The President and CEO of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia says now is the time for a Constitutional Amendment in West Virginia that defines marriage as between one man and one women.

"West Virginians want to define marriage for themselves.  The sooner we do that the better," says Jeremy Dys.  He says groups pushing for the legalization of same sex marriages are targeting states that, like West Virginia, do not have such Consitutional Amendments.

Connecticut is one of those states.  Last week, a court there legalized same sex marriages.  Similar steps have already been taken in California and Massachusetts.

Dys says a recent poll shows 73% of West Virginia's registered voters support such a Constitutional Amendment that details the definition of marriage.

"West Virginians want to define marriage.  It's just very clear that they want to do that for themselves.  They don't want their government setting the policy.  I think, most especially, they do not want courts imposing a system that knowingly deprives kids of a mom and a dad," Dys says.

His group had asked Governor Joe Manchin to call an extraordinary session for November so lawmakers could consider the Constitutional Amendment before new legislators take office in January.

The Governor's Office rejected that request saying a Consitutional Amendment is not necessary since West Virginia law already recognizes that same sex marriages are not legal.

Dys says that could be challenged and, likely, will be challenged at some point.