From CNN: The Senate blocked on Wednesday a bid to amend the Constitution to essentially ban same-sex marriage.

From HRC: “President Bush and the Republican leadership gambled their dwindling political capital on a discriminatory amendment and came up empty,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “With the addition of Senators Specter and Gregg, not only did every senator who voted against discrimination in 2004 stand with us today but momentum is on the side of equality. This is a resounding defeat against discrimination.”