A Charleston County judge has issued South Carolin's first same-sex marriage license as a rejected appeal to stop them goes on to the Supreme Court. Charleston County councilwoman Colleen London and her fiance, Nichols Buckley, were the first in line Wednesday morning to receive their marriage license.
They were the first couple to have their application for a marriage license accepted in Charleston County last month. According to Nichols, London can issue the licenses due to a US district court ruling filed Tuesday that orders South Carolina to legally recognize same-sex marriages that were performed in other states where same-sex marriage is legal.
We're absolutely thrilled! We knew going into this we weren't doing it for ourselves but doing it for us, my son and for all the other people who really were afraid to take that step forward," said London shortly after the ruling came down Tuesday. I'm thrilled! I'm thrilled for everyone. Most importantly, I'm thrilled for our state. I do think it's a huge step for our state," said Buckley. it has been advanced in lower courts, but so far unsuccessfully. Because of this Grenville Co. Probate Judge Deborah Faulkner says she will not be issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Right now, Judge Faulkner says that technically, until Chief Justice John Roberts or the U.S. Supreme Court as a whole makes a ruling, there is still a "legal impediment."A decision from the high court is expected very soon.
