BRIAN TYNES

Staff Writer

Louisiana has spoken, and same-sex marriages will not be allowed in the state.

Residents voted Saturday on a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would define marriage as existing between one man and one woman.

With over 780,000 voting, the amendment passed with 78 percent of the ballots cast in favor, while only 22 percent were cast against.

Holly Talley, a sophomore family and child studies major and president of the College Republicans, said the amendment is necessary because it will deter alternative lifestyles from infiltrating the state.

"It's very important to define marriage as between one man and one woman," Talley said. "If not, it could open the door for other behaviors such as polygamy."

Talley was also concerned about children being raised in a non-traditional environment.

"So many of the things children learn are from watching the interaction between husband and wife and mother and father," Tally said.

She said children would have a harder time learning their societal roles and fulfilling the duties expected of them as a member of that society.

Dr. Jason Pigg, an assistant professor of political science and faculty advisor to the College Democrats, said the amendment was not needed.

"The state already had a law that prohibits same sex- marriages and there is nothing to show that the state needed to take the extra step (and amend the constitution)," Pigg said. "Democrats view this not as an issue with substance; rather an issue Republicans and social conservatives use to divide the public because it is so controversial."

Three appeals attempting to block the vote were rejected. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied two appeals and because a third was not filed in time, the court refused to hear it.

Prior to the vote, Louisiana law banned same-sex unions, but it was not expressly stated in the state constitution.

Although a majority of states have statutorily declared marriage as existing between a man and a woman, only four -- Alaska, Missouri, Nebraska and Nevada -- have declared it constitutionally, according to www.freerepublic.com.

Louisiana became the fifth.

Dr. Gary Stokley, an associate professor of sociology, said this is nothing more than the advancement of our society.

"All this is about change," Stokley said. "If you study it, you're not surprised because this is a progression."

Stokley also said many alternatives to traditional marriage exist (such as cohabitation, career marriages and childless marriages) but homosexual marriage is a larger issue because it is the only alternative that challenges our historical views.

"We are afraid it will challenge traditional marriage because of the religious and moral contingencies," Stokley said. "Same-sex marriage would not allow for reproduction and continuation of our species."

Stokley said recognizing and supporting same-sex marriages are two different things but some people are "threatened that if we recognize it we are saying it is OK."

Caleb Smith, a junior marketing major and vice president of the College Republicans, said marriage should not be taken lightly, and the amendment supports that.

"If marriage were merely a contract between two people it would no longer have the meaning I believe it should," Smith said. "I'm looking forward to getting married myself and I want it be more than just a civil contract."

Smith also said the amendment gives a non-flexible definition of what marriage is.

"I think it is very important to have a concrete understanding of one of the building blocks of our society," Smith said.

Smith said the state Supreme Court cannot alter the Constitution because their job is to make sure laws agree with the Constitution.

Pigg said even though there were some voting problems, the amendment would have most likely still passed.

"Louisiana is a fairly conservative state, but the hurricane displaced voters in south Louisiana that may have been more open-minded about social issues," Pigg said. "I don't think anyone expected it not to pass, but perhaps with those voters it wouldn't have been so one-sided."