Palmetto Family Council
| Established | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Founder | G. Steven Suits |
| 57-0968725 (EIN) | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) organization[1] |
| Headquarters | 1414 Lady St. #3304, Columbia |
Key people | Mitch Prosser, Interim President; David Wilson, former President. |
Revenue (2017) | $219,957[2] |
| Website | www |
Palmetto Family Council is a nonprofit public policy organization focused upon implementing
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."[6] 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."[7]
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
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.[10]
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.[11]
Dabo Swinney and hate group alligations
Clemson University coach Dabo Swinney was criticized by gay rights groups for planning to receive an award from Palmetto Family Council in 2015.[6] After which he declined to receive the award and the Palmetto Family Council defended itself from allegations it is a hate group for supporting bigotry and homophobia.[12] Even the council chairman Reese Boyd III stated that during the Swinney controversy critics characterized PFC as a hate group.[13]
Scandal
Former Palmetto Family Council President, Dave Wilson Jr., resigned quietly on March 9, 2023[14] after being exposed for an affair with former President and CEO of Americans United for Life, Catherine Glenn Foster. His position is currently being filled by Interim President, Mitch Prosser.
See also
- Family Research Council
- Hate Group
- List of U.S. Hate Groups
References
- ^ "Palmetto Family Council | Rating by Charity Navigator". www.charitynavigator.org.
- ^ "Form 990 for period ending December 2018". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ "Our accomplishments". Palmetto Family. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ "Religious Displays by the Government".
- ^ "Family Research Council".
- ^ a b Shanker, Jared (May 27, 2015). "Dabo Swinney to skip fundraiser after backlash". ABC news. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Barnett, Ron (October 29, 2006). "Vote". The Greenville News. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sheinin, Aaron Gould (April 9, 2007). "Focused effort aided abortion bill". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ "Abortion Ultrasound Bill Advances In S.C." CBS News. March 21, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ "Social Conservative Group Responds to Dabo Swinney Snub - FITSNews". 28 May 2015.
- ^ Boynton, Eric (May 27, 2015). "Swinney to skip Palmetto Family Council fundraiser". Go Upstate.
- ^ "Leader of South Carolina Social Conservative Group Steps Down - FITSNews". 13 March 2023.
