classrooms" was made.
Added by _it4_  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until 1988
No censorship
In South Carolina, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Added by Buzdolabimotoru  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in South Carolina

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Right to change legal gender in South Carolina is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Legal, but requires surgery
Requires surgery to change gender on drivers licenses. Changes pending. Missing non binary options on documents.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in South Carolina

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in South Carolina is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Not currently recognized.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in South Carolina

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LGBT discrimination in South Carolina is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections from discrimination exist based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Aug 10, 2016–Jul 25, 2018
Illegal in some contexts
under City discrimination protections.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in South Carolina

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LGBT employment discrimination in South Carolina is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally under a Supreme Court ruling.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Feb 2, 2018–Jul 25, 2018
Ambiguous
In four cities.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Dec 16, 2014–Feb 2, 2018
No protections
As of December 16, 2014, there are no legal protections for people who are LGBT in regards to employment.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in South Carolina

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LGBT housing discrimination in South Carolina is no protections.

Current status
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.

However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in South Carolina

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Same-sex adoption in South Carolina is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2017
Legal
Any single adult can adopt, regardless of being LGBT. There is however no protections in place for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Couples must be married to adopt jointly or for second parent adoption.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Jun 26, 2017
Ambiguous
Single-parent and joint adoptions are permitted by statute. Second-parent adoption varies by judge and county.
Sources:
www.lambdalegal.org/states-region/south-carolina
SC Laws §20-7-1680
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in South Carolina

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Serving openly in military in South Carolina is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 20, 2011
Legal
Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in South Carolina

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Blood donations by MSMs in South Carolina is legal.

Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Added by 4anahiv  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Apr 2, 2020–May 11, 2023
Banned (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Dec 21, 2015–Apr 2, 2020
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
Added by JerofDoorhandle  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1983–Dec 21, 2015
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in South Carolina

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Conversion therapy in South Carolina is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Sep 7, 2016–Jul 16, 2018
Not banned
Not criminalized in this state.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in South Carolina

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Equal age of consent in South Carolina is equal.

Current status
Equal
Age of consent laws are equitable, regardless of gender or orientation.
Sources:
South Carolina State Law:
SECTION 16-3-651
SECTION 16-3-655
SECTION 16-15-140
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log