Meet Regina Duggins | Founder & Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Regina Duggins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Regina, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is making sure that LGBTQ+ people of color have a voice. In this world, this was a community that was forced to be ashamed of themselves, and the people who started this is the reason why I decided to pick up their torch and continue the fight for the next generation. Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera, and Stormé DeLarverie are all Black and Brown members of the transgender and gender-nonconforming community who started the riot to fight back against oppression and harassment. The success of my brand is to have people love who they are and to be proud of who they love. Many don’t remember that gay pride started when transgender individuals of color refused to allow mistreatment and homophobic hate crimes to occur; this was the beginning of the changes that needed to be made in our community. Another factor behind my success is knowing that my own family members had to hide who they were in public and this has also been my inspiration to start my business. Charleston Black Pride was established in 2019, this nonprofit organization was built on the dire need for inclusion and equality in the Lowcountry. CHSBP is focused on creating the change that is necessary for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual or Allied. We will no longer be silent.

What should our readers know about your business?
The mission of Charleston Black Pride is to create opportunities that educate, inspire, improve and celebrate the experiences of LGBTQIA people of color. We will support and provide an educational and social environment through events and forums that bring awareness, visibility and to create safe spaces to expose the multifaceted lives of LGBTQIA people of color. Charleston Black Pride’s vision aims to cultivate, support, and increase awareness of the diversity in the LGBTQIA people of color; within the areas of empowerment, advocacy, health and wellness, social engagement, education, spirituality, financial literacy, and building trusting partnerships with other organizations to enhance our youth, adults, and elderly in the Charleston areas.
My business has been in fruition for three years, I have gotten this far with the support of my board members, sponsors, and the community in which we serve. It wasn’t always easy because many non-believers made it challenging for me but I was determined to preserve through any obstacles that we had to face. The lessons that I have learned along the way was that even though everyone won’t support my organization; we still have to keep pushing through to help bring awareness to those who need our support.
I want the world to know that Charleston Black Pride is an organization dedicated to building solidarity; health and wellness; promoting unity, and ensuring the development of education, economic empowerment, individual and collective work, as well as, responsibility and self-determination for LGBTQ+ people of color.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If you were to take a week-long trip to Charleston, SC here are some of my favorite spots in the city that I would partake in which is going to Rainbow Row, the battery, the waterfront park, and catching some amazing artwork in the local museums. Charleston, SC is a very historical city. I would suggest finding good eats at Hall’s Chophouse, Hannibal’s Soulfood Kitchen, The Spot 47, Magnolia, and 82 Queen. Some of the most fun, interesting, and exciting people can be found at night in Juanita’s Greenberg Nachos Royale.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The person I want to Shoutout is my mother; Rosemary Duggins. She has been my #1 supporter and greatest fan. She has held me up through any trials and tribulations that I may have experienced. My mom has been my listening ear, a shoulder to cry on when I become overwhelmed, and she’s the most realest person I know. My mom has made me into the woman I am today. She has always allowed me to have a voice and express my opinions concerning matters of the heart.

Website: www.charlestonblackpride.org

Instagram: regina.duggins.75

Facebook: Regina Duggins