Roughly 4,000 people attended
Spartanburg, South Carolina's sixth annual Gay Pride parade.
The event, titled Upstate Pride March
and Festival, was held Saturday in downtown Spartanburg, CBS
affiliate WSPA reported.
“More people are being supportive,
which I think will in turn help open the way to getting equality in
this area,” said
supporter Carrie Weimer.
Many festival-goers signed a petition
asking South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson to stop defending
in court the state's constitutional amendment limiting marriage to
heterosexual couples.
A federal appeals court decision
striking down a similar ban in Virginia could affect the Palmetto
State, as both states are under the jurisdiction of the same circuit
court.
The challenge could be heading to the
U.S Supreme Court.
(Related: Supreme
Court will consider hearing 5 cases challenging state gay marriage
bans.)
Keith Keppley, president of Upstate
Pride SC, said fewer protesters showed up at this year's event.