Kansas voters
will decide Tuesday whether to approve a constitutional
amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.
Gay marriage is already banned under Kansas law, and
the law is not being challenged by anyone. But supporters of
the ballot measure say the ban must be put in the Kansas
constitution to insulate it from a potential legal challenge.
Kansas voters are expected to approve the marriage
ban overwhelmingly.
Kansas would become the 18th state with such a
prohibition in its constitution; 13 others approved such
bans just last year. Alabama, South Dakota, and Tennessee
plan elections next year on constitutional bans, and
proposals are pending in 13 other states, according to the
National Conference of State Legislatures.
Gay people in Kansas warn that the measure on
Tuesday's ballot could be especially oppressive. It would
not only reinforce the long-standing definition of marriage
but would also declare that only unions of one man and one
woman are entitled to the "rights and incidents" of
marriage. They say the measure could ban civil unions and
prevent companies from offering health benefits to
employees' partners, gay or heterosexual. (AP)
