Fargo's Human Relations Commission is taking a stand against a statewide effort to ban same-sex marriages.

Commission members discussed the issue Wednesday, one day after the state advocacy group Equality North Dakota announced it was taking the same position on the North Dakota Family Alliance's petition drive, which seeks to place the same-sex marriage issue on the November ballot.

The state's Human Rights Coalition also opposes the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. Several members of the Fargo Human Relations Commission also are members of either Equality North Dakota or the coalition.

The Defense of Marriage Act, adopted in North Dakota in 1997, says states are not obligated to recognize same-sex marriages performed in another state but do not have to outlaw them.

A constitutional amendment would take the law further by prohibiting same-sex marriage and banning civil unions of homosexual couples.

Commission member Janeen Kobrinsky said if people and groups across the state voice their concerns and go on the record as opposing the amendment, it sends an important message to the state.

Commission member Jonny Huang agrees with opposing a ban on same-sex marriages, pointing out that if one person pays the same taxes as another, both should have the same rights.

Still, Huang questioned the board's methods in opposing the ban and said it doesn't do much good to take a stand if that's all you're going to do.

As a result, the group on Wednesday appointed two of its members – Kobrinsky and Yoke Sim Gunaratne – to work with Equality North Dakota on opposition efforts that can be done before Aug. 3, the deadline to get an issue on the November ballot.

North Dakota Family Alliance is leading the petition drive and needs 25,688 voters' signatures, or 4 percent of the population.

Family Alliance director Christina Kindel said the group's efforts are ongoing. About 4,000 names have been gathered.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Mary Jo Almquist at (701) 241-5531