State Senate approves amendment banning gay marriages

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Putting its mark on an issue that has garnered national attention, the state Senate passed a measure Monday that would ask voters to ban gay marriage in the Missouri Constitution.

The Senate's 26-6 vote in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment sent the measure to the House, which has yet to debate its own version. If both chambers pass the same proposal, the question would go on the ballot in November.

Supporters said a state law already specifies that marriage is between a man and a woman but that the definition should be clarified in the state constitution so that courts do not recognize gay marriage in Missouri anyway.

The proponents cite a recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision declaring it unconstitutional there to prohibit gay marriage.

"This is fundamentally a defensive action. This is not something where the majority who will vote for this bill began this fight," said Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau. "We are responding to activist judges on the other side who started this."

Opponents said the measure was discriminatory and unnecessary and took time from legislative debate on important issues such as budgets and schools.

"It's a discrimination based on gender that is not necessary and takes this discussion to a new low in Missouri," said Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis.

Sen. Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla, sponsored the resolution, which would add one sentence to the Missouri Constitution: "That to be valid and recognized in this state, a marriage shall exist only between a man and a woman."

Missouri law already declares it state policy "to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman" and specifically to not recognize same-sex marriages, even if performed in a state where they are legal.

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Gay marriage amendment is SJR29.

On the Net:

Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us