Voters in Arizona and Florida have supported measures to defend the definition of marriage. A similar vote in California looks set to go the same way.
Meanwhile, voters in Arkansas have agreed with proposals to restrict adoption and fostering to married heterosexual couples only.
Michigan has voted in favour of allowing destructive stem cell research on human embryos and allowing the use of cannabis for ‘medical’ reasons.
The northwest state of Washington voted to allow physician-assisted suicide.
Residents in these states were given the opportunity to vote on these local ‘ballot measures’ as part of the US general election which saw Barack Obama win the race to the White House.
In Florida, 62 per cent of voters supported an amendment to the state constitution that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
In Arizona, 56 per cent of voters supported proposition 102 which seeks to amend their state constitution so that only a union between one man and one woman would be valid or recognised as a marriage in the state.
A similar proposition in California is currently polling 52 to 48 per cent in favour of defending marriage – but one third of precincts are yet to report.
In 2000 over 61% of Californians voted in favour of adopting the language: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
But earlier this year judges in San Francisco overturned the people’s vote, arguing that it was unconstitutional. This opened the door to ‘gay marriage’ in the state.
This is why Californians have been asked whether they favour changing the wording of the constitution. President elect, Barack Obama, opposes the defence of marriage measure.