Today our guest is Terry Livingston, the founder of Grand Strand Pride, an LGBTQ+ rights organization located in the coastal area of South Carolina, an ultra conservative state.

Terry and his team are fighting to protect the rights of those in the LGBT+ community, and they constantly face challenges from the Republican-controlled state legislature, having to beat back harmful proposals that threaten basic freedoms that we all have a right to enjoy.

Terry’s a Myrtle Beach CPA and he’s the husband of another local CPA, Steve.

Terry, thanks for joining us on the Lean to the Left podcast. Tell us a little bit more about yourself and what you do.

1.What’s it like advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in a conservative area like South Carolina?

2.What are some of the challenges you’ve been facing with state and local governments? Wasn’t there a county resolution declaring June Pride Month that was rescinded after some people complained?

3.What are your thoughts about the Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect interracial marriage and repeal previous law defining marriage as between one man and one woman?

4.While more than 40 Republicans in the House joined Democrats to vote for that bill, Republicans in the Senate seem to be ducking and dodging, some claiming they haven’t read it yet – even though it’s only 4 pages long. Will there be enough GOP votes to avoid a filibuster? Your thoughts about that?

5.With the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade, and subsequent comments by Justice Clarence Thomas that seem to threaten same sex marriage, are you concerned about what might come next?

6.A lot of Democrats are saying that freedom is on the ballot in the November election. Do you agree?

7.How concerned are you about Monkeypox? Is a vaccine available in South Carolina? If so, who should get that vaccine?