Alabama became the 20th state to adopt a constitutional marriage amendment with 81 percent of Alabama voters approving the measure June 6.
The amendment won handily in every county, just one day prior to a federal marriage amendment failing in the U.S. Senate.
Only Mississippi — which passed an amendment in 2004 with 86 percent of the vote — surpassed Alabama’s tally.
“This cultural issue transcended mere partisan politics,” said Michael Ciamarra, vice president of Alabama Policy Institute. “This truly was an issue of our shared common values.
“That [81 percent] is by any measure an astounding victory. … The people of Alabama spoke very, very loudly.”
Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, said, “Biblically and traditionally marriage has always been between one man and one woman. This amendment safeguards the institution of marriage according to the Bible.”
The Legislature passed the amendment last year, although it required voter approval. It breezed through the Senate, 30–0, and the House, 85–7. It was sponsored by Rep. Yusuf Salaam, D–Selma, and Sen. Hinton Mitchem, D–Guntersville.
The amendment prevents Alabama courts from forcing the state to recognize “gay marriages,” civil unions or domestic partnerships from other states. It also prevents Alabama courts from legalizing those unions in the state.
The amendment also bans any “union replicating marriage.”
“Gay marriage” is legal in Massachusetts, while same-sex civil unions are recognized in Connecticut and Vermont. California has same-sex domestic partnerships.
Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin are scheduled to vote on similar amendments to Alabama’s this year.
A handful of other states may follow.
The marriage amendment on the federal level is not moving as easily as in the states.
For the second time, the Senate has killed a proposal to amend the Constitution to deny marriage to same-sex couples. That won’t stop the U.S. House of Representatives from taking up the same proposal, though, and opponents of gay rights noted that the measure picked up one Senate vote from the last time.
Senators effectively killed the bill for the rest of the year on a 49–48 procedural vote June 7. The vote was not on the amendment itself but on a measure to cut off debate and proceed to a vote on the substantive matter of the proposed amendment.
Although the margin constituted a majority of the senators present, it was well short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate to cut off debate, as well as the 67 votes needed to approve the amendment.
The Senate bill was S.J.Res. 1. The House version, introduced in that chamber June 6, is H.J.Res. 88. (BP, ABP, TAB)
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