The amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as a bond
only between one man and one woman was easily approved statewide, but it
was defeated by a narrow margin in Charleston and Folly Beach.
In the 21 Charleston precincts, a total of 3,561 voters opposed the
marriage amendment and 3,303 supported it. In the two Folly Beach
precincts, 528 residents opposed the amendment and 503 voters supported
it.
"Charleston is a progressive city, and I think that Charleston people
are fair-minded people. And they know discrimination when they see it,"
said Mark McKinney, a local gay activist.
Although Charleston County had pockets of opposition to the marriage
amendment, it easily passed in the county, with 57,872 people voting for
it and 31,398 against. Statewide, it passed by a 3-to-1 margin.
"This is going to take decades to reverse," McKinney said. "Every
family should be treated equally. We are a family. My family was voted on
Tuesday. And when do I get to vote on your family?" he said.
McKinney said that he and partner Steve Lepre will fight for an
addendum to the amendment to the constitution that would make adultery
illegal. "I think that divorce should be outlawed as well," he said.
He said the Ten Commandments say nothing about homosexuality, but they
do address adultery.
Former state Rep. John Graham Altman, who worked for passage of the
marriage amendment, said gays are allowed to enter into any contract in
South Carolina except marriage. He said there is no constitutional right
to be gay. He said the Old Testament and New Testament condemn
homosexuality.
"This is much ado about nothing. The people have spoken. The clearest
expression of the will of the people is to be found in what they put in
our constitution," he said.
He said militant gays push the issue of gay marriage, while others in
the gay community quietly go about living their lives.
Other pockets of resistance to the marriage amendment in Charleston
County included the James Island 15 and James Island 22 precincts, where
the marriage amendment was defeated by a total of 18 votes.
St. Andrews Precinct 2 and St. Andrews Precinct 5 defeated the marriage
amendment by a total of 72 votes.
Reach Prentiss Findlay at pfindlay@postandcourier.com
or 937-5711.
