Governor Brad Henry stops short of endorsing ban of gay marriages

Wednesday, February 25th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry says traditional marriage should be protected but stopped just short of endorsing a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.

The governor made those remarks Tuesday while in Washington D.C. for a National Governors Association conference.

Henry says he had not seen the language of any proposed amendment and that Oklahoma already has laws that ban non-traditional marriage.

President Bush has already announced his support for an amendment to the US Constitution banning gay marriage.

Henry says gay and lesbian couples should be able to live together and make certain decisions about their relationship.

However, the governor says he was not endorsing civil unions.