A plurality of Ohioans oppose the
state's ban on gay marriage.
Ohio's 2004 constitutional amendment
defining marriage as a heterosexual union and prohibiting the state
from recognizing other unions was approved 62 percent to 38 percent
by Ohio voters.
According to a Columbus
Dispatch survey of 1,501 likely voters, 47 percent of
respondents said they are opposed to the amendment, while 42 percent
said they remain in favor. Eleven percent refused to answer.
“This is something I, as a Christian,
hold dear to my heart. Homosexuals can have legal civil unions or
some other legal joining together but marriage is sacred and should
not be redefined for political correctness!” Michelle Clark told
the paper.
“My brother is gay and I want him to
have every right that I have,” said Christopher Mills, 24. “I
don't see why I, or anyone else in Ohio, should tell him who to
marry. It's his sole decision. I do support the idea of allowing
the clergy the ability to perform marriages based on their ideology,
but for a state marriage, anyone should be able to marry whom he/she
wishes.”
A campaign to repeal the amendment is
being organized by Freedom
to Marry Ohio.
“More people have come out,”
co-founder Ian James said. “More people know folks who are gay.
More people know gay people are no different than anybody else. They
want to love a person that they're committed to, and they want to
share that life together.”
The group is working to put the
question on next year's ballot.