Defending Diversity in the Conservation Movement
NOTE: The statement below references speech targeting members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This year, CVSC and CVSC PAC conducted significant political outreach across South Carolina. We expect and welcome constructive disagreement with our endorsements and political strategies during our activities. Unfortunately, near the end of the election cycle, a far-right group of individuals publicly expressed their disagreement with CVSC, focusing not on endorsements or policy positions but on attacking our endorsed candidates and CVSC staff based on their sexual orientation.
We unequivocally denounce these attacks and stand in solidarity with those who were wrongfully targeted.
CVSC does not tolerate any form of hateful and harmful speech or actions targeted at individuals because of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious affiliation, or any other aspect of who they are as a person. We are committed to upholding a safe, professional environment where our staff, partners, and supporters are treated with dignity and respect.
We believe CVSC and the conservation movement are strongest when they bring together people from various backgrounds, a range of lived experiences, and robust perspectives to come together and align behind common goals to protect the land, air, and water that we love. That is why CVSC’s staff and board are intentionally representative of the full diversity of South Carolina—age, race, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, income, and geography. This allows us to fight for and advance durable policies that reflect the needs of everyone.
In the face of targeted attacks against any South Carolinians and individuals within the conservation movement, CVSC will always stand for justice and unity. We cannot and will never allow such attacks to hinder our work. While these attacks are harmful, they only deepen our resolve to build a more inclusive and representative conservation movement.
We are undeterred. We will keep fighting to protect the air, land, and water we love in South Carolina. And by building a conservation movement that represents all of South Carolina, we will prevail.