That issue will be the subject of a Nov. 7 referendum. Voters will decide whether an amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman should be added to the state Constitution.

The side with the majority of votes wins. Groups on both sides of the issue are at work securing votes in their favor.

The S.C. Equality Coalition is mounting a battle in the media, buying $100,000 worth of ads in newspapers, on TV and on the Internet, to persuade voters to vote "no" to such an amendment. Meanwhile, local churches and conservative politicians are rallying the troops to vote "yes."

State Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, is a sponsor of the amendment.

"I'm a traditionalist. I believe that marriage is set forth by God. That is in the Bible. It is between a man and woman," he said.

The Rev. Steve Hogg, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Rock Hill, echoed that sentiment. The amendment "protects the historic and the biblical definition of marriage," Hogg said.

But Asha Leong, campaign manager with South Carolina Equality Coalition, based in Columbia, thinks the amendment is a ploy by the religious right to lure voters to the polls in November.

"It is a mean-spirited attempt to define family in such a narrow way, but excludes the realities of so many South Carolina lives," Leong said. "We know in South Carolina there are many different types of families that deserve respect."

At least 250,000 people, or 6 percent of the state's population, is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered, according to the equality coalition.

'Looking for direction'

Attention to this issue grew after some places began allowing gay marriages. In 2003 and 2004, a Massachusetts court decision legalized same-sex unions. And San Francisco's mayor allowed marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples.

Gay couples who were married in other states returned to their home states but were denied marriage benefits. Also, some marriages were later voided when courts canceled city or state authority to issue licenses to gay couples.

With the number of legal cases that arose, "courts were looking for direction from the people in the state," Simrill said. Voters in many states are now deciding on such amendments.

Seven other states will consider similar amendments this fall. Twenty states have already passed legislation.

South Carolina law already denies recognition of same-sex marriages, even those granted in other states. Hogg said a constitutional amendment is needed because "some radical judge some day will overturn a law."

Simrill said this amendment to the Constitution is necessary to strengthen what already exists. The state's Constitution already says gay marriages cannot be legally performed in the state. This amendment would deny recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

Barry Turner-Hunt of York, who had a ceremony and exchanged rings in May 2005 with his partner, Wendell, said the issue is about equal rights.

"What really makes me the maddest is that people get caught up on the word 'marriage.' It's not about marriage. It's about civil rights. You can call it spaghetti for all I care," he said, as long as the word means the same for everyone.

Some of the benefits gay couples want that legally married couples already enjoy include tax incentives, employer benefits and death benefits.

Pushing the message

Groups that favor or oppose the amendment have different strategies for pushing their message.

For example, Hogg said a voter registration drive was held at his church. Members are being educated on how the amendment will be worded so when it appears on the ballot, they'll be prepared. And they are being encouraged to vote "yes" for the amendment.

Mike Wallace, missions development director with the York Baptist Association, said the association is encouraging each of its 63 churches to vote in favor of the amendment. Wallace has personally picked up voter registration forms and delivered them to churches, so more people will go to the polls.

The association has drafted a resolution that Wallace will present to member churches to vote on. After the vote, he will hold a news conference to identify the churches in favor of voting yes.

A Winthrop University group that opposes the amendment, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Ally League, has posted on its Web site a message encouraging people to vote "no."

"The passing of this amendment will codify, into the state constitution, discrimination against GLBT families," it reads on the site.

The equality coalition has focused its attention entirely on the amendment since legislators voted last year to put it on the ballot. When not fighting the amendment, the nonprofit group supports civil and human rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the state.

The group has set up a Web site, http://www.dumbamendment.com/ in addition to its regular site, and has planned three bus tours across the state. The group has also printed 10,000 yard signs.