( CNN ) -- A U.S. District Court judge has overturned South Carolina 's ban on same-sex marriage . The ruling , by Judge Richard M. Gergel in Charleston , does not mean an immediate issuance of marriage licenses for same-sex couples , however . The judge set the order to go into effect on November 20 , to give opponents time to appeal if they wish . Gergel , who was appointed by President Barack Obama , issued a permanent injunction against enforcement of provisions of the state constitution or state laws or policy `` to the extent that they seek to prohibit the marriage of same sex couples . '' If the judge 's ruling stands and same-sex marriage becomes legal , South Carolina would become the 33rd state in which same-sex marriage has become legal . Same-sex marriage is under court review in Arkansas , Florida , Kansas , Louisiana and Texas . It is banned in 12 other states .
A South Carolina judge overturns the state 's ban on same-sex marriage . The ruling is a victory for gay rights advocates who had argued that it was unconstitutional to deny them equal treatment under the law. Those opposed might appeal by then .