Despite fundraising on the issue, the
Ohio Democratic Party says it has not endorsed an effort to repeal
the state's 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment which
prevents the state from recognizing any union other than a
heterosexual union.
On Top Magazine was the first to
report on the party's Thursday launch of a fundraising campaign
revolving around the issue.
In an email to supporters, the party
asked, “Isn't it time that we make Ohio the 12th state
to embrace equality?” a reference to the recent passage of a
marriage bill in Delaware.
Despite asking donors for money to help
“pass a referendum recognizing equality,” a spokesman said Friday
that the party has not endorsed the only effort underway in the state
to legalize gay nuptials.
Jerid Kurtz told Outlook
Columbus that the party was endorsing the “idea of marriage
equality” and is backing supportive candidates.
“We're actually trying to win
marriage equality, not the concept of it,” said Ian James, a
co-founder of FreedomOhio, the group working to replace the
amendment. “It's difficult to support the concept without
supporting the actual vehicle.”
James has previously said that while
his group will easily surpass the roughly 385,000 valid signatures
needed by July 3 to qualify for this November's ballot, a decision to
put the question before voters this year hinges on public support and
available resources.