[JURIST] Gay rights groups have adopted a cautious legal approach to challenging 11 state constitutional bans on gay marriage adopted by referendum in the Nov. 2 elections. Many of the groups fear that an all-out legal assault on the new laws could create a backlash generate public hostility. Instead, groups such as the ACLU's lesbian and gay rights project and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said they will challenge procedural issues involving the bans and target laws restricting civil unions and benefits for same-sex partners. Eight of the 11 states approving bans included both marriage and civil unions in the referendum. Gay rights groups said they will likely challenge these actions in states that require consideration of only a single issue on referendums. The ACLU has more on same-sex marriage after the election, as does the Task Force here. The New York Times has more.