California, Florida ban same-sex marriages

NEW YORK: Voters in California, Florida, and Arizona voted to ban same-sex marriages, much to the disappointment of homosexual groups.

The decision was celebrated by social conservatives, who had worked hard to overturn court rulings allowing such unions. But much to their chagrin, voters rejected provisions to restrict abortions in California, South Dakota, and Colorado.

Analysts said the measure to ban same-sex marriages was passed because black and Hispanic voters who helped to elect Barack Obama as president supported it. Obama also opposes such marriages.

Also approved by Arkansas voters was a measure intended to bar homosexual men and women from adopting children.

In California, supporters of same-sex marriages still held out a slim hope that the postal ballot might affect the outcome, but figures officially released showed that more than 52 per cent had voted for the ban. Analysts projected that the measure would win.

But homosexuals are reportedly planning to mount a legal challenge to the ban on the grounds that the vote against same-sex marriages violated the constitution.

With this, the only two states where homosexual marriages are legal are Massachusetts and Connecticut with New York and Rhode Island recognising such marriages performed in other states. Now some 30 states ban homosexual marriages.