Voters in Slovenia decided not to join many of their European Union partners Sunday by rejecting legalized gay marriage.
Sixty-three percent voted against in a referendum defining marriage as a union between two adults, not necessarily a man and woman. Thirty-six percent voted yes.
Slovenia's parliament approved a pro-gay marriage bill earlier this year but a group of conservatives gathered enough signatures to put the question to voters.
Backers of gay marriage say they will keep pushing for a more liberal law, saying human rights have to be fought for.
Had the measure been approved by a majority of voters, Slovenia would have become Europe's first ex-communist country to legalize gay marriage.
