Ensign would support amendment banning gay marriage

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said he would support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Ensign cautioned that changing the Constitution should not be done lightly.

After evaluating the idea of President Bush's recommendation of such an amendment Tuesday, Ensign said he believes it is necessary "to protect the institution of marriage in America."

"In order to defend the institution of marriage, uphold the rights of individual states and maintain the will of the people, I believe we are compelled to amend our country's Constitution," Ensign said.

According to a statement, Ensign said that tolerance of gay people and their privacy must be maintained.

Ensign and Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., support the potential amendment, although Porter said he would have to see the language.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., both oppose same-sex marriages but did not favor an amendment.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., does not oppose gay marriages and criticized the idea of such an amendment.

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