Kentucky house passes constitutional marriage ban

The Kentucky house approved a proposed constitutional amendment late Monday that would ban marriage for same-sex couples and deny legal recognition of civil unions. The proposal, approved 85-11, now heads to the senate for a final vote; if the senate also approves the measure, it would be put to voters on the November ballot. Kentucky law already prohibits same-sex marriage. But supporters of the proposed amendment insist it is needed to cement the prohibition on equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Similar measures are pending in many state legislatures across the country.