WASHINGTON, July 2 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Wednesday
opted
not to come out in favor of a constitutional amendment banning homosexual
marriages, saying it was too soon to say whether one was needed.
"I don't know if it's necessary yet. Let's let the lawyers look at the
full
ramifications of the recent Supreme Court hearing. What I do support is a
notion that marriage is between a man and a woman," he said.
The debate has flared up since the highest court struck down state
sodomy
laws, and following Canada's announcement that it would legalize gay
marriages, which would be available to Americans who cross the border.
Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist, a close Bush ally, said in
a
televised interview this weekend that he "absolutely" supports passing an
amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Two thirds of both houses of the US Congress must approve the measure,
which then needs support of at least 38 of the 50 state legislatures to
take
effect.
US law already defines marriage as between one woman and one man for
federal purposes, and allows states to decide not to recognize same-sex
marriages performed in other states.
No US state currently allows gay marriage, but the northeastern state of
Vermont allows civil unions for same-sex couples.