A profile in courage: SC’s 5 sister senators honored with annual JFK Foundation award

South Carolina’s five female state senators will be honored with a Profile in Courage Award for their united stance against a near-total abortion ban in the state.

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced the honor Tuesday on the “Today” show.

State Sens. Penry Gustafson, R-Kershaw; Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton; Mia McLeod, I-Richland; Sandy Senn, R-Charleston; and Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington; stuck together during the spring’s debate arguing against a near-total abortion ban and ultimately voting against the six-week ban, which passed and was upheld by the state Supreme Court.

Also honored by the foundation this year were South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

“This year’s Profile in Courage Awards honor leaders who took stands of conscience and risked their careers by putting the public interest ahead of their own political standing,” said U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s daughter.

The five senators were honored for their two-day filibuster to block a near-total abortion ban in South Carolina, discussing the complexities of pregnancy, dangers of a lack of access to contraception and inadequate privacy laws, the JFK Library Foundation said in a news release.

“The women of the South Carolina Senate exemplify courage and cooperation in politics today,” said Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson. “Facing intense opposition and personal attacks, Sens. Shealy, Matthews, McLeod, Senn, and Gustafson worked together and across the aisle to oppose a total ban on abortion. Their impact extends beyond the state, inspiring Americans everywhere to keep fighting to protect individual rights.”

Republicans Gustafson, Senn and Shealy faced backlash from their own party for voting against a near total ban.

Shealy was censured by the Lexington County Republican Party. Gustafson was censured by the Kershaw County Republican Executive Committee.

Senn already will face a primary challenge in next year’s election.

In light of their stance, the group received a lot of attention from national media outlets.

Previous Profile in Courage award winners include U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, the late U.S. Sen. John McCain and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley and former Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis also have received the honor.

The award was created in 1989 to honor President Kennedy’s commitment and contribution to public service and is presented annually to public servants who made courageous decisions without regard for the personal or professional consequences. This year’s honors will be presented in a ceremony on Oct. 29.