Same-Sex Marriages Banned in New Law

Gov. Kirk Fordice denounced same-sex relationships as “perverse” as he signed a bill making Mississippi the 17th state in a year to ban homosexual marriages. Mississippi’s law also denies recognition of homosexual marriages performed in other states. And Fordice said the law would ensure that gay couples do not enjoy benefits of marriage, such as health insurance. Mississippi lawmakers were responding in part to a gay-rights case in Hawaii, which is appealing a judge’s ruling that the state must grant marriage licenses to gay couples.