Ohio voters overwhelmingly adopt gay marriage ban
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 3, 2004
To research State Issue 1, many Ohio voters needed only one book: the Holy Bible.
Citing religious beliefs and strong moral convictions, Ohio voters overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to ban same-sex marriages under the Ohio Constitution and prohibit state and local governments from granting legal status to unmarried couples of either sex.
With 95 percent of the state's precincts reporting, more than 3 million voters, or 62 percent, supported the measure, while 1.87 million, or 38 percent, opposed it.
Locally, 20,734 people, 79.4 percent, voted for the amendment, with only 5,367, 21 percent, voting against the amendment.
"It is immoral. I believe God made man and woman and made the unity between them," said Ironton voter George Sisler. "It is a sacrament that God left here for man and woman. That is why I voted for the amendment."
Ohio University Southern student Erica Melvin agreed that the Biblical references should be enough to define the issue that has been a hot topic this election.
"I really do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman," she said. "We shouldn't change that. (Homosexual couples) have been living together before but I don't see a reason to change marriage."
The amendment's opponents immediately said that further legal options will be considered to prevent the measure's implementation.
''We're certainly going to look at legal challenges,'' said Alan Melamed, who led the campaign opposing the amendment.
The amendment would undo constitutional protections of property rights by invalidating certain private contracts between unmarried couples, Melamed said.
Barring legal battles, the amendment will take effect in 30 days. After that, Ohio's cities and public universities that have not already offered health insurance coverage to their employees' domestic partners will no longer be able to do so.
State government leaders have been divided on the issue. Gov. Bob Taft, U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich and Attorney General Jim Petro oppose the ban. State Auditor Betty Montgomery, Treasurer Joe Deters and Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell support it. All the officeholders are Republicans.
Similar proposals passed in all 11 states where it was on the ballot. The margin was 6-1 in Mississippi, while the amendment was also approved in Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, North Dakota and Utah.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.