Why Southern Conservative Religious Red Necks even give a shit blows my mind - we live in America, right? But a least a small victory for the sane minority:

Georgia's Same Sex Marriage Ban Tossed Out
POSTED: 5:59 am EDT May 17, 2006
UPDATED: 7:25 am EDT May 17, 2006

ATLANTA -- A Superior Court judge ruled today that Georgia's ban on same-sex marriages violates the state Constitution's single-subject rule for ballot questions. Judge Constance Russell of Fulton County overturned the amendment, which was approved by Georgia voters by a three-to-one margin in 2004.

Russell said that before the state's voters can be asked to decide whether same-sex marriages should be banned, they must first decide whether same-sex relationships should have any legal status before the law, such as through a civil union.

Governor Perdue said he was disappointed by the decision, which he said runs contrary to the voice of Georgia voters in defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Perdue said the voters knew what they were voting on, and he said it is sad that a single judge had reversed their vote.

Perdue said the state is considering its options, which include appealing the decision directly to the Georgia Supreme Court.

Activists had long awaited Russell's ruling in their court challenge, which was filed soon after the November 2004 vote. A lawyer who challenged the amendment on behalf of the gay rights organization Lambda Legal, called the ruling "a victory for the voters."

The lawyer, Jack Senterfitt, said it protects the right of voters to make independent decisions on each independent issue.