US: The US Senate has voted against taking up a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman but Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to press ahead with a vote on the issue later this summer.
Senators voted 49 to 48 against a motion to limit debate on the proposal, effectively killing off the measure. A constitutional amendment requires two thirds majorities in both houses of Congress and the support of at least 38 state legislatures.
Forty-five states have banned gay marriage and the 1996 Defence of Marriage Act allows states to refuse to recognise same-sex marriages conducted in other states.
Some conservatives fear, however, that the Supreme Court could overturn gay marriage bans unless the constitution is amended. President Bush supports the proposed amendment and most Americans oppose gay marriage, but the constitutional change has little chance of success.
Democratic senator Richard Durbin claimed that Republicans wanted to debate the issue for political reasons as they face mid-term elections in November. "This debate is about the preservation of a majority," he said.