Oklahoma lawmaker considers banning all marriages Republicans in Oklahoma are so against marriage equality they might keep straight couples from marrying 25 January 2014 | By James Withers A Oklahoma state representative is willing to ban marriage for both straight and LGBTI couples. Representative Mike Turner, a Republican, introduced a bill that would make civil marriage illegal in the southern US state. The legislation is in response to District Judge Terence Kern overturning the states ban on gay marriage. In 2004, an amendment was added to the states constitution defining marriage as ‘the union of one man and one woman.’ The ballot measure passed with 75 percent voter support. [My constituents are] willing to have that discussion about whether marriage needs to be regulated by the state at all, Turner said to News 9, a local station. The representative maintains other legislators support such a move. The bill is presently in shell mode, which means it can be quickly changed. Turner is waiting for the outcome of the appeal before making a final decision on his legislation. Ryan Kiesel, the executive director of the states chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, noted there has not been a case where a US state banned civil marriage for all couples. Moving forward I think well see less efforts like this, Kiesel said to News 9. The appeal to Kerns ruling is now headed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. - See more at: gaystarnews/article/oklahoma-lawmaker-considers-banning-all-marriages250114#sthash.Tj6fBfet.dpuf
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:03:13 +0000
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