Croatians bBack Same-Sex Marriage Ban in Referendum Sunday Dec 01,2013

                          A protester's sign reads "Homosexuality is not a choice, hate is a choice"

Croatian voters have backed proposals to ban same-sex marriages in a referendum.

Two-thirds of those who voted approved changes to Croatia's constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

A total of 65.76 % of voters said they wanted to amend the constitution to include a definition of marriage as a "union between a woman and a man"

The referendum asked whether the constitution should be amended to define marriage as "the union between a man and a woman".

Almost 90% of Croatia's population of 4.4 million are Roman Catholics and the Church had strongly urged a "Yes" vote.

The vote also received support from 104 members of Croatia's 151-seat parliament.

President Ivo Josipovic said he was disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the vote. "The referendum result must not be the reason for new divisions," he warned.

The Govt, Human Rights Groups and prominent public figures had all spoken out against the referendum, urging people to vote no.
Croatian gay rights supporters hold a giant rainbow flag outside the parliament building in Saint Marko Square in Zagreb during a protest on November 30, 2013.

Croatian gay rights supporters sporting stickers reading "Vote against" take part in a protest outside the parliament building in Saint Marko Square in Zagreb on November 30, 2013

 

Leaders of the opposition HDZ party supported the referendum.