LA. SSM BAN PASSES BY NEARLY 4-TO-1 MARGIN: From the New Orleans Times-Picayune

By an almost 4-to-1 margin, Louisiana voters said yes Saturday to putting a ban on same-sex marriages in the state Constitution.

The amendment, the only statewide issue on the ballot, defines marriage in Louisiana as being solely a "union of one man and one woman" and prohibits state judges and officials from recognizing same-sex marriages and civil unions sanctioned in other states.

Louisiana is the second state in the nation to ban gay marriage by constitutional amendment since a Massachusetts court decision in November opened the door for same-sex marriage in that state. Missouri was the first state to make the change.

Supporters hailed the Louisiana vote as a victory for preserving the institution of marriage against rulings such as the one in Massachusetts in which the court determined that only marriage rights, not civil unions, would provide equal protection under the Massachusetts Constitution. ...

Opponents, who failed in court challenges to keep the amendment off the ballot, said it was unnecessary because state law already bans same-sex unions and that the proposition is so broadly written as to disrupt private contracts and employee benefits. ...

Gay-rights organizations have said they intend to file challenges to the measure's constitutionality in state and federal courts. Lawsuits challenging the results of the election have to be filed within 10 days after the returns are made official Sept. 30, elections officials said. ...

Opponents said passage of the amendment will mean government intrusion in many areas, including issues such as who gets hospital visitation rights or who gets to make funeral arrangements. They also said that the measure could nullify the effects of the domestic partner registry in New Orleans in which same-sex and unmarried opposite-sex couples can designate a partner to receive health insurance benefits and retirement benefits from the city.

Proponents called the threat of undoing private contracts a scare tactic. However, they conceded that passage could limit the usefulness of the New Orleans domestic partner registry, although city officials do not interpret it that way.

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posted by Eve at 7:53 PM | link

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