The full Senate has reaffirmed support of traditional
marriage with the passage of Senate
Resolution 62 by Sen. Clark Jolley on Monday. Jolley said the resolution,
which was approved 40 to 4, was in reaction to President Obama’s recent
announcement supporting same sex marriage.
“I believe traditional one man, one woman marriage is still
the bedrock of our society. While the president’s stated views may have
changed, I do not believe it reflects the values of this state,” said Jolley,
R-Edmond. “That’s why I authored this resolution.”
In 2004, 75 percent of Oklahoma voters approved a
constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one
woman. Forty-four states currently prohibit persons of the same gender from
marrying, including 31 states who have done so through their constitutions;
North Carolina is the most recent state to do so, approving their
constitutional amendment on traditional marriage by a 20-point margin.
“I do not believe the president’s views reflect the core
beliefs of this state. Our citizens spoke loud and clear on this issue when
they voted to include the definition of marriage in the State Constitution,”
Jolley said. “Senate Resolution 62 reaffirms that our citizens, and no one
else, make that call for Oklahoma.”
The resolution added to the Oklahoma Constitution in 2004
reads:
SECTION II-35.
Marriage defined – Construction of law and Constitution –
Recognition of out-of-state marriages – Penalty.
A. Marriage in this
state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. Neither this Constitution nor any other
provision of law shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal
incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.
B. A marriage between
persons of the same gender performed in another state shall not be recognized
as valid and binding in this state as of the date of the marriage.
C. Any person
knowingly issuing a marriage license in violation of this section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
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