Honduras Measure to Ban Same-Sex Marriage Mobilizes Rights Groups

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaymarriage19jan19.story
THE WORLD
Honduras Measure to Ban Same-Sex Marriage Mobilizes Rights Groups
Sponsor of the proposal, backed by a burgeoning evangelical movement, slams acceptance of gay unions in parts of the U.S. and Europe.
By Reed Johnson
Times Staff Writer

January 19, 2005

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — From his fifth-floor office in the National Congress building, Jose Celin Discua has seen the enemy, and it is us.

The veteran congressman has been watching what he regards as a surging tide of immorality sweeping the United States and other parts of the Western world. He's determined to stop it from reaching Honduras, even if he has to rewrite the law of the land.

"In various countries of the world — Holland, Spain, various states of the United States — there is already marriage," Discua says. "It is already coming, and it is already accepted."

But not in this impoverished, crime-racked Central American nation of 6.8 million. In October, Discua sponsored a congressional motion to ban marriage and adoption by homosexuals. Strongly backed by the country's swelling evangelical Christian movement, as well as the Roman Catholic Church, the motion passed unanimously.

If the measure passes a second legislative vote, as required by federal law, the constitution will be amended to read that marriage only between a man and a woman is legally valid. In effect, Honduras would implement nationwide what 11 U.S. states voted for in ballot measures in November and what President Bush says he hopes to enact across the U.S.: a comprehensive ban on gay marriage.<snip>