Senate approves diluted gay marriage ban

The Indiana Senate has advanced a proposed constitutional marriage ban with language that pushes off the soonest public referendum until at least 2016.

The Senate voted 32-17 Monday afternoon in favor of the measure. The vote comes after the Indiana Senate approved a version last week which would put off a public referendum until at least 2016.

Indiana senators advanced the proposed ban without a provision that would ban civil unions. Under the state's constitutional amendment process, the civil unions ban needed to be included in the amendment for it to be placed on this November's ballot.

The Senate's decision last week marked a victory for opponents of the marriage ban just three years after legislators approved the amendment with broad support.