A resolution opposing a federal constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was tabled by a hair split-vote of 46 to 44 by the U.S. Conference of Mayors on June 28, according to the Associated Press. However, efforts to support a federal amendment favoring traditional marriage continue elsewhere.
Two more votes were needed in a second vote to revive the resolution but a vote of 47 to 45 kept it tabled even though it was unanimously approved by the Criminal and Social Justice Committee on June 26.
Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, a Democrat running for governor in Connecticut and an opponent of a constitutional amendment, told the Associated Press that he believed the mayors wanted to avoid the issue for in a year many are seeking re-election.
The resolution was drafted by San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom, who was responsible for authorizing the marriages of some 4,000 homosexual couples before they were halted by the California Supreme Court. Newsom wanted to counter President Bush's proposed constitutional amendment to keep marriage as an institution between one man and one woman.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Boston, Mass., began on June 25 and will end on Tuesday, June 29.
Last November, the Massachusetts courts overturned a state law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman, clearing the way for the legalization of homosexual "marriage" in May. Should a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage pass, courts would not be able to approve homosexual marriage. In addition, the past licenses will be revoked.
Although the amendment did not pass at the national mayor's gathering, pro-family groups in some states have been running petition drives hoping to place state constitutional marriage amendments on the ballot this fall.
Arkansas and Montana have succeeded while drives in Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio and Oregon are still taking place.
Pro-family groups led by high-profiled evangelicals such as Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson are holding a live simulcast to churches, whose members will be encouraged to call on Senators to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment in mid-July.
