SOCIAL ISSUES HIGHLIGHTS  THE XXXX RECORD SAME-SEX MARRIAGE XXXX Twice Voted For Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same Sex Marriage. In 2004 and 2006, XXXX voted for invoking cloture on a motion to propose a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. [Vote 155, 7/14/04; Vote 163, 6/7/06; Pioneer Press, 6/11/06] XXXX Voted For Election Year Attempt to Ban Gay Marriage. In 2006, XXXX voted for invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to the Federal Marriage Amendment. [Vote 163, 6/7/06; CQ, 6/7/06] McConnell Voted For 2004 Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same Sex Marriage. In 2004, McConnell voted for moving forward with a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman. It would have provided that the U.S. Constitution or any state’s constitution could not be construed to require that marriage or any other constructs of marriage be conferred to any other union. [Vote 155, 7/14/04] GAY RIGHTS XXXX Voted Against Defense Authorization Bill And Repeal Of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. In September 2010, XXXX voted against a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to the bill that would authorize $725.7 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2011. It also would repeal a 1993 law that codifies the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on military service by openly gay men and women. [CQ; Vote 238, 9/21/10] XXXX Voted Against Expanding Hate Crimes Legislation. In October 2009, XXXX voted against the conference report of the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that contained an expansion of federal hate crimes law to cover offenses committed on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation, a goal long sought by Democrats. The bill passed 68-29. [CQ Today, 10/22/09; Vote 327, 10/22/09] XXXX Voted Against Hate Crimes Bill. In September 2007, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Defense Authorizations bill that would have increased penalties for certain hate crimes. The amendment, offered by Senator Edward Kennedy would make violent crimes that cause bodily harm based on the victim's race, color, religion or national origin punishable by a fine and up to 10 years in prison, and punishable by a life sentence if the victim dies, is kidnapped or subjected to aggravated sexual abuse. It also would create the same penalties for crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. [Vote 350, 9/27/07; Concord Monitor, 9/30/07] XXXX Twice Voted Against Expanding Hate Crimes Definition to Include Sexual Orientation. In 2004, XXXX voted against classifying crimes motivated by the victim’s gender, sexual orientation or disability as hate crimes. McConnell also voted against expanding federal hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation in 2000. [Vote 114, 6/15/04] XXXX Voted for the Judicial Nomination of Timothy M. Tymkovich, Who Defended An Anti-Gay Colorado Initiative With Anti-Gay Rhetoric. In 2003, XXXX voted to confirm President Bush’s nomination of Timothy M. Tymkovich of Colorado to be a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Tymkovich drew 255