COLUMBUS Debate rages over gay marriage ban

The bill, approved Wednesday by the state senate, moves back to the House.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Opponents called a sweeping bill banning same-sex marriage mean-spirited and potentially harmful to the state's economy. Supporters called the bill a necessary definition of traditional marriage.
A divided Senate approved the bill 18-15 Wednesday and sent it back to the House, expected to approve minor changes next week. Gov. Bob Taft has said he will sign the bill.
Marriage between a man and a woman is the best environment for children, although adults can form whatever "household relationships they want," said Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Dayton-area Republican who voted for the bill.
The legislation "is not about gay-bashing," said Sen. Jay Hottinger, a Newark Republican and long-time supporter of the same-sex marriage ban. "This is solely and clearly clarifying and protecting the definition of marriage between one man and one woman."
'Just plain wrong'
But Senate Minority Leader Gregory DiDonato said the bill was "mean-spirited" and "just plain wrong."
Sen. C.J. Prentiss of Cleveland quoted from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech as she called the bill "good, old-fashioned discrimination."
Four Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposing the bill, which also prohibits state employees from getting marital benefits spelled out in state law for their unmarried partners, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Other states
Thirty-seven states have passed laws recognizing only marriages between men and women. Ohio is particularly restrictive because of the benefits ban, said Seth Kilbourn, national field director for the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based gay and lesbian lobbying group.
Nebraska, which passed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, also prohibits recognition of civil unions from other states. It also prevents homosexuals who work for the state or the University of Nebraska system from sharing health insurance and other benefits with their partners.
The Ohio House has already approved the bill and Gov. Bob Taft has said he will sign it, pending a legal review.
Lawmakers have struggled with the issue for seven years, when Hottinger, then a House lawmaker, introduced a bill in the House.
Hottinger said Wednesday that opponents were misstating the bill's intentions. He said the bill was not an attack on homosexuals but rather meant to protect a traditional definition of marriage.
Several opponents said the law was unnecessary because Ohio law already defines marriage as between a man and woman. Republicans defeated Democrats' last-minute attempt on the Senate floor to strip the benefits ban from the bill.
Rep. Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican and sponsor of the current bill, says a recent ruling by Massachusetts's high court declaring that state's gay marriage ban unconstitutional could affect Ohio.
The bill permits exceptions to the benefits ban, including cities, villages, townships, schools and private companies. However, universities are included in the ban.
It would also permit benefits when employees gain such rights in negotiating under collective bargaining.
Official reaction
Attorney General Jim Petro said Tuesday he opposes the bill. Petro, a Republican planning a run for governor in 2006, told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he believes that "binding unions" between same-sex couples should be afforded some protection under Ohio law.
Both Auditor Betty Montgomery and Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, Republicans also planning a 2006 run for governor, support the legislation.
Susan White, a Columbus health-care consultant, opposes the bill because of what she called the uncertainty of what benefits could be withheld.
White, 39, has an 18-month-old son with her partner, Ann.
"With this bill, it's not about marriage, it's not about gay marriage," White said. "What's happening now is all kinds of benefits are just being withheld from a certain set of people."
The vote came despite opposition by some large companies. Dayton-based NCR Corp. sent a letter to lawmakers Dec. 12 saying the bill could hurt the company's ability to attract and retain employees.
Columbus-based Limited Brands called Sen. Steve Stivers Wednesday to express its concerns, Stivers said. A message was left with the company.
The other Senate Republicans voting against the bill were Jeffry Armbruster of North Ridgeville, Robert Gardner of Madison and Stivers of Columbus.