We are Democrats and we therefore believe in and support equal rights for ALL people. Well, today is one of those days you have to "put your money where your mouth is" (such a strange cliche, but whatever). I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about the politics of gay marriage. The fact is, all people are equal, so let's start acting that way!
Here's what Human Rights Campaign has to say:
"A vote on the discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment is scheduled for the week of June 5. President Bush will bow to right-wing extremists and speak from the Rose Garden June 6 to promote the discriminatory amendment.
The right-wing is attempting to make gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans second-class citizens forever. Take action today, and every day, until the vote. Call Senators at 202-224-3121 every day until the vote. And call the White House while you're at it: 202-456-1111. Use the tools below to do more critical work."
The vote is supposed to take place this week. President Bush is offering up his support. We need to get calling (again) if we're going to put a stop to this Amendment! HRC offers up some
talking points here, but I'll copy them here too so everyone has just one good source.
Here you go:
--Discrimination has no place in the U.S. Constitution. The Federal Marriage Amendment would undermine the Constitution, which in more than 200 years has never once been amended to deny rights to a group of Americans.
--Instead of addressing a health care crisis, the costly war in Iraq and soaring gas prices, President Bush and the leadership in Congress are putting politics ahead of real progress by debating this divisive amendment.
--Many legal experts agree this amendment also would close the door on civil unions even though 60 percent of Americans support ensuring all families can protect each other in times of crisis.
--Leading conservatives agree that this amendment goes against the values we stand for as a country, including former Senator and Rev. John Danforth, George Will, William Safire and Bob Barr.
--The last thing the American people want is Congress reaching into a family's private life, just like Terri Schiavo.
The Federal Marriage Amendment is obviously getting quite a bit of press at the moment... here's some information from the Baltimore Sun.
"The issue of traditional marriage crosses a lot of denominational lines," University of Akron political scientist John C. Green said. "There's a lot of religious groups that can't agree on the nature of God and how to read the Scripture and where heaven is, but can all agree that marriage ought to stay the way it is."
Faith-based opponents of the amendment also are speaking out. Leaders in liberal denominations are preaching acceptance of gays and lesbians. Several, including representatives of the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church and the Union of Reform Judaism, have joined together as Clergy for Fairness to urge senators to reject the measure.
"Although we have differing opinions on rights for same-sex couples," they said in a statement, "we believe the Federal Marriage Amendment reflects a fundamental disregard for individual civil rights and ignores differences among our nation's many religious traditions."
But among the faithful, support for the amendment has been louder than opposition.
"Religious conservatives are better organized than people on the other side," said Green, an author of Religion and the Culture Wars: Dispatches from the Front. "A lot of the voices that might be opposed to the amendment aren't engaged in mass mobilization."
What's that?! They say we aren't as organized!! Well, we'd better GET better organized folks and we'd better start doing our duty and standing up for equality!!
And of course, Green, referenced in the article above, also said
"A lot of members of the Senate would just as soon not take this up," he said. "From the point of the movement organizations, just having the vote is extremely important, because then everybody goes on record, and that can be used to mobilize for politics in the fall."
As usual, this is all about politics. This is evidence of the fear of the Republican party. They know that unless they can pull out their base in November by fear and hate-mongering, they will likely LOSE because they are clearly SO poor at governing my neighbor's three kids under age 5 could do a better job!!
Here are some other links...the more you do, the louder we get!!
Here's a postcard you can send to your Senators!
Sign this petition from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force!
The DNC has a petition you can sign!! Just click on that top story!
PFLAG has a great collection of links for various talking points!
And last, but not least, look up your Senator's email address and send them an email in addition to your call!!
The Senate's debate on FMA will take place in a little while, so tune in if you can!
Also, I apologize if someone else has diaried this already today. I didn't see it anywhere....
P.S. If you're in Illinois, PLEASE visit my action diary from yesterday and sign up to volunteer and prevent a marriage ban amendment on our state ballot in November!