COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – An offhand remark by Attorney General Jim Petro about the state’s new same-sex marriage ban has angered some members of the GLBT community.

In explaining why his voice was hoarse at an annual staff development meeting, Petro said he’d shaken hands and kissed thousands of guests at his annual pancake breakfast fundraiser.

“He said, ‘I only kissed the women. I need to be careful what I say because we passed Issue 1,’” said Mark Gribben, Petro’s director of constituent services.

The breakfast was Oct. 31, the staff meeting Nov. 3.

Issue 1 is a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and any legal relationships between unmarried couples of either sex. Voters approved it by a 3-2 ratio Election Day.

The Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization, which monitors violence against GLBTs, asked Petro in a letter to apologize. Chris Cozad, the group’s director, said Petro’s remark could lead to an increase in anti-gay violence.

Petro’s office says the attorney general meant to criticize the amendment – which he opposed – not to disparage anyone.

“It was a backhanded swipe at Issue 1, because he doesn’t feel Issue 1 is good for Ohio,” said Petro spokesperson Kim Norris.

Petro, a Republican candidate for governor in 2006, opposed the state’s same-sex marriage law enacted earlier this year. He was also the first statewide elected official to oppose Issue 1, saying it was too vague and could hurt the economy.

The issue divided Ohio’s statewide elected officials, who are all Republicans. U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich also opposed it, saying the amendment went too far. They both oppose same-sex marriage.

Gov. Bob Taft also opposed it, saying it could hurt the state’s ability to recruit and retain high-tech workers. Treasurer Joe Deters supported it, as did Auditor Betty Montgomery and Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.

Montgomery and Blackwell are also 2006 candidates for governor.

Blackwell, who taped radio ads urging Ohioans to vote for Issue 1, was also criticized by the GLBT community for a remark he made at a Toledo church last month, referring to same-sex marriage.

“I don’t know how many of you have a farming background, but I can tell you right now that notion even defies barnyard logic … the barnyard knows better,” he said.

Blackwell says he was criticizing same-sex marriage, not gays.