Palmetto Family Council

Palmetto Family Council is a lobbying organization focused upon implementing conservative Christian ideas in South Carolina state law, especially concerning sexual morality. It opposes same-sex marriage, sex education, and vaccination against sexually transmitted infection. It supports restrictions on abortion and pornography. It works to place symbols of Christianity into schools and civic institutions.[2]

Palmetto Family Council
Established1993
FounderG. Steven Suits
57-0968725 (EIN)
Headquarters1414 Lady St. #3304, Columbia
Key people
Joshua Putnam, President
Revenue (2017)
$219,957[1]
Websitewww.palmettofamily.org

Palmetto Family Council has stated its goal is to "transform the culture in South Carolina by promoting the values and virtues of marriage, the traditional family model, and sexual purity."[3] South Carolina politician Todd Rutherford described Palmetto Family Council as "a group whose mission is to fight against equal rights and equal treatment of others."[4]

Palmetto Family Council is a Family Policy Council, meaning that it is a Focus on the Family state-level affiliate organization. Its headquarters are in Columbia near the South Carolina State House.

Prohibiting same-sex marriage

Palmetto Family Council president Oran Smith authored South Carolina Amendment 1, a 2006 state constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.[4] The organization argued gay marriage should be illegal because of "evidence of dysfunction" in gay people.[5] Henry McMaster led Palmetto Family Council's campaign to persuade voters to prohibit gay marriage while he was Attorney General of South Carolina.[6]

Mandating ultrasounds

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill requiring women seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound image in 2007. Palmetto Family Council canvassing was crucial in passing the bill, and in opposing any exception for victims of rape or incest.[7]

Supporters of the bill hoped an emotional experience upon seeing ultrasound pictures would cause women to change their minds about abortion. Other states require ultrasound images be made available, but the South Carolina House bill was alone in mandating that women must look at the pictures.[8]

Dabo Swinney

Clemson University coach Dabo Swinney was criticized by gay rights groups for planning to receive an award from Palmetto Family Council in 2015.[3]

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References
  1. "Form 990 for period ending December 2018". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  2. "Our accomplishments". Palmetto Family. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  3. Shanker, Jared (May 27, 2015). "Dabo Swinney to skip fundraiser after backlash". ABC news. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  4. Cope, Cassie (May 22, 2015). "Democrat calls on Clemson coach Dabo Swinney to back out of fundraiser". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  5. Barnett, Ron (October 29, 2006). "Vote". The Greenville News. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  6. Adcox, Seanna (June 6, 2006). "Opponents of marriage amendment call proposed change un-Christian". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, South Carolina. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  7. Sheinin, Aaron Gould (April 9, 2007). "Focused effort aided abortion bill". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  8. "Abortion Ultrasound Bill Advances In S.C." CBS News. March 21, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
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