South Carolina's good citizens voted to ban gay marriage last November. Now, with their elected officials firmly in place, the legislature has officially ratified to constitution make it so.The Palmetto State already had a ban against gay marriage, but four out of five voters apparently felt it necessary to alter their highest document to read, A marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this state," thus ensuring that no gays will ever enter into the so-called sacred institution.

Meanwhile, politicos in Maryland effectively demolished a similar ban. A House judiciary committee voted 12-8 against the proposed prohibition, which would have also barred teaching about homosexuality in the state's schools. Not surprisingly, it was mostly Democrats who voted to kill the bill. Of the vote, Dan Furmansky of Maryland Equality said, "Clearly, the strong and compelling witnesses who testified against this bill were heard by the lopsided majority of legislators who rejected the legislation". His nemesis, Pastot Rick Bowers - the man who chairs anti-gay marriage organization, Defend Maryland Marriage, vows to continue his anti-queer crusade: "To me, I don’t think the effort is dead until the final bell rings." Is he trying to be ironic?

And, New Hampshire's House Judiciary Committee voted 15-5 to proceed with civil unions, but we'll have to wait for a full House vote for the final verdict. We're pins and needles....

Md. legislature kills same-sex marriage ban [Washington Blade]
South Carolina bans gay marriage
[NY Blade]