Same-Sex Marriage Constitutional Amendment

The so-called Marriage Protection Amendment was passed yesterday by the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, chaired by Kansas Senator Sam Brownback. The proposed constitutional amendment states "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman." Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who cast the deciding vote, said he opposes the measure but believes it deserves to be heard in the full Senate. More information is available at The Boston Channel.