North And South Carolina Teabag Republican Leadership Swear To Fight Against Marriage Equality

Lawmakers in North Carolina on Monday vowed to “formally defend” the state's ban on gay marriage.

In a joint news release, General Assembly leaders Thom Tillis and Phil Berger, both Republicans who supported passage of the state's constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union, announced they would defend the ban in court.

“The people of North Carolina have spoken, and while the Supreme Court has not issued a definitive ruling on the issue of traditional marriage, we are hopeful they will soon,” they said. “Until then, we will vigorously defend the values of our state and the will of the more than 60 percent of North Carolina voters who made it clear that marriage is between one man and one woman.”

Responding to Supreme Court action taken Monday, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson vowed to keep fighting to uphold the state's ban on gay marriage.

Justices declined to hear appeals in five cases challenging state bans, effectively legalizing marriage equality in Virginia, Utah, Wisconsin, Indiana and Oklahoma. The decision also affects six other states, including South Carolina, which are under the jurisdiction of the three appellate courts.

According to the AP, Wilson said he would continue defending the state's ban in a case involving a South Carolina gay couple who married in the District of Columbia.