South Carolina Trans Activist and Nonprofit Launch Campaign To Increase Transgender Visibility

The social campaign, #DontDisruptTransLives, “was created to highlight the stories of thriving transgender and gender non-conforming people in South Carolina,” explains Goodman. “I wanted to provide them with a platform where they can tell their stories, their way. We hope these stories will inspire the hearts and minds of voters to expand the rights of transgender South Carolinians.”

Eight people from across the state are sharing their stories through the #DontDisruptTransLives campaign in hopes of appealing to South Carolina voters and encouraging them to vote for political representatives who will strike down anti-trans legislation in upcoming elections. Many trans-identified people call South Carolina home. For some, anti-trans legislation would drive them out of the state that they have always lived in, leaving behind family and the lives they have worked so hard to build.

“We Are Family upholds the visionary dream that transgender and gender nonconforming people belong in SC, can be themselves, and that we have the power to disrupt the oppressive systems that tell us otherwise,” said Domenico Ruggerio, the executive director of We Are Family, the LGBTQ youth serving nonprofit. “We will rise to meet this moment, by sharing our stories and building a new generation of trans leaders in our state!”

In March of 2023, South Carolina Senators advanced a bill that would ban gender affirming medical care for minors. This would deny some South Carolina citizens access to gender transition surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers.

“Oftentimes the narrative surrounding transgender and gender non-conforming people is less than favorable. I believe it’s important that we not only have bodily autonomy but that we also have autonomy over our own stories,” said Goodman. “It’s time we change the narrative.”

Goodman hopes that this is only the beginning of the #DontDisruptTransLives campaign. She encourages others to share their stories on social media using the hashtag and tell others how anti-trans legislation will affect their daily lives.

The campaign’s videos can be found on We Are Family’s Instagram page.