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(Vilnius) Lithuania could become the second member of the European Union to ban same-sex marriage.

Irena Degutiene, a member of the conservative Homeland Union Party announced Monday she will begin collecting signatures in January to force the issue to a vote.

Lithuanian law already defines marriage as as union between a man and woman but Degutiene said that isn't enough. She said that Latvia did the right thing last week when it amended its constitution to bar gay marriage.

Degutiene's move has raised concerns by liberal members of Parliament who say it would only alienate the country from the rest of Europe. 

Gay activists in Lithuania say they will fight the proposal.

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