ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 1996          TAG: 9609130166
SECTION: NATL/INTL                PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
note: above 

SENATE REJECTS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE; JOB BILL FAILS

A measure allowing the U. S. government to disregard gay marriages will be signed into law. A bill that would ban job discrimination against gays failed by a slim margin.

The Seante dealt a double blow to gay-rights activists Tuesday, voting to reject same-sex marriage in federal law and killing a separate bill that would have barred job discrimination against gays.

The Senate approved the Defense of Marriage Act, 85-14, sending it to President Clinton, who said he will sign it. The House approved the same bill by a 5-to-1 margin in July.

Virginia's senators split their votes, with Republican John Warner supporting the bill and Democrat Charles Robb opposing it - the only Southern senator to do so.

In an emotional floor speech, Robb called the bill a discriminatory assault against gays and lesbians.

"You don't have to be an advocate of same-sex marriages to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act. You only have to be an opponent of discrimination," Robb said.

Mark Warner, a Democrat challenging John Warner, said he also would have supported the measure. "Mark would have voted for it," a spokesman said, "but he believes that some of its advocates are using it as a wedge to divide." Please see microfilm for complete text.

LENGTH: Short :   42 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  William Woods (right) weds Marc Thompson in 1994 in 
          Hawaii. But president Clinton will sign a bill diluting the legality
          of gay marriage.   color  AP