ISSUE 1 Rural counties led the way to approval of same-sex marriage ban

Those who supported the amendment may be active on other moral issues.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage rolled up huge margins of victory in rural counties en route to a substantial victory statewide.
According to final, unofficial state returns, voters passed the constitutional amendment Tuesday by a 62 percent to 38 percent margin.
The measure, which specifies that only a union between a man and a woman would be recognized as a marriage in Ohio, rolled to more than 70 percent majorities in counties such as Ashland in north-central Ohio and Henry in northwestern Ohio.
In the Mahoning Valley, the measure's majority was 70.17 percent in Columbiana County, 62.93 percent in Mahoning County and 61.97 percent in Trumbull County.
The measure also specifies that the state or its political subdivisions can't create legal situations that intend to approximate the effect of marriage.
The measure also rolled to smaller victories in large-population counties such as the 52 percent majority in Franklin County in central Ohio, 57 percent majority in Lucas County in northwest Ohio and 53 percent in Cuyahoga County in Northeast Ohio.
The only county so far to show a defeat for the measure known as Issue 1 was Athens County in southeast Ohio where the proposal lost 45 percent to 55 percent.
Statements
Backers of the amendment said they believe the people of Ohio have spoken.
"It appears as though the people of Ohio have spoke loud and clear that they want the institution of marriage to be between one man and one woman, and they also want to protect the benefits," said Phil Burress, chairman of the pro-amendment Ohio Campaign to Protect Marriage.
Alan Melamed, campaign manager for the anti-amendment Ohioans Protecting the Constitution, said he believed opponents of the measure fought valiantly.
"It's kind of like losing a battle in a bigger war, and I think we can build on ... the affirmation of Ohio's leaders of all political stripes," Melamed said.
Melamed said opponents of the constitutional amendment are mulling their options including possible legal action.
Outlook
Burress said he believes those who supported the amendment are a powerful coalition and will be active on other issues in the state including abortion and religious freedom.
"People of faith have come alive. They are concerned about the moral issues of this country," Burress said.
"We have a database now in the hundreds of thousands from several different sources. And that database will not go to waste," Burress said.
"I think politics are going to be changed in the state of Ohio, and if you're not right on the issues, you're going to have opposition," Burress said.