Constitutional amendments banning gay marriage will appear on the ballot in eleven states this November. The amendments are expected to motivate conservatives to get to the polls in four presidential battleground states, reports the Associated Press, and may influence several Congressional races. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the following states will consider constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah. The impact the amendments could have in some states is unknown. “We are completely perplexed by the language,” said Ken Choe, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union’s lesbian and gay project, in an interview with Salon.com. “We don’t know what far-reaching consequences these [amendments] could have if they become law.” In some states, private contracts like power of attorney or property-sharing agreements could be rendered unenforceable between gay couples. Also, rights such as domestic-violence protection or hospital visitation could be taken away, reports Salon.com. JOIN the Feminist Majority
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