Extremist Fundies Seek Constitutional Convention On Gay Marriage

Columnist Robert Novak says a coalition of anti-gay marriage groups wants to call a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting gay marriages. The groups are upset over their second failed attempt at getting the U.S. Senate to recommend a constitutional amendment. Novak writes:

Supporters of a constitutional amendment to keep the courts from legalizing homosexual marriage, stunned by poor support in the recent Senate vote, are beginning a campaign for a constitutional convention.

The provision of the Constitution's Article V requiring such a convention if called by two-thirds of the state legislatures has never been used. Fear of throwing the Constitution open to general amendment has overridden support for specific issues. However, key advocates of barring gay marriages believe the constitutional convention strategy will keep the issue alive.

A recent memo circulated within the anti-gay marriage coalition lists Princeton Professor Robby George, Tony Perkins and Chuck Donovan of the Family Research
Council, and conservative financial consultant Frank Cannon as favoring the strategy.