S.C. Bill Would Let Officials Refuse Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

The legislation would protect public employees from punishment if they cite religious beliefs in denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

December 09 2014 1:53 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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A South Carolina state senator is introducing a bill that would allow judges and other public officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples without facing punishment.

Sen. Lee Bright, a Republican, prefiled the legislation last week, ahead of the legislative session that begins in January, Columbia TV station WLTX reports. "The bill would protect people employed in probate or clerk or court offices from liability or punishments if they object to granting same-sex marriage licenses based on a sincere religious belief," the station notes. In South Carolina, probate judges' offices issue marriage licenses.

"At the end of the day I want to know I did all I could, and I think it's something we need to do to protect these judges so they can serve in these honorable positions without feeling like they betrayed their faith," Bright told WLTX.

Marriage equality came to South Carolina in November, after a federal judge struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage and higher courts refused to extend the brief stay he placed on his ruling.

In neighboring North Carolina, which also became a marriage equality state this fall, Republican legislative leaders have said they will back legislation allowing public employees to opt out of participating in same-sex marriages. At least six county magistrates have resigned rather than perform such ceremonies.