(Columbia) Feb. 25, 2004 - A bill that says the state won't recognize same-sex marriages from other states has passed the House Judiciary Committee. The bill passed with a 19-1 vote.

Greenwood Representative Gene Pinson, one of the bill's co-sponsors, says, "This bill basically defines that a marriage relationship in the state of South Carolina is recognized between a man and a woman. And, it will also state that we will not recognize any other marriage license regardless of what other state that it may come from." It now heads to the House floor for debate.

Pinson says the bill if passed and signed by the governor would make it against public policy to recognize legal benefits of non-marital relationships. He says he supports the bill because, "I'm a strong believer in the family unit. And, the family unit as defined at almost before the beginning of time between a man and a woman. It keeps things simple. It keeps things standardized." He says the nation and the state are under siege by a move to the left.

Ed Madden from the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement says, "This bill is not about same-sex marriage. This bill is about benefits and about discrimination.I believe in families, too."

Columbia Representative Todd Rutherford voted against the bill after an amendment he proposed failed. He wanted to let local governments offer benefits to both heterosexual and homosexual couples, "What we're looking at in South Carolina, a number of children raised by two men or two women and this bill is cutting off benefits. I don't think anyone was thinking about that yesterday."

Lawmakers in 17 other states are considering similar bills.

South Carolina passed a law in 1996 that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. And, similar legislation was passed declaring gay marriages void in South Carolina.

On Tuesday President Bush asked Congress to pass a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage. He wants an amendment that defines marriage as between a man and woman. He says the state legislatures should be free to "make their own choice in defining legal arrangements other than marriage."

reporting by Megan Hughes
updated 5:13pm by Chris Rees with AP