Posting from work. ^_^
I signed up to a mailing list when I went to the Rally not long ago. I found this artical (among others) flooding into my inbox since this morning. Since there's some conversation on the topic going on, I figure I'm gonna keep the ball rolling. (even if some would rather abstain ^_^)
Stick around for my thoughts at the end.
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USA Today, February 24, 2004
Bush backs ban on gay marriage in Constitution
>From staff and wire reports
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... iage_x.htm
WASHINGTON Saying that "decisive and democratic action is needed,"
President Bush on Tuesday backed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in an attempt to halt same-sex unions like the thousands that have been allowed this month in San Francisco.
Bush made the announcement in a short appearance Tuesday morning at the White House. Saying that current federal law was inadequate to assure the public's will on the matter, Bush said a constitutional amendment was necessary.
"Today I call on Congress to define marriage as a union between a man
and a woman, as husband and wife," Bush said.
The president said "activist judges" and some sympathetic state and
local officials threatened to change the traditional definition of marriage,
and he called public support of that traditional definition "overwhelming."
"Their actions have created confusion on a matter that requires clarity,"
Bush said. "On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush believes that
legislation for such an amendment, submitted by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave,
R-Colo., "meets his principles" in protecting the "sanctity of marriage"
between men and women.
But Bush did not specifically embrace any particular piece of
legislation. White House officials say that support for Musgrave's proposed amendment has been unraveling in the Senate.
Bush decided to take action partly because the Massachusetts Supreme
Judicial Court recently ruled that it is unconstitutional to bar gay couples from marriage. That decision could result in gay weddings there as early as May, McClellan said. "We're two months away," he said.
McClellan said 38 states have passed laws protecting the "sanctity of
marriage and the president will call on Congress to move quickly to pass
legislation that can then be sent to the states for ratification.
"We need to act now," he said. "The constitutional process will take
time."
With the announcement, Bush is wading into a volatile social issue. The
conservative wing of his party has been anxious for Bush to follow up
his rhetoric on the issue with action. In recent weeks, Bush has repeatedly said he was "troubled" by the Massachusetts court decision and the gay marriages in San Francisco, but stopped short of endorsing a constitutional amendment.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that it is unconstitutional to bar gay couples from marriage. Gay and lesbian
couples from Europe. And couples from more than 20 states have flocked to San Francisco City Hall since city officials decided to begin marrying same-sex couples a few days ago. At the current pace, more than 3,000 people will have taken vows by Friday promising to be "spouses for life."
At least 38 states and the federal government have approved laws or
amendments barring the recognition of gay marriage; last week, the Utah House gave final legislative approval to a measure outlawing same-sex marriages and sent it to the governor, who has not taken a position on the bill.
Musgrave's proposed amendment would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Conservatives have been saying for a month that the White House had
quietly assured them that Bush would take the step he was announcing on Tuesday.
Last week, he met with 13 Roman Catholic conservatives. They included
Deal Hudson, the publisher of Crisis magazine and a friend of Bush political adviser Karl Rove; William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights; Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, former speechwriter for President Reagan; and Kathryn Jean Lopez, associate editor of National Review magazine.
_______________________________________________
**The Legal Marriage Alliance of Washington e-mail news and discussion
list**
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So ok, at first, I read the line about wanting to "define" marriage. I thought, "what's so wrong with that?" Then I realised what defining would lead to. What everyone in the queer commumity is afraid of, in fact.
Defining "marriage" as a union between man and woman would seperate Civil Unions from Marriages entirely. Meaning a different set of rules could govern each brand of institution. As it is, that's the way it is, but it's a form of discrimination. If that legal defination becomes a part of the constitution, then sudenly that discrimination becomes quite legal.
The only thing the queer community could do then is attempt to have the bill undone. (I forget what that process is called.)
Erf, I have to go. I've taken longer than I should have as it is. ^_^