Gov. Mike Beebe

The Associated Press reports that exit polls - conducted for the gay parenting ban in Arkansas - showed it passed because of the support of evangelical or born-again Christians.

According to the AP, rural and evangelical voters propelled Arkansas to adopt one of the nation's few bans against unmarried couples becoming foster or adoptive parents.

Homophobic citizens - hoping to bar lesbians and gay men from adopting or fostering children in Arkansas - filed petitions this week with hope they gathered enough signatures to put a ballot measure in the fall election.