(Columbia) Feb. 6, 2004 - Bert Easter and Ed Madden are more than friends and co-workers at the University of South Carolina. They are a couple and have been together nine years. Easter says they want to make it official, "Yes. It is our intention upon our tenth anniversary to be married in a church."

Madden is aware South Carolina may not be on the forefront of this issue, "We know that nationwide the numbers are changing and that there's more and more support and at least more and more interest about what marriage equality can mean for gay and lesbian families. So, South Carolina may not be the leader in the nation on this issue, but eventually I think the kind of cultural shift that's happening nationwide will affect us as well."

The cultural shift, if it exists, has bypassed the General Assembly. Over the last few days, almost 70 House members have signed on to co-sponsor at least one of two bills aimed against gay marriages. Both bills say such marriages "in any other jurisdiction (have) no legal force or effect" here.
   
The bills were introduced as the Massachusetts Supreme Court took steps to allow full-fledged gay marriage. The court ruled that same-sex civil unions aren't good enough and that only full and equal marriage rights for gay couples would be constitutional. Rep. Bill Cotty (R) Richland Co. explains the move by some Palmetto State lawmakers, "I think in South Carolina the vast majority of people still believe a marriage is only between a man and a woman. No other way."

Lawmakers have tackled the issue before. Eight-years-ago, similar legislation was passed declaring gay marriages void in South Carolina. That same year, a State newspaper article about the marriage of two Columbia women brought a flood of complaints.

The issue of same sex marriages will be on public display in Columbia next week. A series of events has been designed by the state's Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement. Easter, who is president of the group, says same sex couples next Thursday will come to the Richland County judicial center and attempt to register for marriage licenses. The plan then includes what's called a "strolling wedding party" down Main Street to the State House.

Easter's group is also sponsoring a town hall meeting next Wednesday to discuss a challenge to the state's ban on gay marriage.

Lawmakers have scheduled a news conference a day earlier.

The White House calls the Massachussets ruling on gay marriage "deeply troubling," and it's again raising the possibility of a constituional amendment barring same-sex marriages.

By Jack Kuenzie
Updated 7:17pm by BrettWitt