Section 15.11 is a provision in the

Ohio Constitution The Constitution of the State of Ohio is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which in 1803 became the 17th state to join the United States of America. Ohio has had three constitutions since U.S. state, statehood was granted. Ohio ...

that makes it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform

same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...

s or

civil union A civil union (also known as a civil partnership) is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage ...

s.Official Ballot Language
, Ohio Secretary of State. Accessed 21 December 2006. Approved as a constitutional amendment in 2004 under the name of "Issue One", it received support from 61.7% of voters.CNN.com Election 2004 - Ballot Measures
Accessed 30 November 2006. The text of the amendment states:

''Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.''Ohio Constitution
Article XV, section 11. Accessed 21 December 2006.

The

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

rights organization Equality Ohio was founded in response to the passage of Issue 1. Many political experts credit the amendment with bolstering turnout in Rural Ohio, leading to many religious supporters of President

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

to turnout to the polls, helping him win the state of Ohio by a narrow 2 point margin.

Results

County breakdown

References

External links

The Money Behind the 2004 Marriage Amendments -- National Institute on Money in State Politics
{{U.S. same-sex unions ballot measures LGBT in Ohio U.S. state constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions 2004 in LGBT history Initiatives in the United States Same-sex marriage ballot measures in the United States 2004 Ohio elections 2004 ballot measures Ohio ballot measures LGBT rights in Ohio