[CS-FSLUG] Federal Marriage Amendment Struck Down for Today

[Ralph De Witt]

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- From the oppisite side:

On Wednesday 14 July 2004 06:41 pm, Fred Miller wrote:
> Even though the U.S. Senate has voted down the Federal Marriage
> Amendment, this is not a defeat, but rather a victory--a great
> victory!
>
> I must make something very clear to everyone who has labored
> with us in this battle. This vote does not signal an end,
> but rather a beginning. The fight to save marriage is far
> from over, and with your continued help, I believe we will
> ultimately press on to victory--in God's time.
>
> Just look at what we have accomplished thus far:
>
> Grassroots America has raised the visibility of the marriage
> debate to stunning levels, and as I pointed out while
> presenting petitions in Washington, D.C., last week, "These
> petitions are solid evidence that Americans care about the
> defense of marriage."
>
> Even this week, as I walked through the Capitol wearing a
> badge proclaiming "One Man One Woman," an anonymous staffer
> approached me to acknowledge, "It seems like the whole nation
> is with you."
>
> As your phone calls clogged the phone lines into our nation's
> capitol, many senators chose to affirm the Federal Marriage
> Amendment -- some moving from "undecided" to support; some
> moving from "opposed" to support. Six weeks ago, only 33
> senators were committed to voting for the Federal Marriage
> Amendment; at today’s roll call vote, 48 senators voted "Yea."
> Your voice made a difference in the votes of seventeen senators!
>
> Now we must take our growing momentum to the House, where
> in about two months our elected Representatives will vote
> to save traditional marriage. This is a battle we can win,
> and I especially need the support of my online troops as
> we prepare for the next vote.
>
> + + Call your senators and let them know what you
> think about their vote!
>
> Fred, please call your New York senators today
> to let them know what you thought of their vote.
>
> I believe it is vital that we let our elected officials know
> that we are monitoring and holding them accountable for their
> actions in the Senate.
>
> This is how your senators voted today:
>
>           Senator Clinton: Nay
>
>           Senator Schumer: Nay
>
> Here is the contact information for your senators:
>
>          Senator Clinton: (202) 224-4451
>
>          Senator Schumer: (202) 224-6542
>
>
> If at all possible, please call today or tomorrow!
>
> Don't be discouraged if you can't get through to Washington.
> That just means that thousands of your fellow New York
> residents are joining you in voicing their opinions on this
> vote. Try calling your senators’ district offices, instead.
> These messages, too, are communicated regularly with your senators.
>
>           Senator Clinton: 212-688-6262  New York
>
>           Senator Schumer: 212-486-4430  New York
>
> While you're at it, consider placing a call to Senate Majority
> Leader Bill Frist, thanking him for having the courage to bring
> this issue to a vote and get his fellow senators on record for
> -- or against -- marriage.
>
>           Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist: (202) 224-3344
>
> Again, regardless of this vote, I urge you not to lose heart.
> Instead, be encouraged, and know that if we remain vigilant
> throughout the entire battle, we will see victory.
>
> God bless you!
>
> Dr. Gary Cass
> CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA
>
> P.S. Here at the Center, our goal is to reach ONE MILLION petitions
> by the time the House votes on the Federal Marriage Amendment. Right
> now we have 400,248. I'm counting on my grassroots friends
> to help us make up that difference over these next few weeks!
> Just think . . . if each E-Army member who has already signed
> the petition encourages just one friend or family member to do
> the same, total signers will reach more than 800,000!
>
> Please continue to stand for marriage by explaining to your
> friends, family, and church leaders that the marriage battle
> is not over, and it’s vital that they sign our petition.
>
> + +
> To sign our marriage petition, click here:
>
> http://www.cfra.info/31/petition.asp?RID=1864622
>
> + +
> To see pictures of our successful "Support Marriage" petition
> delivery to Washington, click here:
>
> http://www.reclaimamerica.org/Pages/News/newspage.asp?story=1897
>
> + +
> For the latest news and information on the federal marriage
> amendment, click here:
>
>  http://www.reclaimamerica.org/
>
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> The CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA, established by
> Dr. D. James Kennedy, is an outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries to
> inform the American public and motivate Christians to defend and
> implement the biblical principles on which our country was
> founded. The CENTER provides non-partisan, non-denominational
> information, training, and support to all those interested in
> impacting the culture and renewing the vision set forth by our
> Founding Fathers.
>
> Questions? cfra at coralridge.org

