On Monday the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The same day South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced he would continue to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
“Currently, South Carolina’s law remains intact,” said Mark Powell, a spokesman for S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson. “People should not rush to act or react until that time when a decision is made by the highest court in the land.”
Just two days later, five LGBT couples living in South Carolina went to the Probate Court in Greenville to apply for marriage licenses as part of the WE DO Campaign.
Supporters of the couples lined up around the block to walk to Probate Court with the couples.
North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia are all in the 4th Circuit and are now on the verge of marriage equality after Monday’s historic ruling.
This was Ivy and Misha’s third time applying for a marriage license in their home state of South Carolina. They do not want to travel out of state to be wed.
Ivy is a co-founder and the Program Director of Gender Benders, a grassroots social justice and support group working on trans* issues.
Supporters circled up outside Probate Court as clergy lead an interfaith blessing of the couples before they enter the building to apply for marriage licenses.
“I love this woman and this woman loves me. We will not stop coming here until we have equal rights,” said HP (in bow tie) to the clerk. HP and Lyndsey recently got engaged and have set a date – October 15, 2015. The couple hopes to be able to marry in South Carolina by then.
HP and Lyndsey are also active members of Gender Benders.
Neil and Ronald hold hands as they wait to apply behind Brianna and Rachel.
Brianna and Rachel have been together for five years and are engaged to be married. They are also waiting for the law to change in South Carolina before they wed.
Ronald and Neil at the counter as they are denied a marriage license.
Craig and Mark are embraced by friends after they apply.
Supporters gathered in a “WE DO huddle” with couples at the Warehouse Theatre.
Misha said, “We are truly getting close, and I’m ready to plan a down-on-the-farm, South Carolina wedding.”
Indeed we are. Love will win.
