By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The state Senate Monday passed a measure that would ask voters to ban gay marriages in the Missouri Constitution.
The Senate voted in favor of the amendment 26-to-six.
The measure goes to the House, which has yet to debate its own version of the proposal.
Supporters say the measure is necessary to clarify the definition of marriage so that Missouri courts can't recognize gay marriages. They cite a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision that it's unconstitutional there to prohibit gay marriages.
Opponents call the measure discriminatory, and say it's taking time away from important issues such as budgets and schools.