House approves constitutional ban on gay marriage
The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — With more than a dozen votes to spare, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that would put the state's existing ban on gay marriages in the state Constitution, if voters agree.

Similar legislation also was up for discussion in the state Senate on Tuesday, where it appeared likely to be passed.

Supporters said the proposed constitutional change by Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, would create an added level of protection against court decisions, like that of a Massachusetts Supreme Court, that could authorize same-sex marriages.

Opponents said it was a form of discrimination that was being used to encourage conservative Republicans to go to the polls for the presidential and congressional elections this fall.