By Stacey Mars
Chair, GCDP

It is a shameful reflection on the values of their party that Republicans in the SC House of Representatives have chosen to take their marching orders from Donald Trump and exclude anyone who does not look or act like them with their so-called merit-based, anti-DEI bill, H.3927. The GOP representatives from the Upstate, representatives Bannister, Huff, Vaughan, and Wickensimer decided that conformity is preferred instead of diversity; that prejudice and partiality are preferred instead of equity; and that omission, elimination, and exclusion are preferred instead of inclusion.

These four representatives have told their neighbors  in Greenville and in South Carolina that if they are not straight, white males they do not matter. By ensuring that workplaces, schools and institutions of higher education are not diverse, equitable, and inclusive, they are proving that they do not care about women, people of color, disabled people, and our LGBTQ+ community. They are told that their very existence means nothing with the passing of this bill.

We live in a state that openly celebrates the “Lost Cause” but that refuses to recognize the history of the Suffrage movement, the Civil Rights movement, and so many other movements that demanded justice and equal rights for all.

Reps. Bannister, Huff, Vaughan, and Wickensimer support this bill because they believe that their demographic is being “illegally discriminated against”. The logic is laughable at best and downright shameful at worst. 

Rep. Chandra Dillard proclaimed on the floor of the House that “colleges and universities are a microcosm of America which is diversity, equity, and inclusion, what we do matters! We have sent young people into a mental health spiral. They see it as an attack on their very opportunities, their future, and what they will be able to do as they matriculate through higher education.” This hateful bill will reduce opportunities for students and make them rethink coming to South Carolina to further their studies. Shame on our representatives.

Rep. Wendell Jones’ amendments showed how the bill violated the Constitution by denying freedom of speech and academic freedom, the equal protection clause of 14th amendment, and a clause in the Constitution that says that we cannot go back and retroactively cancel contracts that are made in good faith. The bill aims to penalize businesses that have DEI programs and tell them that they cannot do business in the state if they decide to keep these programs. Businesses will now rethink moving to South Carolina which will cause a loss of job creation because of this hateful bill. Shame on our representatives.

In a video update, Representative Jones mused that “our leadership is allowing Washington to dictate everything we do and have abdicated their responsibility to lead. Our leadership is allowing Washington to dictate EVERYTHING they do and it does not match our state.” I agree, Rep. Jones. GOP Representatives Bannister, Huff, Vaughan, and Wickensimer have abdicated their responsibility to their neighbors in Greenville by allowing Donald Trump to dictate everything they do. Shame on Rep. Bruce Bannister. Shame on Rep. Chris Huff. Shame on Rep. David Vaughan. Shame on Rep. Paul Wickensimer.

SHAME. ON. YOU.

The fight is not over though. This shameful bill will now move to the state Senate. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and start making calls and writing letters urging our senators to vote NO on this bill. 

Yours in Solidarity,

Stacey