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http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2...03100-4446.html
Amendment to ban same-sex marriage advances
Amendment heads to full Senate after committee's OK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By JOE BIESK
FRANKFORT, Ky. --A proposed amendment to Kentucky's constitution that would limit marriage to heterosexual couples and would have the state ignore civil unions cleared a Senate committee yesterday.
There are two similar proposals in the General Assembly aimed at amending the state constitution t
prevent same-sex marriages. A third was withdrawn. Another proposal would have Kentucky weigh in on the national debate by asking Congress for a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution on the matter. <
br><
br>"We need to be concerned about the moral fabric
of America and where America is headed," said Sen. Charlie Borders, R-Russell.
Same-sex marriages are illegal in Kentucky. But some supporters of the proposed amendment say they want to change the state constitution to protect "the sanctity" of marriage.
Opponents say the proposal unjustly discriminates against gay people and punishes them for loving someone of their sex.
The Senate State and Local Goverment Committee voted to approve the proposal. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Each year the legislature is allowed to send voters up to four proposed constitutional amendments. The Senate and House typically pass no more than two each.
There are more than 20 proposed amend
ments this year. Among them are ones to allow casino gambling and to help control the cost of medical malpractice insurance for doctors.
Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, said he
sup
ported the m
arriage amendment to protect what "the overwhelming majority" of Americans consid
er marriage. What has happened nationally has jeopardized "the core of society," Worley said.
"Marriage is an institution that has maintained its identity since the beginning of civilization as we know it today," Worley said. "This is not about discrimination."
Allowing two people of the same sex to get married is "contrary to anything in nature" because biologically they could not have children together, Borders said.
"It looks so sweet that two male people want to be together or two female people want to be together," Borders said. "But what we don't see is the other side... Is the consummation of that marriage, is it goin
g to be natural?"
But not all married couples have children, Barry Norris, a 47-year-old from Louisville, told the committee.
"Traditional marriage has always been
for many
reasons other than
procreation," Norris said. "If marriage were only instituted to ensure legitimate births, then there would be no reason to grant marriage certificates until shortly be
fore issuing birth certificates."
Banning same-sex marriages is tantamount to allowing the "tyranny of the majority" to prevail, Norris said.
Sen. David Karem, D-Louisville, opposed the measure and said the amendment is not needed because same-sex marriages are illegal already.
Lawmakers should worry about the number of marriages that end in divorce, he said.
"The constitution and the Bill of Rights ought to be about the issue of granting people rights and not using the constitution to be punitive to people," Karem said.
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2...03100-4446.html
Amendment to ban same-sex marriage advances
Amendment heads to full Senate after committee's OK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By JOE BIESK
FRANKFORT, Ky. --A proposed amendment to Kentucky's constitution that would limit marriage to heterosexual couples and would have the state ignore civil unions cleared a Senate committee yesterday.
There are two similar proposals in the General Assembly aimed at amending the state constitution t
prevent same-sex marriages. A third was withdrawn. Another proposal would have Kentucky weigh in on the national debate by asking Congress for a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution on the matter. <
br><
br>"We need to be concerned about the moral fabric
of America and where America is headed," said Sen. Charlie Borders, R-Russell.
Same-sex marriages are illegal in Kentucky. But some supporters of the proposed amendment say they want to change the state constitution to protect "the sanctity" of marriage.
Opponents say the proposal unjustly discriminates against gay people and punishes them for loving someone of their sex.
The Senate State and Local Goverment Committee voted to approve the proposal. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Each year the legislature is allowed to send voters up to four proposed constitutional amendments. The Senate and House typically pass no more than two each.
There are more than 20 proposed amend
ments this year. Among them are ones to allow casino gambling and to help control the cost of medical malpractice insurance for doctors.
Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, said he
sup
ported the m
arriage amendment to protect what "the overwhelming majority" of Americans consid
er marriage. What has happened nationally has jeopardized "the core of society," Worley said.
"Marriage is an institution that has maintained its identity since the beginning of civilization as we know it today," Worley said. "This is not about discrimination."
Allowing two people of the same sex to get married is "contrary to anything in nature" because biologically they could not have children together, Borders said.
"It looks so sweet that two male people want to be together or two female people want to be together," Borders said. "But what we don't see is the other side... Is the consummation of that marriage, is it goin
g to be natural?"
But not all married couples have children, Barry Norris, a 47-year-old from Louisville, told the committee.
"Traditional marriage has always been
for many
reasons other than
procreation," Norris said. "If marriage were only instituted to ensure legitimate births, then there would be no reason to grant marriage certificates until shortly be
fore issuing birth certificates."
Banning same-sex marriages is tantamount to allowing the "tyranny of the majority" to prevail, Norris said.
Sen. David Karem, D-Louisville, opposed the measure and said the amendment is not needed because same-sex marriages are illegal already.
Lawmakers should worry about the number of marriages that end in divorce, he said.
"The constitution and the Bill of Rights ought to be about the issue of granting people rights and not using the constitution to be punitive to people," Karem said.