S.C. NEXT TO BAN GAY MARRIAGE?: From the Rock Hill Herald Leader

When the next wave of referendums seeking to ban gay marriage sweeps across the nation, expect South Carolina to be among the states trying to do so.

In Tuesday's national elections, voters in 11 states amended their constitutions to ban gay marriage. State Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, has already requested that House staffers begin researching those amendments to help with drafting one for South Carolina. He plans on pushing to have the issue appear on the ballot for the 2006 gubernatorial election. "I see absolutely nothing but positive from having that question on the ballot," Simrill said. "I would think in South Carolina, the numbers would be a good majority if not a super-majority."

Gay rights advocates in South Carolina are disappointed by the possibility but said they are not surprised.

State laws already exist that bar gay marriages or recognizing unions performed elsewhere. Laws also define marriage as being solely between a man and a woman. More laws were passed last year that deny benefits to same-sex partners and block gay couples from jointly adopting children.

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