Arkansas senators have just passed a measure calling for an amendment of the US Constitution to exclude gay people from the definition of marriage.
Senate Joint Resolution 7 seeks to define marriage as “the union of one man and one woman”, a measure branded “mean-spirited and meaningless” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
“Marriage equality is settled law, and any bill or legislator seeking to undermine it is in conflict with the US Supreme Court and the US Constitution,” said Kendra R. Johnson, HRC Arkansas state director.
The motion will now go to Arkansas’ House of Representatives but the HRC says the state has no authority over Congress.
“HRC Arkansas calls on our lawmakers put an end to these cynical, divisive theatrics, and start focusing on the issues that matter to Arkansans instead introducing a bill that would only seek to harm LGBTQ people,” said Ms Johnson.
The senate also approved a separate anti-abortion measure to amend the Constitution to declare that life begins at conception.
Republican Senator Jason Rapert tweeted that he wanted to thank the senate for passing the resolutions to “protect life and stand up for natural marriage”.
