Ohio’s bill also prohibits state employees from getting marital benefits spelled out in state law for their unmarried partners, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Gay activists said the bill promotes intolerance, but the Christian Coalition of Ohio said it protects the sanctity of marriage. Taft, who signed the bill in private, issued a rare statement explaining his reasons. He said it became more pressing to approve a bill to make gay marriages “against the strong public policy of the state” after the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled 4-3 this week that denial of marriage to same-sex couples was unconstitutional. “It is necessary for us to act now to safeguard Ohio’s marriage laws,” Taft said. “Ohio could have same-sex couples who were married’ in Massachusetts taking legal action in Ohio to recognize that marriage and to obtain the resulting benefits.” When the law takes effect in 90 days, Ohio will become the 38th state to adopt a “defense of marriage act” and the second to deny benefits such as health insurance coverage to some employees’ partners. The bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati. Taft, also a Republican, denied assertions that the law promotes intolerance. He said families and parents need an environment that offers “children, and ultimately our society, the best opportunity to thrive.” “Marriage is an essential building block of our society, an institution we must reaffirm,” he said. The only environment the bill creates is one of hostility against gays and lesbians, said Chris Seelbach, a former board member of Stonewall Cincinnati, a gay activists group. He said Ohio law already defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. “Its only purpose seems to be to send a message to gays and lesbians that we don’t like you,”‘ Seelbach said. “It’s really just political propaganda directed at the gay community.” Chris Long, executive director of the Christian Coalition of Ohio, said the bill was needed to protect the state’s current law. “It is about redefining the marriage code. The attempt by the courts has been to open up the definition of marriage,” Long said. A 2000 amendment to the Nebraska Constitution makes it more difficult for same-sex couples to obtain benefits. The American Civil Liberties Union and three other groups have sued to overturn the ban. Gay rights activists say the Nebraska amendment is the only ban more restrictive than Ohio’s. The lawsuit says the ban prevents same-sex couples from visiting a partner in the hospital, making care decisions when a partner is incapacitated, taking bereavement leave or making funeral arrangements for a partner. On the Net: Christian Coalition of Ohio: http://www.ccohio.org/ Stonewall Cincinnati: http://www.stonewallcincinnati.org/
