Louisiana marriage amendment faces easy passage, more challenges

If Louisiana voters approve a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, it will mark the end of a political campaign and the beginning of round 2 in what could be a long court battle. Proponents of the amendment predict easy victory in the September 18 vote, noting that similar amendments in other states have passed with as much as 70% voter approval. Gay rights advocates are not giving up, however. Forum for Equality, the civil rights group that fought unsuccessfully to keep the measure off the ballot, is in the middle of a grassroots campaign stressing its contention that the amendment does far more than outlaw same-sex marriage and that it could endanger numerous rights now enjoyed by unmarried gay and straight couples.


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Justices Say They Will Hear Marriage Amendment Challenge
Committee Attorney Confident Judges Will Be Impartial


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Two Arkansas Supreme Court justices said Friday that they will remain on the bench to hear a challenge to a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages.

The Arkansas Marriage Amendment Committee, which backs the proposal, filed motions Tuesday alleging that Justices Robert L. Brown and Anabelle Clinton Imber have potential conflicts of interest in the case.

Without offering an explanation, the justices said Thursday that they would not step down from hearing arguments in the lawsuit, which seeks to knock the proposal off the Nov. 2 ballot.


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Group Claims Enough Votes To Pass Gay Marriage Ban  
by Bob Johnson
The Associated Press


(Montgomery, Alabama) Supporters of a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution to ban gay marriages say a majority of legislators have promised to vote for the measure.

The president of the Alabama Christian Coalition, John Giles, said 63 members of the 105-member Alabama House and 20 members of the 35-member Senate have signed pledge cards promising to vote for the amendment.