GA GROUPS VS MARRIAGE AMENDMENT: From the Macon Telegraph

Several advocacy groups are working to convince Georgia voters that a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage goes too far and would strip basic rights from gays and lesbians, including hospital-visitation rights and Social Security benefits.

The proposed ban, which was hotly debated during this year's legislative session, will be listed on the Nov. 2 ballots for the general election. ...

Opponents of the ban are drawing up tentative plans for a lawsuit that would challenge the wording of the ballot question, which they say is vague and misleading.

The law has two parts, but no mention is made in the referendum question of the second part of the law, Darby said. The first part of the law would only recognize marriage between a man and a woman. The second part would remove numerous rights for same-sex couples, opponents argue.

Darby and other legal consultants working on behalf of gay and lesbian groups worry the law would remove their rights to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners, adopt children and include partners in their wills.

"If this passes, the courts will not have to uphold any contractual arrangements between members of the same sex," Darby said.

Cook disagrees, saying the power of attorney can be used for people of the same sex to make medical decisions or other legal decisions for each other.

"There are already laws in place to take care of those issues," Cook said.

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posted by Eve at 8:11 PM VOTE

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