TULSA, Okla. — Just one week after a judge struck down Oklahoma’s 2004 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, a state lawmaker has filed a bill that would call for a second vote to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to again ban same-sex marriage.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond, Okla.), on Tuesday said he filed the measure in anticipation that a federal appeals court will uphold the ruling and Oklahoma’s gay marriage ban would be struck down, reported the Tulsa World.
Turner has also introduced a separate bill called the “Preservation of Marriage Act,” which currently contains no substantial language and can be modified, as can the other measure.
Turner said he opposes the recognition of same-sex marriage and said he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, but that his bill doesn’t need to be acted on until the case has been resolved.
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The Equality Network, Oklahoma’s statewide LGBT advocacy group, opposes the measure.
“The law is unconstitutional and any effort to reinstate it or reinvigorate it is will be a waste of time and money,” said Laura Belmonte, chair of The Equality Network.
