COLUMBIA, S.C. _ The day after Valentine's Day, six South Carolina legislators introduced "Marriage and Constitution Restoration Act," also known as the 'parody marriage' bill, to the House that would amend the definition of what constitutes marriage in the Palmetto State.
Since then, one of the representatives whose name was at the top of the potential legislation has asked to be removed as a sponsor.
Rep. Rick Martin removed himself from the list of sponsors of the controversial bill, which has drawn criticism from the LGBT community. There was nothing on the Newberry Republican's website saying why Martin, who removed himself from the list on Feb. 22, is no longer a sponsor for the bill.
The State House representatives who are still sponsoring the bill, all Republicans, include:
_ Steven Wayne Long, Spartanburg District 37
_ William M. "Bill" Chumley, Spartanburg District 35
_ James Mikell "Mike" Burns, Greenville District 17
_ John R. McCravy, III, Greenwood District 13
_ Josiah Magnuson, Spartanburg District 38
The "Marriage and Constitution Restoration Act" was introduced Feb. 15 and would draw a line between what its sponsors deem is "marriage" and what is considered "parody marriage."
According to the bill, "parody marriage means any form of marriage that does not involve one man and one woman. Marriage means a union of one man and one woman."
By that definition, any LGBT marriage would be a "parody marriage."
Jeff Ayers, executive director of SC Equality, the state's largest LGBT rights organization, condemned the bill and called on legislators to take a stand by calling this bill what it is, a bigoted and narrow-minded attempt to legalize discrimination.
"This is nothing more than an attempt by a first-term representative to pander to his far-right base in an election year," Ayers said. "Bills like this are hateful, discriminatory and only make it more difficult to recruit new business to South Carolina. The LGBT community and our allies will not stand silently as Representative Long and the Keystone Cop Caucus paints a picture of South Carolina that is full of discrimination and bigotry. This issue has been settled by the United States Supreme Court."
The bill would "prohibit the state from respecting, endorsing, or recognizing any parody marriage policy or policies that treat sexual orientation as a suspect class; and for other purposes," according to its summary on scstatehouse.gov.
Essentially, the bill would make it so South Carolina would not legally recognize any marriage not between one man and one woman.
The bill was referred to Committee on Judiciary on Feb. 15.
"If this bill were to pass, our lawyers are standing by to challenge it in the courts and the state will lose," Ayers said.
