South Carolina Arts Commission Board Denies LGBTQ+ Grants and Faces Second Resignation
The South Carolina Arts Commission faces mounting board turnover after denying state grant funding to two LGBTQ+ arts organizations. Board member Russell “Rip” Parks announced his resignation effective October 16, 2026, following a contentious October 1 board decision that rejected funding for the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus and Spartanburg’s Proud Mary Theatre Company, according to South Carolina Public Radio.
Board Resignations Follow Contentious October Grant Vote
Parks submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Henry McMaster on October 8, citing anticipated time demands in the foreseeable future, as reported by South Carolina Public Radio. The resignation follows that of Board Chairwoman Flavia Harton, who announced she would also step down on October 16 to reclaim personal time, according to reporting from The Post and Courier. Harton did not cast a vote on the grants because, as chair, she only votes in the event of a tie. Parks, however, cast one of the five opposing votes during the October 1 special Zoom meeting where the commission voted 5-3 to deny the funding, as detailed by Yahoo News.
The decision reversed earlier recommendations from an external review panel that had recommended both Upstate groups for funding. While the board approved a broader package of $3.7 million in grants for roughly 180 other organizations in August, the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus and Proud Mary Theatre Company were singled out for additional review regarding their artistic merit.
Internal Emails Reveal Prior Objections to State Funding
Public records requests obtained by The Post and Courier show that the scrutiny began months prior. In a June 12 email to commission staff, Parks told then-Interim Executive Director Ashley Brown and outgoing Executive Director David Platts that he could not support using state taxpayer dollars to fund the two organizations. Parks wrote that while the groups had a right to promote their agendas privately, state-funded agencies should not do so, adding that he feared concerned legislators could pull funding for the entire commission over the grants.
During the board’s August 20 meeting, Parks formally questioned the artistic merit of the programs. The board subsequently required the two groups to defend their artistic merit before a shortened deadline, moving the final vote up to October 1. Representatives for the targeted groups expressed shock and dismay over the outcome. Sally McClellan, secretary for Proud Mary, called the decision devastating, while Mary Adam, executive director of the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus, stated she was absolutely stunned by the outcome, as reported by Yahoo News.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Commission Decisions
Who voted against the grant funding for the LGBTQ+ organizations?
Board members Russell “Rip” Parks, Jessica Rourke, Linda Stern, Bhavna Vasudeva, and Danielle Thompson voted “no” during the October 1 meeting. Board members David Hodges, Barbara Nwokike, and Heidi Carey voted to approve the funding.
What specific funding amounts were denied to the two organizations?
The Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus was slated to receive $13,050 for fiscal year 2027, while Proud Mary Theatre Company was set to receive $2,063 in grants along with $1,803 in bridge funds.
When will the commission select a replacement for the departing board chair?
The board is scheduled to vote on a new chair during its meeting on October 15, 2026, just prior to the effective resignations of Harton and Parks.
Related reading