Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage in Puerto Rico Fails

Puerto Rico's house of representatives has denied a measure to toughen a ban on same-sex marriage.

Rep. Victor Garcia San Inocencio says Resolution 99 failed on Thursday to make it to the house floor for voting, effectively killing the proposal for this legislative term.

The measure would have amended the U.S. territory's constitution to establish that marriage is between a man and woman and that no other types of unions could be recognized. Thus, it would have made it harder to allow civil unions or grant marital rights to unmarried couples.

Critics said the amendment was unnecessary because local laws already ban same-sex marriage. Others argued it was discriminatory. (AP)