Sen. Lindsey Graham
South Carolina began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples this morning, although the state has not officially sanctioned marriage equality and the ban officially remains in place.
Charleston County Probate Judge Irvin Condon said in a statement that in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s inaction in rejecting appeals in cases where state same-sex marriage bans were overturned — including a case from South Carolina — he was “required to accept and issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples.”
During the state’s Republican primary, incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham was seen as vulnerable to a challenge from the right-wing of his party for his several “moderate” stances, including supporting President Obama’s SCOTUS nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, and for immigration reform.
One of his primary challengers, Dave Feliciano, told the U.S. News and World Report he believed the unmarried Graham was “ambiguously gay.” Graham ultimately triumphed over Feliciano and others.
Despite more moderate stances on some issues, Graham voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 2013 and has said he is against same-sex marriage.
Regardless of whether he is gay, “ambiguously gay” or neither, Graham can now get married in his home state — to either the man or woman he loves.
