Two Upstate arts groups are speaking out after being denied state grant funding they had already been recommended to receive following Thursday’s vote by the South Carolina Arts Commission board.

The commission voted 5-3 to deny funding to the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus and Spartanburg’s Proud Mary Theatre Company. Both organizations say the decision is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Both groups had been recommended for grant funding by an independent review panel before Thursday’s vote. The commission delayed the vote several months ago before ultimately denying the funding.

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Arts Commissioner Rip Parks of Easley separately raised concerns about the grants. In an email, Parks wrote that he worried about being unable to defend the grants “to concerned legislators who could pull funding for the entire Commission over support of these organizations.” Parks did not respond to a request for comment.

Adam said the chorus has also learned the governor’s office contacted some commissioners about the vote, though she did not know who in the governor’s office made the calls. She said legislators have also pressured commissioners, using the argument that continuing to fund the groups could lead to a loss of all state arts funding.

The commission also passed a resolution stating that no person or group can use grant money to promote “any ideology.”

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The South Carolina Freedom Caucus issued a statement following the vote. State Rep. April Cromer, R-Anderson, said:

“The South Carolina Freedom Caucus has been saying this for years: taxpayer money should go to core government functions. This is a small step in the right direction. People want their money used for roads, public safety, and essential services, not to fund private groups or programs that may go against their values. That is the problem with earmarks. Once government starts giving money to private organizations, someone has to choose which groups and causes get taxpayer funding. No group is entitled to public money just because it applies. Calling this decision ‘homophobic’ is name-calling, not an argument. These groups are free to perform, raise donations, sell tickets, and operate. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund every private organization’s mission or expenses.”