Equal Rights for SC Gays & Lesbians

We, the below, sign to express opposition to South Carolina House Bills # 4657, # 4674 and Senate Bill # 996, denying marriage recognition and benefits to gay couples who wed in other states and Senate Bill # 387 making it illegal for gay couples to adopt children in South Carolina.

It should also be recognized that we, the below, oppose and call for a repeal of Defense of Marriage Act 327 of 1996 (Section 2-1-15) which states, A marriage between persons of the same sex is void ab initio and is against the public policy of this State.

We, the below, oppose any State or Federal Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as one man to one woman, thus enshrining discrimination into documents that are intended to protect civil rights and ensure equality.

We, the below, believe same-sex marriages should be given the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex marriages - not less than, not separate, but equal.

We, the below, respectfully argue that this is not a moral or religious issue, but one of justice and equality. In America, the least of us is guaranteed the same rights as the most powerful of us. This is the spirit of the law based on the equal protection under the law principles in our State and Federal Constitutions and embossed on the Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC.

We, the below, respectfully ask you to consider:

- the U.S. Census Bureau reports there are 15,200 South Carolinians in same-sex relationships and 200,000 to 400,000 tax-paying gay and lesbian citizens. The proposed legislation would relegate these South Carolinians to second-class stature.

- the vast majority of gay and lesbian South Carolinians are responsible and loving, having the same values of family, God, and community as do heterosexual South Carolinians.

- the issues of the same-sex marriage debate are complicated and deep. Lack of education, inexperience, misinformation, stereotypes, prejudice, irrational fear, sensationalism, and spiritual violence have contributed to an unrealistic and undeserved negative depiction of the gay and lesbian community.

- major companies and many cities across the nation recognize that anti-gay policies hurt business. According to business leaders in Cincinnati, a city amendment that banned any enactment of gay rights laws has carried a stigma of intolerance that has made it difficult to recruit both businesses and employees.

- studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association state that children thrive in environments with parents gay or straight who love them.

- the constitution of marriage (a contract between two persons) has continued to evolve over the decades. At one time, people of different religious backgrounds and people of different color were not allowed to marry.

We, the below, are South Carolinians and Americans of all colors, of all ethnicities, of all religions, of all classes, of all ages, and of all sexual orientations. Thank you for your consideration.