Louisiana Burnishes its Image

Although you could hardly expect anything else, Louisiana voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to their state constitution banning gay marriage.

With 95% of precincts reporting, the amendment won approval with 79% of the vote and support for it was evident statewide. Only in New Orleans, home to a politically strong gay community, did the race appear to be close, and even there the amendment was passing by a small margin.

"It's gratifying to see the people of Louisiana had an opportunity, as distinguished from judges, having the final say on the issue of whether traditional marriage will continue to be the fundamental institution in our state," said Darrell White, a retired state judge and consultant for Louisiana Family Forum, which pushed hard for the amendment.

Like most of these amendments, the gay community and civil rights activists will challenge the amendment on procedural and constitutional grounds. But the damage has been done; Louisiana has confirmed outsiders' impression of the state as backwards and bigoted.