Bush vague on gay marriage amendment

THE White House yesterday refused to commit President George W Bush to supporting a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages, although conservative groups say they have received assurances that he will take that step.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the administration was closely watching events in Massachusetts, where state lawmakers are on the verge of voting on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages.

“The president has said that he is committed to doing what is legally needed to protect the sanctity of marriage,” Mr McClellan said. “And he has said, if necessary, he would support a constitutional amendment. That is what he has previously said. But at this point, we continue to look very closely at this issue.” Mr McClellan said the administration was still studying last week’s Massachusetts Supreme Court advisory opinion that gays are entitled to nothing less than marriage and that civil unions will not suffice. The opinion set the stage for the nation’s first legally sanctioned same-sex weddings by the spring.