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Today, February 24, the year 2004 C.E. the President of the United States of America, Mr. George Bush, has officially endorsed a constitutional ban on gay marriage (link follows). My friends, our elected official, the Commander in Chief, the man whom is supposedly looking out for our best interest has this very day shown initiative to permanently discriminate against us, robbing us of rights, benefits, and protections afforded to heterosexual couples joined in civil marriage. If ever there was a time to make yourselves heard, that time is now. If you have not already written your state representatives and the president, do so now. If you have already, do so again. We must demonstrate that we will not stand for this act of discrimination. I urge everyone to take action: write, call, email, march, protest, do whatever you are able. We cannot give up the fight. I've been looking for something to do for spring break, mayhap a trip to Washington DC is in order, we must make ourselves heard.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4360783/
Poll Results
120422 responses (as of 2/24/2004, 12:12 EST)
49% Yes
51% No
Email the president: president@Whitehouse.gov
"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice," Mrs. King said in 1998, according to Reuters news service. "But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."
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[LJ Edit: 2/24/2004, 1:23 EST]
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The following is an except from: http://www.hrc.org/ (emphasis added)
"The President said he wanted to proceed with kindness, good will and decency – make no mistake, that is not possible. It is neither kind nor decent to discriminate against Americans and deny them critical rights," said Jacques. "Instead of pulling the country together to fight terrorism and meet our common challenges, the President is now working to divide the country with a long and bitter political fight over the Constitution."
The only such proposal currently before Congress (H.J. Res. 56; S.J. Res. 26) would not only deny marriage to same-sex couples but could also deny any state legislature or electorate from ever voting to pass their own state’s domestic partnership, civil union or marriage laws. Under the Federal Marriage Amendment, courts could be barred from enforcing the legal protections that a legislature provides through civil union or domestic partnership laws.
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[LJ Edit: 2/24/2004, 11:00 EST]
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I would like to take this time to thank everyone for their replies to this post and it's cross-posts. All further updates will appear here, and I have included a link from the cross-posts. Once again, thank you all.
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[LJ Edit: 2/24/2004, 11:00 EST]
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The following is an except from: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/20040224/pl_nm/bush_gays_dc (emphasis added)
The decision was immediately condemned by gay rights groups and many Democrats. Even some Republicans cast doubt on the move, which would likely take years to bring to fruition.
Bush denounced "some activist judges and local officials" for attempting to "redefine marriage." He did not endorse a specific bill but offered to work with Congress on language.
"If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America," he said.
Gay Republicans were outraged. Patrick Guerriero, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans, said: "Log Cabin considers support for this amendment a declaration of war on gay and lesbian families and an attack on our sacred Constitution."
Opponents of same-sex marriage said it would destroy the institution of marriage. Proponents said gays should have the same rights as others to marry and that an amendment would enshrine discrimination in the Constitution.
"It is wrong to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution and it is shameful to use attacks against gay and lesbian families as an election strategy," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Terence McAuliffe.
Conservatives in general were delighted. But Robert Knight, head of the Culture and Family Institute, said Bush's proposal did not go far enough. "We're disappointed he left the door open for states to create gay marriage by another name," he said.
Okay, that's all the quotes from the article that I'll post here. It is obvious that Bush fully intends to use this as a step to try and get reelected. We cannot allow this to happen. One of my fears is that, with the arrival of Ralph Nader, our votes will be too divided between Bush's opponents. We must become organized and take the steps necessary to remove our current president from office. If he is allowed another term, he will foster more hatred towards us, and rally more to his cause. He cannot be allowed to push this amendment through, I know some of you have written, and that is an important first step; but I ask anyone who is capable, to consider gathering a group together to lobby your representative and state your case. It is your legal right as a citizen to lobby your representatives. www.hrc.org has details for how to go about this process. I also cannot state the importance of going about this in a peaceful fashion. Marches and rallies are great ways to get the word out, but we cannot allow our emotions to overcome us to the degree that we give them a reason to stop these acts. Non-violence is the key, be strong and argue our case, but do not use forceful methods in doing so.
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