Locals react to SC same-sex marriage ruling

Even after Wednesday’s landmark federal ruling striking down South Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriages, gay couples couldn’t set a date for heading to the altar.

Federal Judge Richard Gergel in Charleston issued a brief stay of his decision overturning the ban so that South Carolina authorities could appeal his ruling if they choose. Probate courts in York, Chester and Lancaster counties also said they were waiting for directions from the S.C. Supreme Court about issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

Gergel’s order states that the federal court anticipates a state Supreme Court ban on issuing licenses to same-sex couples will be dissolved soon.

As the court battles continue, supporters of gay marriage said the ruling represented a great day for equality, while opponents said the ruling ignored the wishes of South Carolinians who voted to ban same-sex marriages eight years ago.

For Jerry and Eric LaMonica of Rock Hill, a gay couple who married legally in New York in 2013, Wednesday’s ruling moves them and their two children closer to legal status in South Carolina. The LaMonicas, who have been together for 15 years, have closely monitored the court decisions that affect their legal standing as a couple. They recognize that Wednesday’s ruling will be appealed.

“This is one step closer to validating the lives we have lived for so many years together,” Jerry LaMonica said.

They plan to register for a South Carolina marriage license in York County as soon as they are legally able. “We want to have a ceremony with friends, and family – a wedding,” Jerry LaMonica said.

But many South Carolinians are still opposed to placing same-sex relationships in the same category as heterosexual ones. In 2006, 78 percent of voters approved adding a gay marriage ban to the state constitution.

The Rev. Joey Deese of Oakdale Baptist Church in Rock Hill said his church would continue to stand for “biblical marriage.”

“The overwhelming majority of people supported that, and then one judge decides to overturn it because of his personal opinion,” Deese said. “I’m confident this will move to the Supreme Court and it will be overturned.”

The Rev. Phillip Jones said the congregation at Trinity Church of the Nazarene would not support hosting a same-sex wedding at the church. “We ought to love the gays, but (marriage) doesn’t fit into the biblical principles” of the church, he said.

Whatever the changes in state or federal law, many feel they’re held to a higher law.

“Science and nature point to heterosexuality,” Deese said. “If homosexuality happened in nature, every species would die out.”

Yet Jennifer McNeil, 53, of Fort Mill, who has been in a same-sex relationship for 20 years, said Wednesday’s court ruling is another step toward legal gay marriage that she and her partner have wanted for two decades.

“We want to get married as soon as possible,” McNeil said. “We want it to be legal, on paper, just like anyone else. We decided this – me, her, and God – many years ago – and God approved.”

Others have become more accepting of same-sex relations as well. Epiphany Lutheran Church in Rock Hill stayed within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or ELCA, after the denomination chose to ordain openly gay pastors. The Rev. Jeff Lingle said most of the congregation is comfortable with the idea of gay marriage.

“It’s really a non-issue,” said Lingle, who supports marriage equality. “It’s a very open and welcoming church.”

Whether Epiphany Lutheran would conduct same-sex ceremonies will ultimately depend on the direction of the South Carolina bishop of the ELCA, Lingle said. But while some other ministers might be against Wednesday’s ruling, Lingle doesn’t believe Scripture requires him to reject gay relationships.

“If that’s what they believe, I can’t change it,” he said. “But we have to live out what the Gospel teaches in action. The Gospel calls on us to love, not to exclude anyone because of their gender or because of their sexual relationships.”

Wednesday’s ruling is another step toward all people having equal rights and standing, said Clifton McDaniel, 21, a Rock Hill native attending the College of Charleston. McDaniel said he is gay and has been with his partner for three years, and that many people he knows have looked forward to the time when same-sex couples can marry just like anyone else.

“This is a great day,” McDaniel said, “for equality for all people.”

This story was originally published November 12, 2014 at 11:09 AM.