Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage in Puerto Rico Fails

Puerto Rico's
house of representatives has denied a measure to toughen a
ban on same-sex marriage.

Rep. Victor
García San Inocencio says Resolution 99 failed on
Thursday to make it to the house floor for voting,
effectively killing the proposal for this legislative
term.

The measure would
have amended the U.S. territory's constitution to
establish that marriage is between a man and woman and that
no other types of unions could be recognized. Thus,
it would have made it harder to allow civil
unions or grant marital rights to unmarried couples.

Critics said the
amendment was unnecessary because local laws already ban
same-sex marriage. Others argued it was discriminatory. (AP)