GenQ - For the not so straight individual

In a move seen by many political commentators as a statement of intent ahead of this autumn's looming mid-term elections, President Bush announced the move in his weekly radio address to the nation.

"Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society," Bush insisted
 

He continued: "Activist courts have left our nation with no other choice. The constitutional amendment that the Senate will consider next week would fully protect marriage from being redefined."

Today's move follows a vote by the Senate judiciary committee to amend the US constitution so that it would acknowledge marriage as a union exclusively between man and woman.

Although it will therefore be voted upon it is unlikely to pass into law because two-thirds of votes are required for its successful passage ? and the Republicans only control 55 of the 100 seats in the US Senate.

Senior Democrats rejected Bush's calls, arguing that he should be focussing on the "growing energy crisis" currently faced by the US.

Today's announcement by Bush is his first public expression of his widely publicised personal views about same-sex marriage.

As well as being a weight off his mind his announcement should bring a boost in the polls, where his second term presidential approval ratings have slumped to record lows of around 30 per cent.

A recent poll conducted by the Washington Post suggests that 56 per cent of Americans would prefer a Democrat-controlled Congress following this November's elections.