Gov. Sean Parnell says he doesn't see the state Legislature taking up the issue of same-sex marriage anytime soon. Parnell was asked Tuesday if he believes the state needs to revisit the issue, in light of recent court decisions and actions by other states this year, including Hawaii allowing same-sex couples to marry. He said he didn't think so. Parnell says the issue was already dealt with in the state constitution. In 1998, Alaska was the first state to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. And he noted the state extended certain benefits offered to spouses of public employees to same-sex domestic partners after the Alaska Supreme Court ordered it. He says the state honors and respects each citizen.
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