ACLU plans lawsuit to keep same-sex marriage question off ballot

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorneys working with the ACLU are preparing a lawsuit to challenge a state question to put a ban on same-sex marriage in the Oklahoma Constitution.<br/><br/>American Civil Liberties

Tuesday, August 24th 2004, 7:26 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorneys working with the ACLU are preparing a lawsuit to challenge a state question to put a ban on same-sex marriage in the Oklahoma Constitution.

American Civil Liberties Union officials in Oklahoma say they are planning to file the lawsuit by Friday.

Gay rights organizations want the question removed from the November 2nd general election ballot.

If approved, State Question 711 would define marriage in the state Constitution as only the union of one man and one woman.

The proposal also prohibits recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states. It would also make it a misdemeanor to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple.

Seven other states already have gay-marriage bans on their November ballot, and three additional states have similar efforts underway.