Mar

24

Same Sex Marriage Box Score: South Carolina Ban

March 24, 2007 |

While New Hampshire moves toward same sex partnerships South Carolina ratified a constitutional amendment earlier approved by voters last November. In the meantime others are moving toward the middle ground. How this will all shape up still remains to be seen. We will be watching.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina officially banned gay marriage Thursday as legislative leaders ratified a constitutional amendment approved by voters in November.

New Hampshire, meanwhile, moved in the opposite direction, with a state House panel endorsing the creation of civil unions for same-sex couples.

South Carolina was among eight states with gay marriage bans on the ballot last year. The measures passed everywhere except Arizona.

Nearly four out of five South Carolina voters approved the amendment, which reads, “A marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

The state already had a law against same-sex marriages, but proponents said the amendment was needed to prevent judges from opening the door to civil unions, which offer gay couples the legal benefits of marriage but not the title.

Only Massachusetts allows gay couples to marry. Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey allow civil unions, and California has domestic partnerships that offer similar benefits.

In New Hampshire, the House Judiciary Committee recommended the passage of civil unions Thursday by a bipartisan 15-5 vote.


Comments

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Speak your mind