The state of Ohio recently passed on an opportunity to broaden GLBTQ rights when Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow same-sex marriages in the state.
Earlier this year, a group called Freedom to Marry Ohio submitted the constitutional amendment that would repeal and replace Title XV, Section 11: the existing section of Ohio's constitution banning gay marriage, according to Dan Tierney, a media representative from DeWine's Office.
In order to submit the legal documentation requesting an amendment, any group wishing to do somust collect 1,000 signatures of registered voters and submit it along with a summary of the amendment according to Tierney. The Ohio Ballot Board who determines whether the amendment pertains to one issue or to multiple issues then reviews the proposal.
The petitioners then collect signatures from 44 of Ohio's counties, or 10 percent of registered voters. Once these signatures are approved, the amendment is placed on the ballot for a general election, Tierney said.
In the case of the Freedom to Marry Amendment, the petitioners collected the appropriate number of signatures and submitted a summary but were ultimately halted by DeWine. According to Tierney, the amendment was rejected for multiple reasons.
He also said the summary was longer than the proposed amendment, which is not allowed.
The office said the summary does not make reference to Title 31, another section of Ohio's constitution that relates to the state's marriage policy.
However, as Ohio Freedom to Marry leader Ian James stated, this rejection does not stop the process; the Attorney General simply asked for the proposed amendment to be worded more clearly.
The goal of this group, according to James, is to promote the concept of freedom to marry between two consenting adults who are not close of kin, with no husband or wife living and provide religious institutions the right to refuse to perform and/or recognize the marriage.
"Freedom does go in both ways," James said. "You've got to be tolerant of both religious freedom and the right of two consenting adults to marry. It's a two way street."
The group is nowhere near giving up on their goal of achieving marriage equality according to James.
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Freedom to Marry is in the process of re-wording the proposed amendment and making it more specific as per the Attorney General's request. According to James the group added adults must not be near of kin or currently married to another person.
James said he expects this amendment will be on the November 2013 General Election ballot.
"Abysmal" is the word Miami University's Spectrum Co-President Billy Price used to describe GLBTQ rights in Ohio. According to Price the amendment could possibly be passed due to the drastic change in public opinion over the past couple years.
"This year, nationally, the majority of Americans support same-sex marriage," Price said. "There has been a huge change from even two years ago. Who knows what could happen in 2013."
If this amendment passes, Ohio will follow in the footsteps of New York, Washington, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and California, all of which have recently legalized same-sex marriage or civil unions.
While Spectrum does not officially affiliate with any political perspective on the topic, some members have taken their own action.
As Price points out, in 2009 students had the opportunity to participate in the March on Washington, which focused on promoting gay rights.
In addition to the group Freedom to Marry, Miami students also expressed their opinions on the issue.
Junior Tyler Nichols said, "I think it's good for the advancement of our country. If there are two people who love each other and want to get married, I think they should have the right to."
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