Eleven states 'shun gay marriage'

Supporters of John Kerry and opponents of Oregon Measure 36, the measure to ban gay marriage, watch in disbelief as results of the measure appear on Tuesday in Portland, Oregon. Early projections show the gay marriage ban passed. PHOTO: AFP

Oklahoma, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Utah, Mississippi and Arkansas appear to have approved the ban by wide margins.

Oregon, which had been expected to reject the proposed ban, also seemed to support it by a smaller margin. Ohio is reported to have also backed an amendment against civil unions.

"We're certainly going to look at legal challenges," Alan Melamed, who led the campaign opposing the amendment, told AP news agency.

George W Bush has said he is seeking to change the US constitution to specify that marriage can only take place between a man and a woman.

"As we profess tolerance... we shouldn't change - or have to change - our basic views on the sanctity of marriage," he said in the third presidential debate.