The marriage amendment restricts any type of approximation to marriage. It prevents homosexual couples from trying to find a legal way to reap the benefits of marriage without the title (Walker, Dionne).
The amendment can prevent others from entering legal contracts that can be seen as a type of approximation to marriage. "Opponents said the amendment could potentially prohibit unmarried opposite-sex couples from obtaining property and hospital visitation rights. They pointed to Ohio, where some domestic abuse cases were dismissed after judges said a similar amendment limited the reach of domestic violence statutes to married couples" (Walker, Dionne). The restriction enables the state government to limit granting important legal statuses such as power of attorney to only spouses and relatives. For example, if two business partners wish to grant one another power of attorney, the amendment can be used to justify denying the request.
