Gay Marriage Bans Advance in Three States
Gay Marriage Bans Advance in 3 States
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
Christopher Curtis
Constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage moved forward this week in Virginia, Alabama and Indiana.
On Tuesday the Virginia House approved a constitutional amendment, 78-18, banning same-sex marriage. The Virginia Senate approved a similar resolution the day before.
Voters may be able to decide on the measure as early as November 2006. Negotiators from both legislative chambers must reconcile the two versions this year and pass the reconciled measure before both chambers.
Virginia already has one of the nation's strictest laws banning same-sex marriages and civil unions.
Democrat Adam P. Ebbin, the state's first openly gay legislator, was quoted in the Associated Press as saying a ban on same-sex marriage would be one day considered on par with slavery and segregation.
"Today is one of those moments for which we shall one day be ashamed," he said.
In Indiana, a state Senate committee took the first step on Tuesday toward a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
The Senate Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee voted 7-4 for the proposed amendment, with all Republicans voting for the proposed amendment and all Democrats voting against it.
The Rev. Jeff Miner, senior pastor at the Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, a church of the LGBT community, told the Indianapolis Star that this amendment runs counter to constitutional protections designed to help unpopular minorities.
"You may not like people like me," he said. "I respect that. But you have a moral obligation to protect my equal protection under the law."
The Indianapolis Star reports the earliest the amendment could be adopted would be November 2008. Indiana's marriage ban would first have to be passed again by a separately elected Legislature before voters will be able to consider it.
The year before, Indiana's Senate passed the measure 42-7, but Democratic leaders in the House refused to give it a hearing.
Indiana already has a law that bans same-sex marriage. An Indiana appeals court upheld the law as constitutional in a Jan. 20 ruling.
In Alabama, lawmakers approved on Tuesday the idea of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. It was the first statewide bill voted on this session.
The state House of Representatives approved one version of the bill 85-7, and the Senate approved another version 35-0. Before the marriage ban can go before voters, each chamber must approve the other's bill.
Alabama already has a statute against same-sex marriage, something Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, noted during the debate over the measure.
"Why are we arguing about something that is already illegal? It's ridiculous to spend time on this," he said in a quote published by the Birmingham News. "Lay it on the line. Say what it's about. It boils down to who can turn out votes for Republicans and Democrats."
The Birmingham News reported that Rep. Joseph Mitchell, D-Mobile, said if lawmakers were so concerned about marriage they should also ban divorce and adultery. Lawmakers refused to consider the suggestion.
Lawmakers are trying to decide when to take the measure to voters -- in a special election in September or during the general election in November 2006.
During the last November elections, voters in 11 states ratified constitutional bans on same-sex marriage.
Source => http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2005/02/09/2
