The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. The measure fell 47 votes short of the two-thirds majority they needed.

The failure came despite an appeal from the White House.

"When activist judges insist on redefining the fundamental institution of marriage for their states or potentially for the entire country, the only alternative left to make the people's voice heard is an amendment of the Constitution," said a statement issued by the Administration.

The proposed amendment said that "marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither the Constitution, nor the constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."

A similar proposed amendment failed to get enough votes last month in the Senate.

At the opening of Tuesday's debate, Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga, said that despite the loss holding the vote was important.

"This vote will serve as an opportunity for each and every member of this body to go on record in support or in opposition to protecting the traditional definition of marriage," said Gingrey.

"This bill, to put it simply and bluntly, is about adding discrimination and intolerance to the United States Constitution," said Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass.

Conservative Republicans vowed they would return next year and eventually would win. But one conservative group, the Traditional Values Coalition, said it was a "good thing for traditional marriage" that the measure failed because it wasn't clear enough in ruling out civil unions.

The U.S. Constitution has been amended only 27 times, including the 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights. In addition to two-thirds congressional approval, a proposed amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

via 365gay.com

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