"They presented their amendment as a high-minded attempt to protect
"traditional" marriage, when in reality it was a cynical attempt to
influence future elections and win power. To use the U.S. Constitution
in a naked attempt to manipulate the election process is a sad reminder
of the hostility and political oppression still faced by LGBT people.
                                                      -- The Reverend Dr.
Troy D. Perry
_______________________________________________________________


July 14, 2004

Today, ... people won another victory as the United States Senate dealt a
stinging rebuke to President Bush's attempt to place anti-gay discrimination
in the U.S. Constitution.

A coalition of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate effectively defeated
the Bush proposal, with sponsors unable to muster even a majority vote. The
procedural vote was 48-50.

We salute the senators who stood firm against bigotry and for justice -- and
salute the hundreds of thousands of .... people, along with our enlightened
allies, who made their voices heard by contacting their elected officials.

Sadly, today's vote only marks Phase One of a crude political strategy by
right-wing extremists. This vote reveals another strategy by those who
oppose the expansion of liberty and justice. The next predictable step will
be a withering attack upon those senators who voted with us. Look for their
votes to be twisted and misrepresented in an effort to unseat them in future
elections.

Even more disturbing is the claim by some regressive political leaders that
they knew all along they would lose this vote -- but their strategy was to
put senators on the record in order to use this vote as a wedge issue in
upcoming elections. They presented their amendment as a high-minded attempt
to protect "traditional" marriage, when in reality it was a cynical attempt
to influence future elections and win power. To use the amendment process
for the U.S. Constitution in a naked attempt to manipulate the election
process is a sad reminder of the hostility and political oppression still
faced by LGBT people.

Today, we celebrate another victory in history's march toward liberty, and
renew our commitment to work for justice and equality under the laws,
including the marriage laws.

/signed/
The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry
Founder and Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches


"I am here today to say that not all people of faith believe we 
should amend the Constitution to deny people equal rights under the 
law," said the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, retired Bishop of 
Washington pro-tempore, at a news conference outside the Capitol 
following the vote. "As a Christian, my faith calls me to respect the 
dignity of every human being and to strive for justice and to tear 
down the walls that separate us."

"In the history of our nation, this great Constitution to form a more 
perfect union and establish justice has been amended to include those 
not originally included, never to exclude," Dixon added. "And the 
Federal Marriage Amendment debated in the Senate today [would] do 
just that. It excludes and denies American citizens equal protection 
under the law."

In a statement released by Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold in 
February, he expressed similar concerns about a Constitutional 
amendment.

"The Episcopal Church is on record as being committed to continuing 
discussion and discernment around these questions [of sexuality], 
about which we do not have a common mind, and to equal protection 
under the law and full civil rights for homosexual persons," the 
statement said. "I am concerned about the advisability of a 
Constitutional amendment being put forth for discussion at this time. 
Questions of sexuality are far from settled, and a Constitutional 
amendment which was perceived as settling this matter might make it 
more difficult to engage in civil discourse around this topic."

The 1976 General Convention of the Episcopal Church established the 
policy of the Church that "Homosexual persons are entitled to equal 
protection of the laws with all other citizens." That policy was 
reaffirmed in 1994.

"[Our effort] springs from a deep commitment to a biblical 
understanding of justice, a commitment to fairness," said Daniel 
Pryfogle, interim director of the Association of Welcoming and 
Affirming Baptists, which supports gay and lesbian rights. "We want 
everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, to enjoy the same 
rights in this country," Pryfogle told ABP.

"There's relief at this stage that the bill will not go forward," 
Pryfogle said, "but at the same time we know a lot of organizing is 
going on to push this kind of legislation. We aim to do what we can 
to oppose these efforts. ... One of the most important things 
underway is proclamation -- churches preaching a message about 
fairness and justice."

Laura Montgomery Rutt, director of communications for Soulforce, an 
interfaith pro-gay group, complained supporters of the Federal 
Marriage Amendment are using gays and lesbians as "political pawns" 
in an election-year strategy. "To have this come up just before the 
elections shows that the religious-political conservatives are 
playing politics with people's lives. ... This is simply wrong." 
- -- 
	Yours,
	Ralph.
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