Oklahoma lawmaker wants voters to pass constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage — again

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Republican Rep. Mike Turner

Voters in 31 states have passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. But no state has done it twice. That could change in 2014, however, if one Oklahoma lawmaker has his way.

Republican Rep. Mike Turner, a 26-year-old SMU graduate, has introduced a resolution that would direct the secretary of state to place the 2004 marriage amendment back on the ballot — so voters can approve some changes. Thus far, Turner’s only proposed change is to substitute “Oklahoma” for the word “state” in the text of the amendment. However, Turner has also introduced a separate bill called the “Preservation of Marriage Act” — which is currently in skeletal form. Oklahoma’s statewide LGBT advocacy group, The Equality Network, opposes both measures.

“Because Rep. Turner has also introduced a House Joint Resolution (HJR 1076) calling for a second statewide ballot banning same-sex marriage, it is assumed that this bill also aims to keep same-sex marriage illegal,” The Equality Network says of the Preservation of Marriage Act in a fact sheet posted online.

Laura Belmonte, chair of The Equality Network, issued a statement Monday.