Topeka ? Kansas voters will decide whether to put a same-sex marriage ban in the state Constitution.

The House today approved the proposal 86-37, sending the constitutional question to the April 5 ballot.

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The amendment would define marriage as a contract between a man and a woman and state that no other relationship would be recognized for the rights of marriage.

State law already bans same-sex marriage, but supporters of the amendment said placing the prohibition in the Kansas Constitution would provide further protection of heterosexual marriage.

After the vote, Tiffany Muller, a gay rights lobbyist, denounced the proposal.

“This is about actively hurting people in this state,” Muller said.

She said opponents would fight the measure, but given the success of similar proposals in other states, she wasn’t optimistic.

“We are going to have to rely on the courts to uphold our civil rights,” she said.

But supporters of the amendment were jubilant.

“This was bigger than homosexuality. This was about whether the people Kansas had a right to vote on something that they feel very passionate about,” the Rev. Terry Fox of Wichita said.

Of the Lawrence delegation, Reps. Barbara Ballard and Paul Davis, both Democrats, and Rep. Tom Sloan, a Republican voted against the proposed constitutional amendment. Rep. Tom Holland a Democrat from Baldwin voted for it.

Sloan submitted a written statement against the amendment.

“I believe in a God that seeks to promote love, support and compassion between people of all ages, races, religions, economic needs, and partnerships.”

For more on this story, see the 6News reports at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and pick up a copy of Thursday’s Journal-World.