LOUISIANA COURT FIGHTS CONTINUE: From the Associated Press

Efforts to prevent a Sept. 18 vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and civil unions are proceeding on several fronts, lawyers said.

Gay rights lawyers plan to file an appeal with the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge on Wednesday following a Baton Rouge judge's Monday refusal to stop a vote on the amendment. ...

Opponents of the proposed amendment are taking a multifaceted approach.

Forum for Equality argues that the ban would violate the Louisiana Constitution's guarantee of individuals' rights to enter into contracts and own property; they say it would invalidate contracts which gay and lesbian partners have drawn up to own houses together or to share responsibility for children. Backers of the amendment in the Legislature say it does not go that far.

Opponents of the amendment also say it illegally focuses on multiple objectives -- not just outlawing gay marriages but also civil unions and other legal relationships that bestow "the incidents of marriage." Backers of the amendment say it was drawn up correctly and will withstand court scrutiny.

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