What a difference a word makes. -- Same-sex marriage. Hell no say 60%+ of Georgians. Same-sex union. Why not.
A slew of national polls consistently show that roughly two-thirds of Americans oppose gay marriages, but nearly half support civil unions.
(Brian Basinger, Morris News Service, 10-18-04 Athens Banner-Herald.)
What about Georgia?
According to Jim Galloway of the ajc, okay, of the PI, it can be summarized as follows: "What a difference a word makes."
In a 10-16-04 ajc article entitled "'Marriage' matters to voters; Amendment support drops when it's called gay 'union'," Mr. Galloway reports:
What a difference a word makes.
More than 60 percent of likely Georgia voters intend to vote in favor of an amendment to the state constitution that would ban marriage between homosexual couples, according to a poll conducted last week for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Zogby International.
But when asked whether the permanent relationships of gay couples should enjoy a legal status that's called something "other than marriage," those same voters are split down the middle, at 47 percent each.
The poll indicates that Amendment No. 1 — the gay marriage ban — on the Nov. 2 ballot has substantial support among both white and black voters. But that support is not at the same intensity shown during the summer by voters in Louisiana, where a similar amendment earned 78 percent approval. In August, Missouri voters also added a gay marriage ban to their constitution, on a 70 percent vote.
Opponents of Georgia's proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage said the support expressed for gay civil unions in the survey underscores the importance of a legal battle that goes to the state Supreme Court this week.
In an attempt to block the vote, opponents are claiming that the language on the November ballot is misleading. The question asks voters whether marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples. Left unseen is language that also would ban civil unions between gay couples, opponents say.
An article in the 10-17-04 Florida Times Union addresses some legitimate concerns that have been widely circulated.
(The Florida Times Union paper is widely read in South Georgia. But Sid, being old-school and set in his ways, continues to subscribe to and read the ajc. Having been brought up reading Ralph McGill everyday, how can I now do without the PI, Jay Bookman and Cynthia Tucker, even if this involves coming across Philistine Jim Wooten a couple of times a week.
Actually Mr. Wooten, although being of a different political persuasion, is a person I just can't help but like. He probably would not like me saying as much -- sort of like the ajc endorsing Isakson (with friends like the ajc who needs enemies some of Isakson's supporting where heard to say) -- but we do share a number of ideas, and one characteristic we have in common that he cannot deny -- we are both from South Georgia. In this latter respect, similar to Will Rogers, I have met only a few men from South Georgia I did not like.)
The Florida Times Union reports:
[A] Nov. 2 decision at the polls . . . could impact business practices in Georgia.
Advocates against the ban say it could threaten domestic-partner benefits including health-care coverage that some same-sex couples now receive. They also argue that if the amendment is approved as is, it would hinder companies from attracting employees looking for tolerant and diverse workplaces.
Georgia has about 50 businesses, plus 10 Fortune 500 companies and several local governments in the Atlanta area, that offer domestic-partner benefits.
Home Depot announced last month that it would extend its health insurance program to employees' same-sex partners. The Atlanta-based company had come under heavy criticism from national gay-rights advocates for giving employees access to pet insurance but not health benefits for same-sex domestic partners.
Representatives from some of the state's largest companies, including United Postal Service and Coca-Cola, said last week that an approval of the amendment would not change their domestic-partner benefits programs.
SunTrust Banks included domestic-partner benefits last year. The company, which does not disclose how many employees use the benefits, is still reviewing the amendment issue, spokesman Mike McCoy said.
Legislators who supported posing the question to voters say they have no intention of making businesses change their benefits policies through the amendment.
[A little late for this isn't it legislators? Now it is before the Supreme Court, and if the constitutional amendment goes before the voters and passes, legislative history has little if any sway with the Georgia courts for reasons I won't go into. Suffice it to say, generally speakeing, what they intend is irrelevant. It will be up to the courts to decide the effect and scope of any constitutional provision.]
(Brian Basinger, Morris News Service, 10-18-04 Athens Banner-Herald.)
What about Georgia?
According to Jim Galloway of the ajc, okay, of the PI, it can be summarized as follows: "What a difference a word makes."
In a 10-16-04 ajc article entitled "'Marriage' matters to voters; Amendment support drops when it's called gay 'union'," Mr. Galloway reports:
What a difference a word makes.
More than 60 percent of likely Georgia voters intend to vote in favor of an amendment to the state constitution that would ban marriage between homosexual couples, according to a poll conducted last week for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Zogby International.
But when asked whether the permanent relationships of gay couples should enjoy a legal status that's called something "other than marriage," those same voters are split down the middle, at 47 percent each.
The poll indicates that Amendment No. 1 — the gay marriage ban — on the Nov. 2 ballot has substantial support among both white and black voters. But that support is not at the same intensity shown during the summer by voters in Louisiana, where a similar amendment earned 78 percent approval. In August, Missouri voters also added a gay marriage ban to their constitution, on a 70 percent vote.
Opponents of Georgia's proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage said the support expressed for gay civil unions in the survey underscores the importance of a legal battle that goes to the state Supreme Court this week.
In an attempt to block the vote, opponents are claiming that the language on the November ballot is misleading. The question asks voters whether marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples. Left unseen is language that also would ban civil unions between gay couples, opponents say.
An article in the 10-17-04 Florida Times Union addresses some legitimate concerns that have been widely circulated.
(The Florida Times Union paper is widely read in South Georgia. But Sid, being old-school and set in his ways, continues to subscribe to and read the ajc. Having been brought up reading Ralph McGill everyday, how can I now do without the PI, Jay Bookman and Cynthia Tucker, even if this involves coming across Philistine Jim Wooten a couple of times a week.
Actually Mr. Wooten, although being of a different political persuasion, is a person I just can't help but like. He probably would not like me saying as much -- sort of like the ajc endorsing Isakson (with friends like the ajc who needs enemies some of Isakson's supporting where heard to say) -- but we do share a number of ideas, and one characteristic we have in common that he cannot deny -- we are both from South Georgia. In this latter respect, similar to Will Rogers, I have met only a few men from South Georgia I did not like.)
The Florida Times Union reports:
[A] Nov. 2 decision at the polls . . . could impact business practices in Georgia.
Advocates against the ban say it could threaten domestic-partner benefits including health-care coverage that some same-sex couples now receive. They also argue that if the amendment is approved as is, it would hinder companies from attracting employees looking for tolerant and diverse workplaces.
Georgia has about 50 businesses, plus 10 Fortune 500 companies and several local governments in the Atlanta area, that offer domestic-partner benefits.
Home Depot announced last month that it would extend its health insurance program to employees' same-sex partners. The Atlanta-based company had come under heavy criticism from national gay-rights advocates for giving employees access to pet insurance but not health benefits for same-sex domestic partners.
Representatives from some of the state's largest companies, including United Postal Service and Coca-Cola, said last week that an approval of the amendment would not change their domestic-partner benefits programs.
SunTrust Banks included domestic-partner benefits last year. The company, which does not disclose how many employees use the benefits, is still reviewing the amendment issue, spokesman Mike McCoy said.
Legislators who supported posing the question to voters say they have no intention of making businesses change their benefits policies through the amendment.
[A little late for this isn't it legislators? Now it is before the Supreme Court, and if the constitutional amendment goes before the voters and passes, legislative history has little if any sway with the Georgia courts for reasons I won't go into. Suffice it to say, generally speakeing, what they intend is irrelevant. It will be up to the courts to decide the effect and scope of any constitutional provision.]
posted by Sid Cottingham | 7:54 PM
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