State Legislature is Ninth to Reject Attempts to Write Discrimination into Constitution

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Praises South Carolina Activists

June 3, 2004, Washington, D.C.- Despite feverish last-minute efforts, the South Carolina state legislature ended its regular session today without approving a proposed state constitutional amendment to prohibit the recognition of same sex marriage and any other form of partner recognition outside of marriage. The measure passed the state House of Representatives on March 17 by 93 to 7, but stalled in the Senate.

"This is a major victory for the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," said Matt Foreman, the Task Forces Executive Director. "It shows that determined leaders can win against incredible odds. Every gay American is in debt to Linda Ketner and Warren Redman-Gress of the Alliance For Full Acceptance (AFFA), the South Carolina Equality Coalition and the South Carolina Gay & Lesbian Pride Movement for their courage and tenacity."

The South Carolina gay community united to thwart the proposed amendment, raising a warchest, hiring a well-regarded lobbyist, and mounting a sophisticated constituent pressure campaign focused on the State Senate.

In the closing hours of the session, the House of Representatives repeatedly attached the anti-marriage amendment to several unrelated pieces of legislation in the hopes of forcing a senate vote. These efforts failed for a number of reasons, including a filibuster by one senator objecting to a gubernatorial appointment.