TENN. DOMA PASSES HOUSE: From the Associated Press

The House of Representatives voted 86-5 Thursday for a constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriages in Tennessee.

The amendment by Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, was approved with no discussion.

The change would insert into the Tennessee Constitution the definition of marriage that already exists in state law. That law says marriage is a union between one man and one woman and that any other type of arrangement that may be recognized in another state or nation as a marriage would not be recognized in Tennessee. ...

He said that even though he hesitated to bring the amendment, he felt his hand was forced by the state Supreme Court.

"Our Supreme Court has not hesitated to legislate from the bench," he said. "Therefore this is needed to uphold the will of the people and the Legislature."

The amendment still has a ways to go because the Constitution spells out a complex process for passing amendments.

The resolution still must be read three times in the Senate before the Legislature adjourns, which is expected within two weeks.

It then has to be read three times in each house during the next two-year General Assembly, which begins in January. On the third reading it must be approved by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

If that happens, it would go before the voters for adoption or rejection in the 2006 general election. To pass, it must be approved by the number of voters equal to a majority of ballots cast in the gubernatorial election that year.

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posted by Eve at 1:33 AM | link

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