Election 2002: Question 2

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 11:32 a.m.

State law already prohibits same-sex marriages, but supporters of Question 2 say the law needs to be fortified by the proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution, which states: "Only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state."

The amendment, if approved, would prevent the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states, said Richard Ziser, chairman of the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, which collected the signatures to get the initiative on the ballot and has led the pro-Question 2 campaign.

Opponents, led by the group Equal Rights Nevada, say the amendment would hurt efforts to keep or extend the legal rights of same-sex couples.

But if voters' opinions of Question 2 are close to two years ago, the constitution will be amended. In 2000 the amendment was supported by 70 percent of the voters, but such amendments need to pass in two elections, so voters will have the final say on the initiative this election.

"Whether it passes or not doesn't change anything because it's already (law)," Equal Rights Nevada Executive Director Richard Schlegel said.

Question 2 supporters would use a victory to limit or prevent same-sex couples from having rights similar to those of a married couple, such as hospital visits, he said.

But Ziser said that argument is a "red herring."

"This has nothing to do with hospital visitation policies," Ziser said. "There are other ways to accomplish that without changing the law."

"The reason we're doing this is because homosexuals are there challenging our laws. ... They want the definition of marriage changed," Ziser said.

He said the ballot initiative is opposed to gay marriage, but not opposed to gays.