Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has
renewed a call for placing a gay marriage ban in the U.S.
Constitution.
Gingrich made his remarks late
Wednesday in response to a federal judge's ruling overturning
California's gay marriage ban.
Chief
U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling states that Proposition 8
violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian couples who
wish to marry. Walker has stayed his ruling at least until
Friday, when he'll hold another hearing. Proposition 8 supporters
most likely will appeal the ruling.
Voters approved the measure by a narrow
margin on November 4, 2008. The law put an end to gay and lesbian
weddings taking place in the state after the California Supreme Court
legalized the institution.
“Judge Walker's ruling overturning
Prop 8 is an outrageous disrespect for our Constitution and for the
majority of people of the United States who believe marriage is the
union of husband and wife,” Gingrich wrote on his website.
“Congress now has the responsibility
to act immediately to reaffirm marriage as a union of one man and one
woman as our national policy.”
Congress first proposed a
constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in 2002. The measure
slowly gained steam over the years and nearly won approval four years
later.
Gingrich went on to suggest that Supreme
Court nominee Elena Kagan agreed with Walker's ruling.
“Today's notorious decision also
underscores the importance of the Senate vote tomorrow on the
nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court because judges who
oppose the American people are a growing threat to our society.”