South Carolina
officially banned same-sex marriage Thursday as
legislative leaders in Columbia 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 same-sex 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.
''I am very pleased that we have taken this step,''
said one of the bill's sponsors, Democratic
representative Marlene DeChane, who is gay.
A vote by the
full New Hampshire house is expected next week. The measure
also must pass the senate, where Republican Bob Clegg has
proposed legislation for ''contractual cohabitation''
giving unmarried adults the same legal rights as
married couples.
Gov. John Lynch
opposes same-sex marriage but supports providing health
care benefits to state workers' same-sex partners. He has
not taken a public position on civil unions. (Seanna
Adcox, AP)
