GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Five same-sex couples have been turned down for marriage licenses in a South Carolina county.

The couples had expected their requests would be rejected Wednesday in Greenville County because the state's ban on gay marriage still stands.

The couples are part of Campaign for Southern Equality's "We Do" project. Supporters of gay marriage get together for a rally and request marriage licenses they know will be turned down. This was the third event in Greenville County. Similar events have been held across the South.

The Greenville event happened two days after the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Virginia's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. South Carolina is in the same judicial circuit, but the state plans to continue fighting a lawsuit to overturn its gay marriage ban.