Cincinnati Enquirer urges "no" on gay marriage ban

The Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday urged a "no" vote on Ohio's Issue 1, saying the proposed constitutional amendment goes far beyond prohibiting same-sex marriages and would interfere with benefits that companies could offer employees. The Enquirer noted the opposition of statewide officeholders, including Gov. Bob Taft, senators Mike DeWine and George Voinovich, and Attorney General Jim Petro. The newspaper said the issue's ballot language that would forbid state and local governments from recognizing relationships that "intend to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effect of marriage" could have consequences for anyone living together, "no matter what their relationship might be." Same-sex marriages already are prohibited under Ohio's Defense of Marriage Act, enacted by the legislature last summer. "Issue 1 could prevent [unmarried couples] from being able to give each other legal control over their health care, pension benefits, or other assets. Public employers could not offer family health insurance benefits to those who are not in traditional families," the newspaper said. "Ohio should be working to develop a reputation that is open and welcoming," the Enquirer said. "Issue 1 closes a door on those efforts."