Group joins marriage fight Amendment set for upcoming battle
By JOHN SULLIVAN of the Tribune’s staff

Residents of Columbia and other Mid-Missouri towns joined activists across the state yesterday to declare opposition to a proposed state constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.
About 20 people assembled for a news conference outside the Boone County Courthouse to announce the launch of the Constitution Defense League to fight the amendment. Representatives of the group held similar gatherings in Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, group members said.

The Missouri General Assembly passed a resolution Friday that would place the constitutional amendment on the ballot in an upcoming election. The resolution sets a referendum for Nov. 2 - the same day as statewide elections - unless Gov. Bob Holden calls for a special election.

Holden could set a special election for any date, though the likely alternative is Aug. 3, when state primaries are held. Any other date would cost the state about $4 million, the secretary of state’s office said.

The deadline to place an issue on the August ballot is next Tuesday.